MN
Minnesota oversize permit rules
What Minnesota charges for a single-trip OS/OW permit, the limits that trigger one, and the escort thresholds — read from the state’s own publication. This rule has been in effect since 2025-01-01; we last read the source on 2026-07-11.
Oversize permit
$15
One price for a single-trip permit, whatever the dimensions. A 9-foot-wide load and a 16-foot-wide load pay the same.
Overweight permit
From $15
Scales with weight and axle count — there is no single figure.
A load that is both oversize and overweight pays this fee only, not both.
+ $20 Permigo service fee per permit, state fees at cost.
Legal limits
Exceed any one of these in Minnesota and you need a permit for this state.
| Limit | Interstate |
|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" |
| Height | 13'6" |
| Length | 75'0" |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs |
| Trailer length | 53'0" |
What the permit costs
Minnesota prices a single-trip permit as flat rate. One price for a single-trip permit, whatever the dimensions. A 9-foot-wide load and a 16-foot-wide load pay the same.
Escort requirements
Thresholds by road class. Where two classes differ, the road you are actually on governs.
4+ lane (divided)
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 12'6" | Travel window appliesSummer weekends (Memorial Day–Labor Day; MnDOT's 2026 page prints May 29–Aug 31): no travel STATEWIDE 4:00–8:00 p.m. Fridays and Sundays when >12'6" wide or >110' long.Holidays (>12'6" wide or >110' long): no travel 2 p.m. the day before → 2 a.m. the day after — incl. the FISHING OPENER weekend; MLK/Presidents/Juneteenth/Veterans days are OPEN (2026 list on the MnDOT holiday page). Overweight-only loads are not holiday-restricted. |
| Over 14'6" | Travel window appliesRush hour (>14'6" wide or >110' long): no travel weekdays 6:00–8:30 a.m. + 3:30–6:00 p.m. in the Twin Cities and Duluth metros (Gen. Prov. ¶12; zone polygons in MnDOT's ArcGIS app). |
| Over 15'0" | 1 rear escortOver 15' wide measured at the BOTTOM of the load (or over 16' at the TOP): one rear escort on a multilane divided roadway (§169.812 subd. 2 verbatim — no escort tier exists below 15'). Escorts must hold a Minnesota pilot certification (or CO/FL/NC/OK/UT/VA/WA reciprocity) + $1,000,000 liability insurance (Rules 7455). A licensed peace officer LEADS whenever any part of the load crosses left of centerline on an undivided roadway (subd. 2(d)). |
| Over 16'0" | superload permitOver 16' wide: SUPERLOAD (Guide May 2025: >16'H / >16'W / >150'L / >250,000 GVW) — processing '5 business days to months'; Bridge Office review; consultant costs on the carrier. ALSO: >16' wide in the 7-county Twin Cities metro = MANDATORY NIGHT TRAVEL, midnight–5:00 a.m. Mon–Fri (Gen. Prov. ¶12). |
| Over 20'0" | route surveyOver 20' wide: physical route survey (route-survey page verbatim; within 14 days of the permit start, valid ≤60 days; 6" vertical + 1' lateral clearance minimums; by the driver or a certified pilot — 'Minnesota does not recognize pole vehicles'). |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 13'6" | Conditions applyOver 13'6": applicant verifies vertical clearance (6" above-load clearance minimum). Minnesota does NOT use pole cars — Rules 7455.1000(A)(10) requires a height pole on the front pilot only when the PERMIT demands one for loads >15'6" (discretionary condition, not an automatic tier). |
| Over 16'0" | route survey · superloadOver 16' high: superload + physical route survey (both thresholds) |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 110'0" | 1 rear escortOver 110' on a multilane divided roadway: one rear escort (§169.812 subd. 3(a)(1）).Rush hour (>14'6" wide or >110' long): no travel weekdays 6:00–8:30 a.m. + 3:30–6:00 p.m. in the Twin Cities and Duluth metros (Gen. Prov. ¶12; zone polygons in MnDOT's ArcGIS app).Summer weekends (Memorial Day–Labor Day; MnDOT's 2026 page prints May 29–Aug 31): no travel STATEWIDE 4:00–8:00 p.m. Fridays and Sundays when >12'6" wide or >110' long.Holidays (>12'6" wide or >110' long): no travel 2 p.m. the day before → 2 a.m. the day after — incl. the FISHING OPENER weekend; MLK/Presidents/Juneteenth/Veterans days are OPEN (2026 list on the MnDOT holiday page). Overweight-only loads are not holiday-restricted. |
| Over 150'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 150' on a divided roadway: lead + rear escorts (§169.812 subd. 3(a)(2)). |
| Over 150'0" | superload permitOver 150' long: superload (Guide May 2025). |
| Over 175'0" | route surveyOver 175' long: physical route survey (route-survey page; 14-day/60-day rules). |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 80,000 lbs | No escort requiredSeasonal machinery: SPRING load restrictions drop permit axle caps to the SLR column (single 20k / tandem 34k / tridem 42k / quad 51k, ≤20k per axle in group) and add the §5(g) $120 single-trip surcharge for >14'6"-wide permits issued in-window (2026 zones: Metro/South Mar 3–Apr 20 … North Mar 20–May 15). WINTER: +10% axle weights zone-by-zone (2025–26: Dec 12/16/29 → Feb 24–Mar 20); the 10% on INTERSTATES needs the $60 annual permit — free on MN/US highways. Dates reset every year — dot.state.mn.us/loadlimits. |
| Over 250,000 lbs | route survey · superloadGVW over 250,000 lb: superload |
2/3 lane (undivided)
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 12'6" | Travel window appliesSummer weekends (Memorial Day–Labor Day; MnDOT's 2026 page prints May 29–Aug 31): no travel STATEWIDE 4:00–8:00 p.m. Fridays and Sundays when >12'6" wide or >110' long.Holidays (>12'6" wide or >110' long): no travel 2 p.m. the day before → 2 a.m. the day after — incl. the FISHING OPENER weekend; MLK/Presidents/Juneteenth/Veterans days are OPEN (2026 list on the MnDOT holiday page). Overweight-only loads are not holiday-restricted. |
| Over 14'6" | Travel window appliesRush hour (>14'6" wide or >110' long): no travel weekdays 6:00–8:30 a.m. + 3:30–6:00 p.m. in the Twin Cities and Duluth metros (Gen. Prov. ¶12; zone polygons in MnDOT's ArcGIS app). |
| Over 15'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 15' wide measured at the BOTTOM of the load (or over 16' at the TOP): one lead + one rear escort on any undivided roadway (§169.812 subd. 2 verbatim — no escort tier exists below 15'). Escorts must hold a Minnesota pilot certification (or CO/FL/NC/OK/UT/VA/WA reciprocity) + $1,000,000 liability insurance (Rules 7455). A licensed peace officer LEADS whenever any part of the load crosses left of centerline on an undivided roadway (subd. 2(d)). |
| Over 16'0" | superload permitOver 16' wide: SUPERLOAD (Guide May 2025: >16'H / >16'W / >150'L / >250,000 GVW) — processing '5 business days to months'; Bridge Office review; consultant costs on the carrier. ALSO: >16' wide in the 7-county Twin Cities metro = MANDATORY NIGHT TRAVEL, midnight–5:00 a.m. Mon–Fri (Gen. Prov. ¶12). |
| Over 20'0" | route surveyOver 20' wide: physical route survey (route-survey page verbatim; within 14 days of the permit start, valid ≤60 days; 6" vertical + 1' lateral clearance minimums; by the driver or a certified pilot — 'Minnesota does not recognize pole vehicles'). |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 13'6" | Conditions applyOver 13'6": applicant verifies vertical clearance (6" above-load clearance minimum). Minnesota does NOT use pole cars — Rules 7455.1000(A)(10) requires a height pole on the front pilot only when the PERMIT demands one for loads >15'6" (discretionary condition, not an automatic tier). |
| Over 16'0" | route survey · superloadOver 16' high: superload + physical route survey (both thresholds) |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 110'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 110' on an undivided roadway: lead + rear escorts (§169.812 subd. 3(b)).Rush hour (>14'6" wide or >110' long): no travel weekdays 6:00–8:30 a.m. + 3:30–6:00 p.m. in the Twin Cities and Duluth metros (Gen. Prov. ¶12; zone polygons in MnDOT's ArcGIS app).Summer weekends (Memorial Day–Labor Day; MnDOT's 2026 page prints May 29–Aug 31): no travel STATEWIDE 4:00–8:00 p.m. Fridays and Sundays when >12'6" wide or >110' long.Holidays (>12'6" wide or >110' long): no travel 2 p.m. the day before → 2 a.m. the day after — incl. the FISHING OPENER weekend; MLK/Presidents/Juneteenth/Veterans days are OPEN (2026 list on the MnDOT holiday page). Overweight-only loads are not holiday-restricted. |
| Over 150'0" | superload permitOver 150' long: superload (Guide May 2025). |
| Over 175'0" | route surveyOver 175' long: physical route survey (route-survey page; 14-day/60-day rules). |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 80,000 lbs | No escort requiredSeasonal machinery: SPRING load restrictions drop permit axle caps to the SLR column (single 20k / tandem 34k / tridem 42k / quad 51k, ≤20k per axle in group) and add the §5(g) $120 single-trip surcharge for >14'6"-wide permits issued in-window (2026 zones: Metro/South Mar 3–Apr 20 … North Mar 20–May 15). WINTER: +10% axle weights zone-by-zone (2025–26: Dec 12/16/29 → Feb 24–Mar 20); the 10% on INTERSTATES needs the $60 annual permit — free on MN/US highways. Dates reset every year — dot.state.mn.us/loadlimits. |
| Over 250,000 lbs | route survey · superloadGVW over 250,000 lb: superload |
Movement restrictions
| Restriction | In Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Night travel | Night travel allowed |
| Weekends | No blanket restriction |
| Holidays | Restricted |
Movement windows (General Provisions Aug 2024 + the 2026 schedules, verified 2026-07-11)
| Load / period | Rule |
|---|---|
| General | 'In general, travel is not restricted' — night moves lawful with lighting |
| >14′6″W or >110′L — Twin Cities + Duluth metros | no travel weekdays 6:00–8:30 a.m. + 3:30–6:00 p.m. |
| >16′W — 7-county Twin Cities metro | NIGHT ONLY: midnight–5:00 a.m. Mon–Fri |
| >12′6″W or >110′L — summer | no travel statewide Fri + Sun 4:00–8:00 p.m., Memorial Day–Labor Day |
| >12′6″W or >110′L — holidays | 2 p.m. eve → 2 a.m. after: Fishing Opener, Memorial, July 4, Labor, Thanksgiving+Fri, Christmas, New Year's (MLK/Presidents/Juneteenth/Veterans OPEN) |
| Spring load restrictions (by zone, ~Mar–May) | permit axle caps drop to the SLR column; +$120 on >14′6″-wide single trips issued in-window |
| Winter increase (by zone, ~Dec–Mar) | +10% axle weights; interstates need the $60 annual permit — free on MN/US highways |
Where these permits come from
If you file yourself, this is the office you are dealing with. Check the linked page — some states issue OS/OW permits through their highway patrol or revenue department rather than the DOT.
| Minnesota permit office | |
|---|---|
| Permit office | 651-296-6000 |
| [email protected] | |
| Permit portal | Minnesota SUPERLOAD — mn.gotpermits.com (the old 'RouteBuilder' name is stale); MnDOT permits are NOT valid on county/municipal/township roads |
| Information | Official page |
MN Stat. §§169.80/.81/.812/.823/.824/.826/.86/.87 (2025 edition) + MN Rules 7455 + MnDOT CVO pages + General Provisio… · revisor.mn.gov · in effect since 2025-01-01 · source read 2026-07-11. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.