Permits
Engineering office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Note, however, that permits can be applied for and issued online while the engineering office is closed. If you need public works emergency response, please contact our 24-hour emergency numbers for natural gas (730-4100) or water/sewer/etc. (730-4000). For Street Maintenance related concerns, please contact 730-5100 and leave a detailed message or use the Resident Problem Reporter to report non-emergency issues.
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Construction of a driveway opening within the public right-of-way requires an approved application and an excavation permit, secured by a bond and insurance.
A surety bond in the sum of $10,000 and a general comprehensive liability insurance policy is required before a driveway permit can be issued. Permits may be issued on the day of application if all requirements are met.
Driveway entrance specifications and regulations must be followed.
Fee: $135.00 (includes $65.00 base fee plus $70.00 inspection fee)
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Greater than 3,000 square feet and less than 10,000 square feet: $200
Greater than 10,000 square feet and less than 1 acre: $400
Equal to or greater than 1 acre: $925
Contact Tom Johnson at (218) 730-5103 or tajohnson@duluthmn.gov for more information
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If you have questions about the application process, please contact Engineering at (218) 730-5200.
Per Article II, Section 45-15 of the Duluth City Code, "No person within the city shall make any excavation for any purpose in the streets, public sidewalks, avenues, alleys, highways and public grounds, place any obstruction therein, or place or cause to be placed any scaffold, obstruction, equipment or materials of any kind in, upon or above any of the streets, public sidewalks, avenues, alleys, highways or public grounds of the city, or immediately adjacent thereto, without first having applied for and obtained a permit so to do from the city engineer."
A surety bond in the sum of $10,000 and a general comprehensive liability insurance policy is required before a permit can be issued. Applications for permits to close a road to traffic must be submitted a minimum of 5 business days prior to the date of the proposed closure.
Permits are issued for a two-week period; however, whoever is performing the excavation is responsible for the maintenance of the trench caused by the excavation.
Note that, per the Duluth City Code, "whenever any work is started before a permit is applied for and granted by the city engineer, a penalty will be added to the cost of the permit fee."
Fee: $135.00 (includes $65.00 base fee plus $70.00 inspection fee).
Contact Construction Services and Inspection Division at (218) 730-5240 for more information and to request the moving permit form or look for the necessary forms on their Document Library page.
If a mover is not state licensed, a Transportation/Oversized Load Permit is required and the mover may only move a structure less than 16'x20'.
If a mover is state licensed, a Transportation/Oversized Load Permit is not required. Only state licensed movers are allowed to move structures 16'x20' or larger.
- Mobile home moving note: only state licensed movers may move a new unit. Those without a state license may only move used units.
- Minnesota state highways: To move a structure using state highways, contact MnDOT for the proper state forms.
- County roads/highways in St. Louis County: To move a structure using St. Louis County roads/highways, contact St. Louis County for the proper county forms.
APPLY HERE
If you have questions about the online application process, please contact Engineering at (218) 730-5200.
Per Article II, Section 45-15 of the Duluth City Code, "No person within the city shall make any excavation for any purpose in the streets, public sidewalks, avenues, alleys, highways and public grounds, place any obstruction therein, or place or cause to be placed any scaffold, obstruction, equipment or materials of any kind in, upon or above any of the streets, public sidewalks, avenues, alleys, highways or public grounds of the city, or immediately adjacent thereto, without first having applied for and obtained a permit so to do from the city engineer."
The obstruction permit covers activities such as sidewalk repairs, roll-off boxes, scaffolding for building repair and maintenance, blocking any portion of the right-of-way with construction vehicles, materials, or any other activity that results in the obstruction of a portion or all of a street, alley, or sidewalk.
A surety bond in the sum of $10,000 and a general comprehensive liability insurance policy is required before an obstruction permit can be issued. Applications for permits to close a road to traffic must be submitted a minimum of 5 business days prior to the date of the proposed closure.
Minimum fee: $58.00 (additional charges will apply if parking spaces and/or meters will be occupied, if the permit is downtown, and if no park signs are needed).
Note that, per the Duluth City Code, "whenever any work is started before a permit is applied for and granted by the city engineer, a penalty will be added to the cost of the permit fee."
To obtain an obstruction permit for an event, please see the Special Event License under the City Clerk's Office.
Find more information out from Parking Services.
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Note: Sand may not be removed from Park Point. Sand may only be moved from one parcel to another on Park Point on approval of the Park Point Sand Transfer Permit.
Contact Engineering at (218) 730-5200 for more information.
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The soil boring application is completed under the excavation permit heading.
For soil borings located within the City right-of-way, upon completion of the soil boring log, the applicant shall convey a copy of the log, at no cost to the City, to Bill Bergstrom at bbergstrom@duluthmn.gov.
Fee: $135.00
APPLY HERE
The Transportation Permit for Oversize/Overweight allows for truck/trailer/load combinations that exceed the maximum dimensions and weight specified in state law to operate on City roads.
Please note that the seasonal permit only applies to those local contractors that move their own construction machinery and equipment for their own use.
A Transportation Permit for Oversize/Overweight is required when:
- An overall loaded width exceeds 8 ft, 6 in
- An overall loaded height exceeds 13 ft, 6 in
- An overall loaded length exceeds 75 ft, 0 in on combination vehicles
- An overall loaded length exceeds 45 ft, 0 in on single vehicles
- When the overall Gross Vehicle Weight exceeds 80,000 lbs.
Obtaining a Permit:
If you have questions about the Transportation Permit process, please contact Engineering at 218-730-5200.
The typical time for permit approval is within two business days. Please allow up to one week for Aerial Lift Bridge review and approval. If you need a permit to cross the Aerial Lift Bridge sooner than one week, there is an option for a 48-Hour Rush Review. Please be aware that this rush review has a considerably higher fee as noted in the fee section below.
City single trip permits are valid for seven consecutive days and will not be issued more than seven days before the permit start date.
A City permit is not valid on township, county or state roads and highways. Please make sure you have all required permits to cover your route.
Please review the State Aid System Map and Road Closure Map when selecting your route. You are responsible for making sure your vehicle can maneuver sharp turns and meet bridge clearances along route, if applicable.
Escorts are required for loads that cross the centerline, another driving lane in the same direction, or are wider than 14 ft 6 in.
Fees:
- Single Movement: $72.00
- Seasonal: (Local Construction Equipment Only): $140.00
- Aerial Lift Bridge: $400.00 minimum, plus $150 per hour for any review greater than 2 hours. $1,200 Rush, plus $150 per hour for any review greater than 2 hours.
*Note when you access the ePlace permitting system and go to the Apply tab, be sure to type the keyword Transportation in the search box and click Enter (or click the spyglass). The four options will pop up (single trip, seasonal, aerial lift bridge, and aerial lift bridge 48-hour review) and you can choose the one you need.
Payment Options: Credit Card
Travel Hours
Holiday Travel Restrictions:
No OSOW travel is allowed statewide from 2:00 p.m. the day before the holiday to 2:00 a.m. the day after the holiday, when exceeding 9’0” wide and/or 110’0” long.
Summer Travel Restrictions: (weekend after Memorial Day thru weekend before Labor Day)
No OSOW travel is allowed from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Sundays, when exceeding 9’0” wide and/or 110’0” long.
