Hauling & Moving Permits

A moving and hauling permit is required if the items being moved are over the following dimensions:

• Gross Weight: 80,000 pounds
• Weight (single axle): 20,000 pounds
• Weight (tandem axle): 34,000 pounds
• Height: 13 feet, 6 inches
• Length: 40-foot vehicle alone or 65-foot combination of vehicles
• Width: All vehicles over 8 feet, 6 inches

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)/Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has jurisdiction only on those roads maintained by VDOT: I-64, I-464, I-664 and Route 58. The State Permit issued by VDOT/DMV is valid on these routes only. The City of Chesapeake has jurisdiction on and issues permits for all other roads.

• A description of the equipment and/or materials to be moved
• Overall dimensions and gross weight of vehicle and load
• Truck and/or trailer license number of vehicle or vehicles and State in which licensed (this information is only necessary for single trip permits)
• Origin and destination of movement within the City of Chesapeake
• Proposed roadway routes over which movement is requested
• Requests for overweight vehicles must include maximum weight requested, distance between steering axle and rearmost axle and the number of axles on vehicle/vehicle combination
• Copy of the VDOT moving and hauling permit for the vehicle, if applicable
• Copy of a valid certificate of automobile liability insurance in the amount of $500,000

The permittee must comply with all travel regulations and operational provisions printed on the moving and hauling permit or contained in the City of Chesapeake's manual.

The permittee assumes all responsibility for any injury to persons or damage to public or private property caused directly or indirectly by the transportation of vehicles and loads under a permit. Furthermore, the permittee agrees to hold the City of Chesapeake harmless from all suits, claims, damages or proceedings of any kind, as a direct or indirect result of the transportation of the vehicle and/or load.

• Annual (blanket) Permit: $250
• Mobile Crane Permit Restricted: $250
• Single Trip Permit: $75

Permits will be issued to the person or firm that will actually do the hauling. Most permits will be processed within two working days of application. Extremely over-dimensional/overweight moves may take up to 30 days to process.

Single Trip - Permits are valid for a period of 13 calendar days. In some cases, permits may be extended not to exceed a total of 30 working days. Return trips will be covered under the same permit if requested on the application.

Blanket permits - Permits will be valid for up to a one-year period. Can also be obtained from DMV along with a State of Virginia Hauling Permit.

A permit will not be issued for any vehicle or load which can reasonably be reduced to legal limitations of size and weight. Field verification may be required to determine whether an item can be reasonably reduced. The size and/or weight may be reduced as required by the Permit Office and loaded in such a manner that will conform to legal limits. Items shall not be loaded side-by-side to create over-width condition; end-to-end to create over-length conditions; or stacked to create over-height condition.

VDOT Form MP-229 contained in the VDOT Hauling Manual must be followed when transporting construction equipment. When hauling more than one item at a time, gross weight and axle weights must be in accordance with Virginia Department of Transportation regulations. The Permit Office will determine what items will be removed in order for the move to be made in a safe and efficient manner. A permit will not be issued when it is determined upon review that the move may cause undue harm to public infrastructure or to the safety and welfare of the citizens.

A hauling permit may be revoked upon written findings that the permittee violated the terms of the permit, which shall incorporate by reference these rules, as well as State and local laws and ordinances regulating the operation of overweight or oversized vehicles. Repeated violations may result in a permanent denial of the right to use the City roadways for transportation of overweight and oversized vehicle configurations. A permit may also be revoked for misrepresentation of the information on the application, fraudulently obtaining a permit, alteration of a permit or unauthorized use of a permit.

Permits will be invalid if the vehicle or vehicle combination is found by a law enforcement officer to be operating in violation of permit conditions regarding route, time of movement, licensing, number of axles or any special conditions contained within the permit.