Permits, Policies and Restrictions
Find information and fees for overweight/overwidth move, driveways/access and utility/right of way work.
Please call County Public Works at 507-328-7060 with any permit questions.
Permits and Fees
Access Permit
Cost:
- Residential, Field Access $125 per access
- Commercial, Public Streets $250 per access
Fees can be paid by cash, check or credit card. Permit Fees are Non-Refundable
In Person with Credit Card, Check, or Cash
Olmsted County Public Works, 2122 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200 Rochester MN 55904 | 8am-5pm M-F
By Phone with Credit Card: Call: 507-328-7060
By Mail with Check: Olmsted County Public Works, 2122 Campus Drive SE, Suite 200 Rochester MN 55904
Access permits are required for any changes proposed to driveway access along County Highways. The following proposed work requires this permit: new driveway construction, including field driveways, residential driveways, commercial driveways, and public street access. Proposed driveway widening also requires this permit.
Upon submittal of an Access Permit a determination shall be made as to whether the application is complete within ten business days of receipt of an application and whether any waiver to the requirements of this ordinance will be needed to approve the application. For commercial and public/private street access applications, a preliminary grading plan shall be submitted before the application is considered complete. The grading plan shall include a site plan with parking stalls and traffic circulation, drainage patterns and features including catch basins and culvert outlets with direction arrows, proposed utilities, construction requirements for all work within the right of way, access construction details, and details for turn/bypass lanes if appropriate. The complete application satisfies the form and content requirements set forth in this ordinance, thereby making it acceptable for review. Where a Transportation Impact Report (TIR) is required under this ordinance or the Olmsted County Zoning Code as part of a permit application, the application shall be considered incomplete until the TIR has been submitted and determined to be adequate by the County Engineer.
Please call Olmsted County Public Works at 507-328-7188 with any questions.
Electronic Application Permit for Access.
Other documents
The full context of the ordinance may be found under Land Management Chapter 1300
More information relating to the Enforcement and Appeals Ordinance may be found on Olmsted County's Attorney's page.
Utility Permit
Utility and Work in the Right-of-Way (ROW) Fee: $250
- Fees can be paid by credit card or e-check online
- Permit Fees are Non-Refundable.
Utility permits are required for work proposed in the County Highway right of ways. Work that requires this permit includes installation and repair of telephone cables, power lines, gas lines, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, water mains, ditch grading, culvert installation, etc.
Oversize/Overweight Vehicle Permit
Annual Permit $200 | Single Permit $50
- Fees can be paid by credit card or e-check online
- Permit Fees are Non-Refundable
Olmsted County Requires Permits on All County Highways.
Legal Dimension Limits - A permit for movement is required if the load and/or the vehicle exceed the statutory legal dimensions. The overall legal width is 8'6". The overall legal height is 13'6". The overall legal length is as follows: single motor vehicle is 45 feet; mobile truck crane is 48 feet; semitrailer is 53 feet; with a king pin setting of 43 feet or less; and single trailer, including tow bar is 45 feet. A trailer is limited to 45 feet long with 75 feet as the maximum overall length of the truck trailer combination.
Legal Gross Weight Limit - The gross weight on any one axle shall not exceed 18,000 lbs. on 9 Ton Routes, nor 20,000 lbs. on 10 Ton Designated Routes. No tandem axle group shall exceed 34,000 lbs. on all routes. A single axle is defined by law as including all wheels whose center may be within 40 inches apart. Wheel load may not exceed 600 lbs. per inch width of tire nor the manufacturer's recommended load, whichever is less. The maximum total gross weight on all axles may not exceed 73,280 on 5 axle combination except on all interstate and 10 Ton Designated routes where 5 axle combination may not exceed 80,000 lbs. A 6 axle combination of vehicle may not exceed a total gross weight of 80,000 lbs. on all routes.
Policies
Restrictions
The Olmsted County Highway Division would like to remind residents that it is Unlawful to perform any work or prohibited actions within an Olmsted County Highway Right of Way without prior approval from the Olmsted County Highway Division. Under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 160.2715, it is a misdemeanor to perform unauthorized work within the Right of Way.
Prohibited actions within a County Right of Way include the following: depositing snow, plowing, erecting a fence, installing posts or flags, erecting driveway headwalls, digging holes, removing earth, removing gravel or rock, obstructing ditch drainage, placing or maintaining any building, placing unauthorized advertisements, as well as any other unauthorized activity.
Unauthorized obstructions placed within the Right of Way of a County Highway can pose a safety threat to motorists and for users of the ditch. The person responsible for installing unauthorized obstructions may also be liable in a civil lawsuit if damages or injuries occur as a result of this action.
The Olmsted County Highway Division is concerned about public safety and is requesting residents not to perform any work within a County Right Of Way without prior written approval.