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› Right-Of-Way Use Permits
Updated 08/08
Right-of-Way Use Permits - Street Use, Construction, Excavations, and Special Use Permits
Contents
- About Right-of-Way Use Permits
- Sample Right-of-Way Use Regulations
- Right-of -Way Manuals
- Lane Rental Fee
- Street Cut Mitigation
- Sample Applications and Information
- Additional References
- MRSC Related Pages
About Right-of-Way Use Permits
This page contains information on permits for use of rights of way. There are several different terms used to describe these permits and many activities that are regulated. For the purposes of this page, the term 'right of way use permit' will be used generically. Other terms that are found in the sample codes and ordinances include 'street use permit', 'excavation permit', 'special events permit' and 'construction permit'. Some cities have developed comprehensive right of way use codes covering all uses, while others have code sections for each type of use. The following can be included in a right of way use permit ordinance:
- Special Events Permit (not necessarily in right of way)
- Right of Way Use Permit
- Accommodation of utilities in terms of standard locations, franchises (and fees), conditions of use, etc
- Construction or activities on private property that impact a street or road in terms of traffic volume or functionality
- Construction and/or excavation in right of way including standards for pavement restoration, compaction, etc
- Short term non-construction uses (parades, processions, street fairs, etc)
- Longer term non-construction uses (seasonal sidewalk cafés, mobile vendor stands, etc)
- Long term non-construction uses or leases (permanent sidewalk cafés, newsstands, newspaper racks, obstructions, etc.)
Sample Right Of Way Use Regulations
- Bellevue Municipal Code Ch. 14.30 - Right-of-Way Use Code
- Bonney Lake Municipal Code Ch. 12.08 - Work Within the Public Right-of-Way
- Burien Municipal Code Ch. 12.17 - Right-of-Way Use Code - General Provisions
- Cheney
- Duvall Municipal Code - Ch. 8.04 - Public Improvement Development Standards
- Edmonds Municipal Code Ch. 18.70 - Street Use and Encroachment Permits
- Gig Harbor Municipal Code Ch. 12.02 - Encroachment Permits
- Hunts Point Municipal Code Ch. 12.10 (
137 KB) - Right-of-Way Use
- Issaquah Municipal Code Ch. 12.12 - Excavations
- Kent Municipal Code Ch. 6.07 - Street Use Permit
- King County Code Ch. 14.28 (
14 KB)- Rights-of-Way
- Longview Municipal Code Ch. 12.30 - Use and Occupancy of Rights-of-Way
- Mount Vernon Municipal Code Ch. 12.16 ( 101 KB) - Street Excavations
- Poulsbo Municipal Code Ch. 12.08 - Public Property Construction
- SeaTac Municipal Code Ch. 11.10 - Right-of-Way Use Code
- Richland Municipal Code Ch. 12.08 ( 239 KB) - Right-of-Way Construction
- Woodinville Municipal Code Ch. 15.42 - Fees for Work in Public/Private Rights-of-Way
- San Juan County Code Ch. 12.04 - County Road Excavations
- Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 10.22 ( 173 KB) - Street Obstruction and Excavation
- Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 10.24 ( 173 KB) - - Streets - Installation of Utilities
- Vancouver Municipal Code Ch.11.28 - Excavations
- Walla Walla County Code Ch. 12.08 - Street Excavations
Manuals
- Pierce County Manual on Accommodating Utilities in Pierce County Right-of-Ways ( 5.05 MB), 4th edition
- Seattle Right-of-Way Improvements Manual
- Tacoma Traffic Control Handbook ( 2 MB) - This manual is intended for use by any person, firm or corporation, public or private, when involved in construction, maintenance or any activity that alters the normal flow of traffic, vehicular or pedestrian, on any City right-of-way
Lane Rental Fee
- Lane Rental - Washington State Department of Transportation - Alternative Project Delivery
- Reducing and Mitigating Impacts of Lane Occupancy During Construction and Maintenance: A Synthesis of Highway Practice ( 3.04 MB), National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Synthesis No. 293, Transportation Research Board, National Academy Press, 20000
Street Cut Mitigation
- Chelan Municipal code Chapter 12.20 - Public Right of Way Excavations - Prohibits excavation work on disturb surfaces that have been installed or completely resurfaced within three-year period
- Duvall Municipal Code Section 8.04.050 - Street Use Permit - Charges additional fees based on when pavement was last cut.
- Maple Valley Municipal Code Section 12.05.060 - Street Excavations - Prohibits excavation in city Streets within five years of street paving
- Pierce County Manual for Accommodation of Utilities in the Rights-of-Way ( 5 MB), 4th ed
- Seattle SDOT Street Use Franchise and Utility Permits Web Page
- Vancouver Municipal Code Chapter 11.28 - Excavations - Provides notification of intent to pave and restricts street cuts for 5 years
Sample Applications and Information
- Bellevue Right-of-Way Use Application ( 27 KB)
- Burien Right of Way Use Application ( 140 KB)
- Cheney Application for Right of Way License ( 29 KB)
- Covington Right of Way Use/Construction Permit Application ( 1.7 MB)
- City of DuPont Application for Right-of -Way ( 82 KB)
- Federal Way What is a Right-of-Way Permit
- Federal Way Right-of-Way Permits
- Hunts Point Right-of Way Use Application ( 37 KB)- Required for private improvements within public right-of-way including: landscaping, irrigation, and private communications underground wiring per HPMC 12.10.
- SeaTac Right-of-Way Permits
Additional References
- Call Before You Dig. Washington Utilities Coordinating Council
- Excavation in the Right of Way, APWA, 1996 MRSC Library Loan
- Highway Utility Guide, FHWA, 1996 MRSC Library Loan
- Managing Utility Cuts, APWA, 1996 MRSC Library Loan
- Seattle Private Property and Public Right of Way - Department of Transportation
- Seattle Right-of-Way Management Program Overview - Department of Transportation