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Development Services

Transportation Permit

This permit is required for moving oversized and overweight loads over City of San Diego streets. An oversized load is defined by California Vehicle Code §15 and may include the movement of a vehicle or load over a designated route on a specified date or dates or a continuing transportation permit issued for the period specified on the permit but not to exceed six months, per San Diego Municipal Code §85.21.


Plan Your Project

What You Should Know

  • This permit is required for moving any oversized and overweight load over City of San Diego streets.
  • This permit covers only that portion of move-on streets maintained by the City of San Diego. For state, county and other cities, permits must be secured for travel on streets under their respective jurisdictions.

Fees

  • Single Move: $22.13
  • Continuing Permit: $38.36

Exemptions

No exemptions. Permits may be revoked or denied by the City Engineer or the San Diego Police Department for violations.

Inspections

All permits are subject to City inspections.

General Conditions

  1. Registration and License Plates
    All hauling units must be duly registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles as required by law, and all special mobile equipment must carry a valid identification plate.
  2. Prohibited Moving Hours
    Movement of oversize loads and/or vehicles shall be prohibited during the hours of darkness - (1/2 hr. before sunrise and 1/2 hr. after sunset) and between the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.
  3. Visibility
    All moves shall be prohibited during periods of reduced visibility (less than 1,000 feet).
  4. Holidays and Weekends
    No moves shall be permitted on Saturday, Sunday, New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Special permission may be granted to move during the above prohibited periods provided such moves are necessitated by emergencies or other valid reasons and provided such special permission is cited on the permit or amendments thereto.
  5. Safety of Other Traffic
    The permittee shall at all times provide for the safety of the public when the vehicle under permit disrupts the normal traffic pattern and flow within the traveled way. The permittee shall provide flagmen, signs, warning lights or other safety devices to give the public ample warning and safely route the traffic through or around the congested areas.
  6. Escorts
    Front escorts shall be required for loads or vehicles over 12 feet 6 inches in width and both front and rear escorts shall be required for loads over 14 feet in width.
  7. Height
    When an over-height load is authorized (over 13 feet, 6 inches), the permittee shall check all underpasses, bridges, overhead wires, and other limiting structures or facilities for adequate clearance.
  8. Overhead Power and Telephone Cables
    The permittee shall notify the owners of all overhead lines or structures subject to disturbance or damage by his move and shall make arrangements for the temporary removal or relocation of the conflicting facility if required.
  9. Excessive Heights
    When the vertical height is 20 feet and over, no permit shall be issued until clearances have been received from the Fire Department, Power Company, and Telephone Company.
  10. Care of Trees
    No trees shall be cut, trimmed or in any way damaged.
  11. Stopping at Night
    No vehicle or load being moved shall be parked overnight on a city street, alley, or public property without express permission as indicated on the permit.
  12. Stalled
    If an over-width load, because of an emergency or breakdown, is forced to park on a city street, the permittee shall immediately notify the Police Department, the Fire-Rescue Department and the City Engineer and shall take all necessary actions to effect the earliest possible for removal from the street. The permittee shall display lights, flags, signals or other traffic warning devices as necessary and shall take all necessary precautions to protect the pavement from prolonged overloading.
  13. Protection on Bridges and Narrow Roads
    When crossing bridges or on roads so narrow that there is insufficient room for traffic to travel in both directions with reasonable safety, flagmen shall be posted ahead of, and behind the equipment to warn and direct approaching traffic.
  14. Responsibility for Bridges
    This permit does not authorize crossing any posted bridges with a gross load exceeding posted limits unless specifically mentioned on the face of this permit. The permittee shall comply with all rules posted on any bridges used and assume all risks. When a power shovel or similar equipment is moved under its own power across bridges having asphalt-type surfaces, running planks or heavy belting of sufficient width must be used under the tracks to protect the surfacing.
  15. Permit Subject to Inspection
    The permit must be carried on the equipment or structure at all times while it is being moved within the highway limits. The permit shall be submitted for inspection on demand of any law enforcement officer or any authorized agent of the City of San Diego.
  16. Liability for Damage
    The permittee is responsible for all liability for personal injury or property damage that may occur through any act or omission of the permittee when acting under the terms of this permit and in the event any claim is made against the City of San Diego or any Department, officer, or employee thereof, through, because of, or in connection with any such act or omission, the permittee shall defend, indemnify and hold them and each of them harmless from such claim.

Special Provisions

  1. Kind of Equipment
    Buildings are to be moved with regular house moving equipment.
  2. Cleaning up Right-of-Way
    Upon completion of the moving work, all timbers and equipment shall be removed and the right-of-way left in the same condition as before the work started.
  3. Do Not Disturb Roadway Surface
    No wedge, bar, or spike shall be driven in the surface of any dedicated Public Right-of-Way.

Compliant Outdoor Expansion

Apply for a Permit

Step 2

Read the PDF icon requirements for PDF file uploads.

Not following the PDF requirements will delay project review and approval.

Step 3

Obtain or complete the following documents:

  1. A valid copy of the policy of insurance per San Diego Municipal Code §85.22 (a).
  2. Transportation Permit Form (DS-3094).

4

Your PDF documents MUST meet our upload requirements. See Step 2 for more info.

Validate your PDF documents with Scout™

Step 5

Apply for the permit

You will be required to upload the completed documents from Step 3 at the time of application. Submitting without all the requirements will result in delays.Ste