19A NCAC 02D .0602 Permits – Issuance Requirements

(a) The following are general issuance requirements for oversize/overweight permits.

(1) Permits shall be issued by the Department. The maximum weight permitted on a designated route shall be determined by the bridge capacity of the bridges to be crossed during movement. Movements exceeding weight limits for highways or bridge structures shall be denied if considered by the Department to be unsafe or if the movement may cause damage to the highway or bridge structures. If the Department determines that the permitted movement may cause damage to the highway, bridge structures, or any other State property, the permittee shall be required to obtain a surety bond to cover the estimated cost of damages. A permit issued by the Department shall not be valid for travel over municipal streets, defined as streets or highways not maintained by the State of North Carolina.

(2) Prior to applying for an oversize/overweight permit, the applicant shall be responsible for reducing and loading the item, commodity, or combinations thereof to the least possible dimensions and weight. Permits may be issued in accordance with this Section for movements of items or commodities that cannot be loaded, divided, dismantled, or disassembled to meet legal requirements.

(3) One item or commodity shall qualify for overweight considerations. Multiple items or commodities shall not qualify for an overweight permit.

(4) One item or commodity or multiple items or commodities loaded in-line shall qualify for overwidth considerations. If loaded side-by-side, multiple items or commodities shall not exceed eight feet, six inches in width.

(5) One item or commodity of continuous length shall qualify for overlength considerations. The maximum length for a vehicle or vehicle combination shall be 105 feet. Approval may be given by the Central Permit Office for permitted loads in excess of 105 feet after review of the geographic route of travel, consideration of local construction projects, and evaluation of the other dimensions of the load.

(6) One item or commodity shall qualify for overheight considerations. If piled or stacked, multiple items or commodities shall not exceed 13 feet, 6 inches.

(b) Annual Trip Permits

(1) Annual permits shall be valid for 12 months from the effective date of the permit. Annual trip permits shall require an escort for vehicle and vehicle combinations that exceed 12 feet in width.

(2) Annual permits may be issued for unlimited movement on all North Carolina highways, as permitted by the posted road and bridge limits, and without the requirement of an escort for the following:

(A) vehicle and vehicle combinations transporting non-divisible commodities;

(B) vehicle and vehicle combinations transporting a non-divisible commodity with a minimum extreme wheelbase of 51 feet;

(D) non-property hauling vehicles with permanently attached equipment, a minimum wheel base of 30 feet, the capability of traveling at highway speeds of 45 miles per hour, the operational purpose of traveling to and from a non-highway job, and a special mobile equipment license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

(3) Dimensions for vehicle and vehicle combination permits issued pursuant to Subparagraph 2 of this Paragraph shall not exceed:

(A) a width of 12 feet;

(B) a height of 13 feet, 6 inches; and

(D) Part (2)(A) within this Paragraph shall not exceed the length as set forth in G.S. 20-115.1(b) and G.S. 20-116(e), and gross weights and axle weights as set forth in G.S. 20-118(b)(1)(2)(3).

(E) Parts (2)(B), (C), and (D) within this Paragraph shall not exceed a gross weight of 90,000 pounds, and axle weights of 20,000 pounds for steer axle, 25,000 pounds for single axle, 50,000 pounds for tandem axle, 60,000 pounds for tridem axle, and 68,000 pounds for axle groupings of four or more.

(4) Annual permits may be issued for unlimited movement on all North Carolina highways, as permitted by the posted road and bridge limits, and with the requirement of an escort for vehicles and vehicle combinations transporting farm equipment. Dimensions for vehicle and vehicle combination permits issued pursuant to this Subparagraph shall not exceed:

(A) a width of 14 feet;

(B) a height of 13 feet, 6 inches; and

(5) Annual permits may be issued with the requirement of an escort for mobile or modular homes if transported from a manufacturer to a North Carolina mobile or modular home dealership, or if transported from a North Carolina licensed mobile or modular home retail dealer to the transporter for the delivery of mobile or modular homes. Permitted mobile or modular homes shall be authorized to travel on designated routes approved by the Department considering construction work zones, highway lane widths, origin and destination, and other factors to ensure safe movement. Dimensions for vehicle and vehicle combination permits issued under this subparagraph shall not exceed:

(A) a width of 14 feet;

(B) a roof overhang of 12 inches, unless the unit width shall be 16 feet, in which case the gutter edge shall not exceed 3 inches;

(D) a weight as set forth in G.S. 20-118(b)(3).

(1) Single trip permits shall be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle and valid for 10 calendar days for a single, one-way trip. Single trip permit applications shall include the exact origin, route, and exact destination, including applicable county and state road numbers and routes. A return trip shall only be considered for a single trip permit if the return trip is requested within the original permit application. No single trip permit shall be issued for a time period that exceeds 30 days.

(2) Single trip permits for vehicle and vehicle combinations with non-divisible overwidth loads are limited to a maximum width of 15 feet and the conditions specified in this Rule.

(3) Single trip permits shall not be restricted by overall length limitations, except the total combination length of mobile homes shall not exceed 105 feet.

(4) Single trip permits shall not authorize a vehicle or vehicle combination height in excess of the vertical clearances on the authorized route.

(d) Non-divisible Loads

(1) The maximum single trip and annual permit weight allowed for a vehicle or vehicle combination, not including off-highway construction equipment, shall be:

(A) 20,000 pounds for steer axles;

(B) 25,000 pounds for single axles;

(D) 60,000 pounds for tridem axles;

(E) 68,000 pounds for axle groupings of four or more; and

(F) an engineering study is required for axle groupings of five or more that exceed 68,000 pounds.

(2) The maximum single trip and annual permit gross weight allowed for a vehicle or vehicle combination, not including off-highway construction equipment, shall be:

(A) 70,000 pounds for a three-axle single vehicle;

(B) 90,000 pounds for a four-axle single vehicle;

(D) 112,000 pounds for a five-axle vehicle combination;

(E) 108,000 pounds for a six-axle single vehicle;

(F) 120,000 pounds for a six-axle vehicle combination;

(G) 122,000 pounds for a seven-axle single vehicle;

(H) 132,000 pounds for a seven-axle vehicle combination; and

(I) determined upon the completion of an engineering study for axle-vehicle combinations of 7 or more if their gross weight exceeds 132,000 pounds.

(3) The maximum permit weight allowed for self-propelled off-highway construction equipment with low pressure or low flotation tires shall be:

(A) 37,000 pounds for a single-axle vehicle; and

(B) 50,000 pounds for a tandem-axle vehicle;

(4) The maximum permit gross weight allowed for self-propelled off-highway construction equipment with low pressure or low flotation tires shall be:

(A) 70,000 pounds for a two-axle single vehicle;

(B) 80,000 pounds for a three-axle single vehicle; and

(5) An overweight permit with a specified route shall be available for a vehicle combination consisting of a power unit and trailer hauling a sealed ship container. No permit shall be issued in accordance with this Subparagraph unless the vehicle combination shall be:

(A) traveling to or from a designated seaport, whether in-state or out-of-state;

(B) transported by marine shipment;

(D) equal to or less than the maximum width, height, and length dimensions as specified in G.S. 20-116;

(E) a vehicle combination with at least five axles; and

(F) in possession of and able to furnish for inspection the documentation of the sealed commodity being transported.

(e) Superload Permits

(1) Superload permits shall be available for vehicle or vehicle combinations with axles or axle groupings that exceed the weight limitations provided by this Rule, a gross weight that exceeds 132,000 pounds, or a maximum width in excess of 15 feet. The Chief Engineer or the Chief Engineer's designee may authorize the issuance of a superload permit after analysis of the proposed load and evaluation of the proposed route of travel.

(2) Superload permits shall be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle and valid for 10 calendar days for a single, one-way trip. Superload permit applications shall include the exact origin, route, and exact destination, including applicable county and state road numbers or routes. A separate permit application shall be required for return trips.

(f) Houses

(1) Applications for permits to move buildings or structures in excess of 15 feet in width shall be made by a licensed housemover. Housemover license applications and supporting documentation are issued and renewed by the Central Permit Office. Please see 19A NCAC 02D .0601 for information on Housemover permits.

(2) An individual shall not be required to acquire a housemover license prior to applying for a permit if the power unit and building is owned by the permittee and the movement is from property individually owned by the permittee.

(g) Mobile or Modular Homes

(1) Mobile or modular home units shall not exceed a length of 76 feet and the total vehicle combination length shall not exceed 105 feet.

(2) A 14-foot-wide mobile or modular home unit may be transported with a bay window, room extension, or porch if the protrusion does not extend beyond the maximum roof overhang of 12 inches or the total width of overhang on the applicable side of the home. An extender shall be placed on the front and rear of the mobile or modular home with a length to extend horizontally equal to but not beyond the outermost edge of the mobile or modular home's extension. The extenders shall have retro-reflective sheeting, sized at a minimum of 4 inches, that shall be Type III high intensity, encapsulated lens, or Type IV-high performance, prismatic, with alternating fluorescent yellow and black diagonal stripes that slope towards the outside of the home with a minimum area of 288 square inches. The bottom of the extenders shall be 6 feet to 8 feet above the road surface. The top of each extender shall have mounted a 5-inch, amber-colored, flashing beacon.

(3) The North Carolina licensed mobile or modular home retail dealer shall maintain records of all mobile or modular units moved by authority of an annual permit for a minimum of four years from the date of movement. The records shall be available for inspection and audit by any officer, employee, or contractor of the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles. Failure to comply with any requirement shall be grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking Manufacturer's License, Dealer's License, and any North Carolina oversize/overweight permit privileges.

History Note: Authority G.S. 20‑119; 20-360; 20-361; 20-367; 20-369; 20-371; 136‑18(5); 143B-346;

Eff. July 1, 1978;

Amended Eff. December 29, 1993; October 1, 1991; April 1, 1984; April 11, 1980;

Filed as a Temporary Rule Eff. October 1, 2000;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2002;

Readopted Eff. July 1, 2019.