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
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Farmers Markets
  • Sidewalk Use Policies
  • Special Events Permits and Participation Policies: Street Fairs and Other Special Community Events
  • Special Parking Permits
  • Street Banners

About Right-of-Way Use Permits

This page contains information on permits for use of rights-of-way. Several different terms are used to describe these permits and the 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
  • Cheney Municipal Code Ch. 12.38 - Right-of-Way
  • Cheney Municipal Code Ch. 12.44 - Excavations
• 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 () - 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 () - Rights-of-Way
• Longview Municipal Code Ch. 12.30 - Use and Occupancy of Rights-of-Way
• Mount Vernon Municipal Code Ch. 12.16 () - 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 () - 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
  • Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 10.22 () - Rights-of-Way 
  • Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 10.24 () - Streets - Installation of Utilities
• Vancouver Municipal Code Ch.11.28 - Excavations

Manuals

• Pierce County - Manual on Accommodating Utilities in Pierce County Right-of-Ways (), 4th ed.
• Seattle - Right-of-Way Improvements Manual
• Tacoma - Traffic Control Handbook () - 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 (), National Cooperative Highway Research Program, Synthesis No. 293, Transportation Research Board, National Academy Press, 2000

Street Cut Mitigation

• Chelan Municipal Code Ch. 12.20 - Public Right-of-Way Excavations - Prohibits excavation work on disturbed 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 (), 4th ed.
• Seattle - SDOT Street Use Franchise and Utility Permits Web Page
• Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 11.28 - Excavations - Provides notification of intent to pave and restricts street cuts for five years

Sample Applications and Information

• Bellevue - Right-of-Way Use Application ()
• Burien - Right-of-Way Use Application on Forms Page 
• Cheney - Application for Right-of-Way License ()
• City of DuPont - Application for Right-of -Way ()
• Federal Way - Right-of-Way Permits
• Hunts Point - Right-of Way Use Application () - 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
  • Ch. 19.122 RCW - Underground Utilities
• 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