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California OS/OW Permit Requirements

United States · Caltrans — Division of Traffic Operations, Transportation Permits

Everything heavy-haul carriers need to know before moving an oversize or overweight load through California: survey triggers, fees, lead times and the official permit portal.

Lead time
5 business days
Base fee
$16 single-trip; $90 annual
Permit validity
Up to 5 days

Route survey triggers

  • Height
    Height exceeds 14' — oversize permit required (CA legal limit 14')
  • Width
    Width exceeds 8'6" — oversize permit required
  • Length
    Length exceeds 65' — oversize permit required
  • Weight
    Gross weight exceeds 80,000 lbs — overweight permit required
  • Height
    Height exceeds 15' — superload route survey required
  • Width
    Width exceeds 15' — superload route survey and escort required
  • Weight
    Gross weight exceeds 250,000 lbs — superload special permit required

Fee notes

Single-trip $16; annual permits $90. Superload (>15 ft H/W or >250,000 lbs GVW) adds $250–$1,000 for engineering analysis. Variance permits assessed per CHP/Caltrans hourly rates.

Official resources

Reference information last verified May 2026. Always confirm current requirements with Caltrans — Division of Traffic Operations, Transportation Permits.

Surveying a route through California?

RoadScope generates California-compliant survey reports automatically — the right sections, certifications and documentation for Caltrans — Division of Traffic Operations, Transportation Permits.

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