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District of Columbia · Oversize & Overweight

District of Columbia Oversize & Overweight Permits filed with DDOT for you, 24/7

In the District of Columbia, a truck over 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high, 21,000 lbs on a single axle or 34,000 lbs on a tandem needs a permit, as does any non-bus vehicle over 40 ft or a combination over 55 ft. The DDOT Public Space Permit Office issues it and confirms the route by size and weight. Send us the load and route: our permit desk quotes the price and files every permit the trip needs.

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What will an oversize permit in District of Columbia cost?

Enter your pickup and delivery locations, choose your permit type, and compare estimated permit costs across route options.

  1. Oversize and overweight permits across the lower 48 and DC
  2. State-by-state fee breakdown for each route option
  3. Order your permit or talk to a specialist
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District of Columbia rules

District of Columbia permit triggers and rules

The sizes and axle weights that call for a permit in the District, when the Metropolitan Police Department gets involved, and how far ahead to apply.

Permit needed above

Width
8 ft 6 in
Height
13 ft 6 in
Single axle
21,000 lbs
Tandem axle
34,000 lbs
Single vehicle, non-bus
40 ft
Combination
55 ft

Escorts in the District

Metropolitan Police escort
May be required at MPD's discretion
15 ft wide or more, or 150,000 lbs or more
MPD motor carrier coordination
Over 14 ft 6 in high
MPD coordination; a pole car may be needed
Any hazardous material
MPD motor carrier coordination
Over 75 ft long, 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high or 120,000 lbs
Private pilot car recommended

When to apply

Single haul permit
Allow one week
Annual permit
Allow two weeks
Route
DDOT confirms it based on size and weight
Tractor-trailer over 70 ft long, 13 ft 6 in high or 8 ft 6 in wide
Single trip permit in place of the annual tag
Truck crane over 11 ft wide or 120,000 lbs
Single trip permit in place of the annual tag
Dump truck over 65,000 lbs
Single trip permit in place of the annual tag

Source: 18 DCMR Chapter 25; DDOT oversize/overweight vehicle FAQ (2023) and earlier FAQ; DDOT truck map. Your permit's own conditions always apply.

Which permit you need

District of Columbia permits for oversize and overweight loads

  1. One move

    Single haul permit

    Issued by the DDOT Public Space Permit Office for one trip, with the route confirmed by size and weight. Allow one week.

  2. Tractor-trailers

    Annual tag for tractor-trailers

    Covers regular moves within its limits. Over 70 ft long, 13 ft 6 in high or 8 ft 6 in wide, the move needs a single trip permit.

  3. Truck cranes and concrete pumps

    Annual tag for cranes and pumps

    A year-long tag for truck cranes and concrete pumps. A crane over 11 ft wide or 120,000 lbs needs a single trip permit.

  4. Dump, mixer and trash trucks

    Annual tag for dump, mixer and trash trucks

    A year-long tag for these work trucks. A dump truck over 65,000 lbs needs a single trip permit. Allow two weeks for any annual permit.

Routes and road rules

Where District of Columbia routes add their own rules

DDOT's truck map sorts every street into one of three classes, and the biggest loads bring in the Metropolitan Police Department.

  1. Designated Truck Routes

    The streets DDOT's truck map marks as Designated Truck Routes are the District's truck network.

    Route check:DDOT confirms each permit's route based on the load's size and weight.

  2. Through Trucks Prohibited

    On these streets a truck may make a local delivery, but may not pass through.

    Plan:Reach the delivery address from a designated truck route.

  3. Trucks Prohibited

    The third class on DDOT's truck map: streets closed to trucks.

    On the map:Check every street from the District line to the delivery against the truck map.

  4. Loads the MPD coordinates

    At 15 ft wide or more, 150,000 lbs or more, over 14 ft 6 in high or with any hazardous material, the move goes through MPD motor carrier coordination.

    Over 14 ft 6 in high:A pole car may be needed.

District of Columbia permits

District of Columbia permits by vehicle and move

One office issues oversize and overweight permits in the District; which permit you get depends on the vehicle and how often it moves.

  1. Oversize and overweight

    DDOT Public Space Permit Office

    Issues single haul permits and annual tags, and confirms the route by size and weight.

  2. Regular tractor-trailer moves

    Annual tractor-trailer tag

    For moves within 70 ft long, 13 ft 6 in high and 8 ft 6 in wide; past those, a single trip permit.

  3. Construction fleets

    Crane, pump, dump, mixer and trash truck tags

    Annual tags for work trucks, with single trip permits for cranes over 11 ft wide or 120,000 lbs and dump trucks over 65,000 lbs.

  4. Big loads

    Metropolitan Police Department

    May require a police escort at its discretion and coordinates moves of 15 ft wide, 150,000 lbs, over 14 ft 6 in high or with hazardous materials.

How it works

Your District of Columbia permit in three steps

  1. Send the load and route

    Truck, trailer, dimensions, weight, origin and destination. Your fleet details are saved for next time.

  2. We check and file

    Our permit desk checks the District of Columbia rules for your load and files with DDOT.

  3. Get your permit

    You get the permit PDF, a written route and an interactive route map to share with the driver.

From our permit desk

What we check before filing in the District of Columbia

  1. A week for one move, two for a year

    DDOT asks for one week on a single haul permit and two weeks on an annual permit. We file as soon as you send the load, so the lead time starts right away.

  2. Annual tag or single trip

    An annual tag stops covering the move past set sizes: 70 ft, 13 ft 6 in or 8 ft 6 in for a tractor-trailer, 11 ft wide or 120,000 lbs for a crane, 65,000 lbs for a dump truck. We check which one your move needs.

  3. Police and pilot cars

    We flag moves that go through MPD coordination and the ones where DDOT recommends a private pilot car: over 75 ft long, 12 ft wide, 13 ft 6 in high or 120,000 lbs.

FAQ

District of Columbia oversize permit questions

How far ahead should I apply for an oversize permit in the District of Columbia?

Allow one week for a single haul permit and two weeks for an annual permit. DDOT confirms the route based on the load's size and weight.

How much does a District of Columbia oversize permit cost?

It depends on the size, weight, route and permit type. Put your route into our permit cost calculator for an estimate, or send us the load and our permit desk quotes the exact price before filing.

What axle weight calls for an overweight permit in the District of Columbia?

Over 21,000 lbs on a single axle or 34,000 lbs on a tandem axle.

When does a truck crane on an annual District tag need a single trip permit?

When it is over 11 ft wide or 120,000 lbs. For a tractor-trailer the line is 70 ft long, 13 ft 6 in high or 8 ft 6 in wide, and for a dump truck 65,000 lbs.

Which loads bring the Metropolitan Police Department into a District move?

Loads 15 ft wide or more, 150,000 lbs or more, over 14 ft 6 in high or carrying any hazardous material go through MPD motor carrier coordination. MPD may also require a police escort at its discretion.

Can a truck pass through a District street marked Through Trucks Prohibited?

No. On those streets DDOT's truck map allows local deliveries only. Through trips belong on Designated Truck Routes.

How does Route One GO get my District of Columbia permit?

Send us the truck, trailer, load dimensions, axle weights and route. Our permit desk checks the District rules, files with DDOT, flags any MPD coordination and sends you the permit. Requests are taken 24/7.

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Need a permit in District of Columbia for this load?

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