NC
North Carolina oversize permit rules
What North Carolina 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 2024-01-01.
Oversize permit
$12–$48
Each over-legal dimension is priced from its own table, and the fee is the total. Being over on one dimension costs less than being over on several.
Overweight permit
From $12
Scales with weight — there is no single figure.
+ $20 Permigo service fee per permit, state fees at cost.
Legal limits
Exceed any one of these in North Carolina and you need a permit for this state.
| Limit | Interstate |
|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" |
| Height | 14'0" |
| Length | 80'0" |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs |
| Tandem axle | 38,000 lbs |
| Trailer length | 53'0" |
What the permit costs
North Carolina prices a single-trip permit as per dimension. Each over-legal dimension is priced from its own table, and the fee is the total. Being over on one dimension costs less than being over on several.
| Band | State fee |
|---|---|
| Width | $12 |
| Height | $12 |
| Length | $12 |
| Overhang | $12 |
Escort requirements
Thresholds by road class. Where two classes differ, the road you are actually on governs.
4+ lane (divided)
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 12'0" | 1 rear escortMultilane (4+ lane): over 12' wide = 1 REAR escort follows (NCDOT pilot-car rule). Road-type position FLIP — on 2-lane/two-way the same >12' load takes a FRONT escort instead.Metro rush ban: loads over 12' wide may not travel within a 10-mile radius of the city limits of Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:00–6:00 p.m. (ST-1/SL-6/AN-1 verbatim). |
| Over 14'0" | 1 rear escortOver 14' wide on multilane: ONE escort (rear) — the Handbook diagram reads '14 feet 1 inch to 15 feet … One escort on multi-lane highways / Two escorts on two-lane/two-way highways', and the front+rear bullet is expressly 'on two-lane/two-way roads' |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · 1 police escortWidth over 16': 3 escorts total, 1 of which MUST be NC State Highway Patrol — SL-6 verbatim 'Total of three (3) escorts (one must be NC State Hwy Patrol) for permitted loads exceeding 16\' in width.' A 16'1"–16'11" load is still a ROUTINE single trip (written application ≥2 business days prior — ST-1); the superload/engineering tier starts at 17'. |
| 17'0" and over | route survey · superloadWidth 17' or greater = SUPERLOAD (SL-6 verbatim 'Width: 17\' or greater'; ST-1 caps routine single trips at '16\' 11" maximum'): $100 non-refundable engineering application + bridge/pavement review ≥10 business days; approved studies expire after 90 days. (19A NCAC 02D .0601(c)'s older '15 feet or more' text lags NCDOT's own publications — the 2019-rule figure triggers nothing in current practice;) |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 14'5" | 1 front escort · height poleOver 14'5" high: front escort WITH height-pole indicator — ONE vehicle ('Front pole car escort equipped with height pole indicator for permitted loads exceeding 14 feet 5 inches in height', Handbook p.18; E-9: 'Height Pole Indicator - required for front escort vehicle for overheight moves in excess of 14\' 5" |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 80'0" | Conditions applyNC length legality is CONFIG-BASED, not one overall number: combinations cap at 60' overall and single vehicles at 40' — EXCEPT a tractor + ≤53' semitrailer, which 'may exceed the 60-foot maximum length' with NO overall cap (G.S. 20-116(d),(e)). A >53' trailer or a non-conforming combination is the real permit trigger (one $12 length dimension). Routine permitted ceiling is 105' overall ('The maximum length for a vehicle or vehicle combination shall be 105 feet', 19A NCAC 02D .0602(a)(5)) — beyond 105' requires Central Permit Office review. |
| Over 110'0" | 1 rear escortOverall length over 110': 1 rear escort (NCDOT Handbook p.16). No overall statutory length limit and no length-based superload trigger; standard single-trip caps ~105' (mobile homes ≤105'). |
| 150'0" and over | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOverall length 150' or greater: front + rear escort (Handbook verbatim 'for overall length 150 feet or greater' — the newest source; SL-6/E-9 say 'in excess of'; inclusive) |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 15'0" and over | 1 rear escortRear overhang 15' or more: 1 rear escort (NCDOT Publication E-/pilot-car rule). Rear overhang max without permit is 14'. |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 112,000 lbs | Travel window appliesGVW over 112,000 lb: sunrise-to-sunset only — 24/7 continuous travel is reserved for OW-only loads ≤112,000 lb with no over-dimension (ST-1/AN-1; 02D .0607(a)(3)) — and the July 4 / Thanksgiving / Christmas embargo applies at this weight even with legal dimensions. |
| Over 132,000 lbs | route survey · superloadGVW over 132,000 lb = SUPERLOAD: $100 non-refundable engineering application + $12 weight dimension + $3.00 per 1,000 lb of GVW over 132,000 (§20-119(b) verbatim; billed by) |
| 150,000 lbs and over | 1 front escortGVW 150,000 lb or greater: 1 front escort at any width (SL-6 verbatim 'Front escort for permitted loads of 150,000lbs. or greater'; Handbook: 'greater than 149,999 pounds' — inclusive) |
2/3 lane (undivided)
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 12'0" | 1 front escort2-lane / two-way: over 12' wide = 1 FRONT escort (NCDOT pilot-car rule). Road-type position FLIP — on a multilane (4+ lane) road the same >12' load takes a REAR escort instead.Metro rush ban: loads over 12' wide may not travel within a 10-mile radius of the city limits of Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill 7:00–9:00 a.m. and 4:00–6:00 p.m. (ST-1/SL-6/AN-1 verbatim). |
| Over 14'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOver 14' wide = front + rear escort, IMMEDIATE, on ALL road types (no road-type distinction above 14'; NCDOT pilot-car rule). |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort · 1 police escortWidth over 16': 3 escorts total, 1 of which MUST be NC State Highway Patrol — SL-6 verbatim 'Total of three (3) escorts (one must be NC State Hwy Patrol) for permitted loads exceeding 16\' in width.' A 16'1"–16'11" load is still a ROUTINE single trip (written application ≥2 business days prior — ST-1); the superload/engineering tier starts at 17'. |
| 17'0" and over | route survey · superloadWidth 17' or greater = SUPERLOAD (SL-6 verbatim 'Width: 17\' or greater'; ST-1 caps routine single trips at '16\' 11" maximum'): $100 non-refundable engineering application + bridge/pavement review ≥10 business days; approved studies expire after 90 days. (19A NCAC 02D .0601(c)'s older '15 feet or more' text lags NCDOT's own publications — the 2019-rule figure triggers nothing in current practice;) |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 14'5" | 1 front escort · height poleOver 14'5" high: front escort WITH height-pole indicator — ONE vehicle ('Front pole car escort equipped with height pole indicator for permitted loads exceeding 14 feet 5 inches in height', Handbook p.18; E-9: 'Height Pole Indicator - required for front escort vehicle for overheight moves in excess of 14\' 5" |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 80'0" | Conditions applyNC length legality is CONFIG-BASED, not one overall number: combinations cap at 60' overall and single vehicles at 40' — EXCEPT a tractor + ≤53' semitrailer, which 'may exceed the 60-foot maximum length' with NO overall cap (G.S. 20-116(d),(e)). A >53' trailer or a non-conforming combination is the real permit trigger (one $12 length dimension). Routine permitted ceiling is 105' overall ('The maximum length for a vehicle or vehicle combination shall be 105 feet', 19A NCAC 02D .0602(a)(5)) — beyond 105' requires Central Permit Office review. |
| Over 110'0" | 1 rear escortOverall length over 110': 1 rear escort (NCDOT Handbook p.16). No overall statutory length limit and no length-based superload trigger; standard single-trip caps ~105' (mobile homes ≤105'). |
| 150'0" and over | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortOverall length 150' or greater: front + rear escort (Handbook verbatim 'for overall length 150 feet or greater' — the newest source; SL-6/E-9 say 'in excess of'; inclusive) |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 15'0" and over | 1 rear escortRear overhang 15' or more: 1 rear escort (NCDOT Publication E-/pilot-car rule). Rear overhang max without permit is 14'. |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 112,000 lbs | Travel window appliesGVW over 112,000 lb: sunrise-to-sunset only — 24/7 continuous travel is reserved for OW-only loads ≤112,000 lb with no over-dimension (ST-1/AN-1; 02D .0607(a)(3)) — and the July 4 / Thanksgiving / Christmas embargo applies at this weight even with legal dimensions. |
| Over 132,000 lbs | route survey · superloadGVW over 132,000 lb = SUPERLOAD: $100 non-refundable engineering application + $12 weight dimension + $3.00 per 1,000 lb of GVW over 132,000 (§20-119(b) verbatim; billed by) |
| 150,000 lbs and over | 1 front escortGVW 150,000 lb or greater: 1 front escort at any width (SL-6 verbatim 'Front escort for permitted loads of 150,000lbs. or greater'; Handbook: 'greater than 149,999 pounds' — inclusive) |
Movement restrictions
| Restriction | In North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Night travel | Daylight hours only |
| Weekends | No blanket restriction |
| Holidays | Restricted |
Movement hours
| Situation | Window |
|---|---|
| General permitted loads | sunrise → sunset, Monday–Sunday (no weekend ban) |
| OW-only ≤112,000 lb, no over-dimension | CONTINUOUS — 24 hr / 365 days (ST-1/AN-1; 02D .0607(a)(3)) |
| OW >112,000 lb or any over-dimension | sunrise → sunset only |
| Superloads (≥17′W / >132k / axle-over) | sunrise → sunset; continuous travel never authorized (SL-6) |
| >12′ wide near Charlotte · Raleigh · Durham · Chapel Hill | banned 7–9 a.m. + 4–6 p.m. within 10 mi of city limits |
| 16′ mobile/modular homes | Mon–Sat 9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (02D .0607(a)(1)) |
| Holidays — ONLY July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas (OS or >112k) | noon weekday-before → noon weekday-after; Sat/Sun holiday: Fri noon → Mon noon (2026: 7/3→7/6, 11/25→11/27, 12/24→12/28) |
| Other holidays (New Year's, MLK, Memorial, Labor, Veterans…) | office closures only — travel proceeds on a prior-issued permit |
| Weather | no movement under 500′ visibility; >10′-wide mobile/modular parks at gusts >25 mph |
| Speed / spacing | posted limits (mobile-home combos max 60 mph); ≥2-mile spacing between permitted loads |
| Ports & emergencies | after-sunset travel to/from international ports cannot be prohibited (§20-119(b3)); emergency permits 24/7 |
Routine permit weight ladder (ST-1/AN-1 = 02D .0602(d))
| Metric | Routine permit maximum |
|---|---|
| Steer axle | 20,000 lb (beyond = superload) |
| Single axle | 25,000 lb |
| Tandem group | 50,000 lb |
| Tridem group | 60,000 lb |
| Quad+ group | 68,000 lb |
| Gross — 5 axles | 112,000 lb (94,500 under 51′ wheelbase) |
| Gross — 6 axles | 120,000 lb (108,000 under 51′ wheelbase) |
| Gross — 7 axles | 132,000 lb (122,000 under 51′ wheelbase) |
| Above 132,000 lb / any axle over | superload — engineering study, $100 application, ≥10 business days |
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.
| North Carolina permit office | |
|---|---|
| Permit office | 888-574-6683 |
| Filing notes | PIMS portal: https://pims.services.ncdot.gov/ (online self-service; also phone — max 4 permits/call, fax, mail, walk-in) |
G.S. 20-115.1/-116/-117/-118/-119 (current through S.L. 2026-7 · connect.ncdot.gov · in effect since 2024-01-01. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.