California Oversize Permits

Legal size/weight limits, escort thresholds, travel restrictions, and permit office contact for California.

⚠ REFERENCE ONLY — NOT A PERMIT. VERIFY WITH THE STATE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL.

These figures are a reference summary of publicly published state rules, not a substitute for a state-issued permit and not legal advice. Rules change — always confirm current limits and requirements directly with the state permit office before you plan or run a move. Last verified: 2026-07-16. Oversize Ops is NOT responsible and CANNOT be held liable for decisions made from this reference. Official source ↗

Legal Maximum Dimensions (no permit required)

Width: 8.5ft (102in)
Height: 14ft (168in)
Max semitrailer length: 53ft on designated routes · 48ft elsewhere
Max overall combination length: 65ft
Max kingpin to rear axle: 40ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

Cal. Veh. Code 35250: no vehicle or load may exceed 14 ft (168 in), measured from the surface on which the vehicle stands (a double-deck bus may reach 14 ft 3 in). Anything over 13 ft 6 in may be operated only on highways where the owner deems it safe — California places that judgement on the operator, not on a published route list.

Official source for this height limit →

⚠️ In California the governing rule is the KINGPIN-TO-REAR-AXLE distance, not the trailer length. CVC 35400/35401.5: 48 ft baseline on STAA/National Network routes; 53 ft only where KPRA is 40 ft or less (two or more axles) or 38 ft or less (single axle). Overall length flips between UNLIMITED on STAA routes and 65 ft on "California Legal" routes purely on route class — our stored 65 was the California-Legal overall figure. ⚠️ Cities and counties may cut the KPRA requirement to 38 ft by local ordinance, so a rig legal on one California route can be illegal on the next.

CVC 35400/35401.5: 53 ft only where KPRA is 40 ft or less (two or more axles) or 38 ft or less (single axle). ⚠️ In California the KINGPIN DISTANCE is the governing rule, not the trailer length. Cities and counties may cut the requirement to 38 ft by local ordinance, so a rig legal on one California route can be illegal on the next.

Official source for these length limits →

Escort / Pilot Car Thresholds (see glossary for terms, certification requirements for the driver)

These escort figures are route-dependent — they can change with road classification, lane width, two-lane vs multilane, and time of day. Confirm with the permit office before dispatching.

Front escort required over: 12ft wide
Rear escort required over: 12ft wide
Both escorts required over: 13.1ft wide
Height escort required over: 17ft tall

California pilot-car requirements are ROUTE-CLASSIFICATION dependent (Appendix 19 Pilot Car Table), not a single statewide width. One pilot car is generally required when width exceeds 12'0" (144 in) on Yellow/Green/Blue routes, and as low as over 10'0" (120 in) on Brown routes. FRONT vs REAR depends on road type: the pilot car precedes (front) on 2/3-lane conventional roads and follows (rear) on divided highways of 4+ lanes; a rear pilot car is also required for rear overhang over 25'0". Two pilot cars are required over 12'0" on Brown routes and at 13'1"-14'6" (157-174 in) on Blue/Brown routes; Yellow routes need only one pilot car until width exceeds 15'0". Height poles are explicitly NOT a Caltrans requirement (voluntary). Separate CHP (police) escort is required when width over 16'0" on Yellow / over 15'0" on Green/Blue/Brown; length over 185' (Yellow/Green) or over 135' (Blue/Brown); height 17'0"+ on Blue/Brown; whenever opposing lanes are used; or when slowing to cross structures. Loads over 17'0" high require a route survey. Not weight-tied.

Travel Restrictions

Night travel: Generally allowed
Weekend travel: Generally allowed
Sunday travel: Generally allowed

Per Special Conditions TR-PER-006, unless permit says 'No Night Travel': WITHOUT a pilot car, travel is 24/7 on Yellow/Green/Blue/Brown routes. WITH a pilot car: Yellow 24/7 until width over 16'0"; Green daylight incl. weekends to 15'0", darkness incl. weekends to 14'0"; Blue/Brown daylight excluding weekends to 15'0", NO darkness travel, weekend (Sat & Sun) travel only from one-half hour before sunrise to 12 noon. Metro CURFEWS in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento urban areas apply when loaded width exceeds 10'0".

Holiday blackouts: New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday (3rd Mon Feb), Memorial Day, Independence Day (Jul 4), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

See how California compares to every state ›

Top-Tier Permit Thresholds

This jurisdiction has an equivalent top permit tier under a different name. The figures below are that tier, not a class called "superload".

Width over: 15ft
Height over: 17ft
Length over: 135ft

California uses a 'Variance' permit (its superload equivalent) for loads over 15'0" (180 in) wide, 17'0" (204 in)+ high, over 135'0" long, or on special hauling equipment exceeding standard weight classification. Variance loads require engineering review; no single numeric superload gross-weight threshold is published (weight extremes handled via extralegal 'Purple Chart' limits and case-by-case bridge/structure review).

Estimated Permit Cost Current

$16 single-trip / $90 annual

Source: Caltrans CVO Permits Manual (Jan 2026).

Permit fee only — does not include escort/pilot-car service costs (market-rate, arranged separately) or third-party permit-service fees. This is an estimate for planning purposes, not a quote.

Get a Permit

Online portal: https://ctps.dot.ca.gov/
Phone: 916-322-1297

CHP escort required for superloads. COMET online system for permits. Special restrictions in some urban corridors.

Planning a move through California?

Enter your load's exact size to see whether it needs a permit or escort here, plan a truck-legal route, or find a transporter or escort.

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