ND
North Dakota oversize permit rules
What North Dakota 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 2025-11-21.
Oversize permit
$20
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 $20
Scales with distance and weight — 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 North Dakota and you need a permit for this state.
| Limit | Interstate | Off-interstate |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'6" |
| Height | 14'0" | 14'0" |
| Length | 75'0" | 75'0" |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbs | 105,500 lbs |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbs | |
| Tandem axle | 34,000 lbs | |
| Trailer length | 53'0" |
What the permit costs
North Dakota 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 16'0" | 1 rear escort4-lane divided: over 16 ft wide = 1 REAR pilot car only — 'On four-lane divided highways there are no pilot car requirements for movements not exceeding 16 feet in width' and a front pilot is never required on 4-lane divided (Policy 9-6 §A.4.a-b). On 2-lane the same width needs FRONT + REAR — position and count flip by road type.Policy 9-6 §A.2.b: permits for movements exceeding 16 feet [wide] shall not be issued for Saturday after 12 noon, all day Sunday, or the holidays of New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. No overwidth permit exceeding 16 feet is valid from 12 noon the day before the holiday until sunrise the day after. Escape valve: 'The superintendent may authorize a single trip permit for weekends or holidays' (NDAC 38-06-02-07(3)). |
| Over 18'0" | 1 rear escortExceeding 18 feet in overall width: 'subject to Highway Patrol escort if deemed necessary by the regional commander(s)' (Policy 9-6 §A.4.c) — DISCRETIONARY, in addition to private pilot cars; the mover must contact the regional commander(s). NDHP escort fee $50/hour and $0.50/mile per trooper (§B.5.i). Double trailers not allowed when overall width exceeds 18 ft (§A.5.g). ND has NO codified dimensional superload tier — 18 ft is an escort-escalation trigger only. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 18'0" | 1 front escortOver 18 ft high: one pilot car shall PRECEDE the movement (NDAC 38-06-02-03(4)); written authority from utility companies required to travel under overhead wires (Policy 9-6 §A.5.b). 'ALL VERTICAL CLEARANCES SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERMITTEE' — communication cables can run as low as 15'6". No stated numeric permit-height cap; the ceiling is the lowest clearance on the permitted route. Route-specific: 16' or higher on US-85 between Grassy Butte and Williston must contact WAPA in advance (E-Permits utility list). The governing text is 'exceeding eighteen feet' (exclusive); the portal's informal '18 ft. or higher' is looser wording, not the rule. |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 120'0" | 1 rear escortOver 120 ft overall length: pilot car required (Policy 9-6 §A.4.a: 'All movements exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width, 18 feet in height, and 120 feet in overall length are required to have official escort or approved pilot cars'). |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 4'0" and over | Marking requiredLoad extending 4 feet or more beyond the rear: 'the overhang shall be marked' with a red flag (day) / red light (night) — Policy 9-6 §A.3.f. Marking requirement only; ND publishes no numeric rear-overhang maximum. |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 200,000 lbs | route survey · superloadGVW over 200,000 lb: 'All movements exceeding 200,000 pounds gross vehicle weight are subject to the Heavy Load Permit Policy (Policy 9-6 Annex E)' (§A.8.c) — District Engineer approval + bridge-analysis routing. The $0.05/ton-mile charge applies on the portion of GVW exceeding 200,000 lb (NDAC 38-06-03-01 §3, included in the OW fee). Routine permit GVW runs to 250,000 lb (Policy 9-6D); above 250,000 lb a track-width diagram is required (§B.1.a.4.a). NDHP escort remains at regional-commander discretion. Expect a $25 engineering fee 'when additional analysis is required' (NDCC 39-12-02(3)(d); P9-6E §B.8.d.6), NDHP escort/traffic-control billing where imposed ($50/hr + $0.50/mi per trooper), and note the ton-mile fee 'may be reduced based on axle weights, axle configuration, and roadway conditions' (9-6E §B.8.b) |
2-lane (undivided)
| Width | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 14'6" | 1 front escort, or amber light2-lane: over 14'6" wide (to 16') = 1 FRONT pilot 300–700 ft ahead — OR, in lieu of the pilot, the overwidth vehicle ITSELF may carry a lighted rotating/flashing amber light visible front and rear ≥500 ft (NDAC 38-06-02-03(1) verbatim; condition-free — no day-only or road-class strings). The cheapest compliant quote bills the amber option; above 16' the substitute vanishes. No pilot at this width on 4-lane divided. |
| Over 16'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escort2-lane: over 16 ft wide = FRONT + REAR pilot cars (NDAC 38-06-02-03(2): 'All movements exceeding sixteen feet in overall width shall have one pilot car precede the movement at a distance of three hundred to seven hundred feet and shall have one pilot car follow the movement'). The amber-light substitute is no longer available above 16 ft. On 4-lane divided the same width is 1 rear only.Policy 9-6 §A.2.b: permits for movements exceeding 16 feet [wide] shall not be issued for Saturday after 12 noon, all day Sunday, or the holidays of New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. No overwidth permit exceeding 16 feet is valid from 12 noon the day before the holiday until sunrise the day after. Escape valve: 'The superintendent may authorize a single trip permit for weekends or holidays' (NDAC 38-06-02-07(3)). |
| Over 18'0" | 1 front escort + 1 rear escortExceeding 18 feet in overall width: 'subject to Highway Patrol escort if deemed necessary by the regional commander(s)' (Policy 9-6 §A.4.c) — DISCRETIONARY, in addition to private pilot cars; the mover must contact the regional commander(s). NDHP escort fee $50/hour and $0.50/mile per trooper (§B.5.i). Double trailers not allowed when overall width exceeds 18 ft (§A.5.g). ND has NO codified dimensional superload tier — 18 ft is an escort-escalation trigger only. |
| Height | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 18'0" | 1 front escortOver 18 ft high: one pilot car shall PRECEDE the movement (NDAC 38-06-02-03(4)); written authority from utility companies required to travel under overhead wires (Policy 9-6 §A.5.b). 'ALL VERTICAL CLEARANCES SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERMITTEE' — communication cables can run as low as 15'6". No stated numeric permit-height cap; the ceiling is the lowest clearance on the permitted route. Route-specific: 16' or higher on US-85 between Grassy Butte and Williston must contact WAPA in advance (E-Permits utility list). The governing text is 'exceeding eighteen feet' (exclusive); the portal's informal '18 ft. or higher' is looser wording, not the rule. |
| Length | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 120'0" | 1 rear escortOver 120 ft overall length: pilot car required (Policy 9-6 §A.4.a: 'All movements exceeding 14 feet 6 inches in width, 18 feet in height, and 120 feet in overall length are required to have official escort or approved pilot cars'). |
| Rear overhang | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 4'0" and over | Marking requiredLoad extending 4 feet or more beyond the rear: 'the overhang shall be marked' with a red flag (day) / red light (night) — Policy 9-6 §A.3.f. Marking requirement only; ND publishes no numeric rear-overhang maximum. |
| Weight | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Over 200,000 lbs | route survey · superloadGVW over 200,000 lb: 'All movements exceeding 200,000 pounds gross vehicle weight are subject to the Heavy Load Permit Policy (Policy 9-6 Annex E)' (§A.8.c) — District Engineer approval + bridge-analysis routing. The $0.05/ton-mile charge applies on the portion of GVW exceeding 200,000 lb (NDAC 38-06-03-01 §3, included in the OW fee). Routine permit GVW runs to 250,000 lb (Policy 9-6D); above 250,000 lb a track-width diagram is required (§B.1.a.4.a). NDHP escort remains at regional-commander discretion. Expect a $25 engineering fee 'when additional analysis is required' (NDCC 39-12-02(3)(d); P9-6E §B.8.d.6), NDHP escort/traffic-control billing where imposed ($50/hr + $0.50/mi per trooper), and note the ton-mile fee 'may be reduced based on axle weights, axle configuration, and roadway conditions' (9-6E §B.8.b) |
Movement restrictions
| Restriction | In North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Night travel | Daylight hours only |
| Weekends | No blanket restriction |
| Holidays | No blanket restriction |
Movement hours
| Situation | Window |
|---|---|
| Overdimensional (general) | ½ hr before sunrise → ½ hr after sunset, 7 days (P9-6 §A.2.a) |
| OS ≤12′ wide AND ≤120′ long | day AND night with proper lighting (clearance lights beyond 8′6″, cab amber visible 500′, hold posted speed) |
| Overweight-only (no OS dimension) | unrestricted — the sunset rule attaches only to overdimensional movements |
| Overwidth >16′ | NO Saturday after 12 noon, all day Sunday, or New Year's · Memorial · Independence · Labor · Thanksgiving · Christmas; permit invalid noon-day-before → sunrise-day-after (superintendent may authorize exceptions) |
| OW on bituminous pavement | banned at 90 °F or above (§A.6.c) |
| All permits | void in inclement weather — slippery roads or visibility ≤ ½ mile (§A.2.c) |
| Superintendent approval | any movement time may be authorized (§A.2.a.2; NDAC 38-06-02-07(3)) |
| Spring thaw / restricted roads | separate ton-mile surcharge schedule applies when posted (NDAC 38-06-03-01(6)) |
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 Dakota permit office | |
|---|---|
| Permit office | 701-328-2621 |
| Filing notes | [email protected] · E-Permits portal: apps.nd.gov/ndhp/epermits (auto-routing + fees; permits not subject to approval issue 24/7) |
NDHP Policy 9-6 (rev. 11/21/2025 · statepatrol.nd.gov · in effect since 2025-11-21. Fees and rules change; the linked document is always the authority.