Colorado Oversize Permits

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

⚠ 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: 14.5ft (174in)
Max overall combination length: 75ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 36,000 lbs

C.R.S. 42-4-504: a driver shall not drive a vehicle, unladen or with load, exceeding a height of 14 ft 6 in (174 in). The same section requires CDOT to designate highways carrying overhead structures with less than 14 ft 6 in of vertical clearance, so posted structure clearances still govern the actual route.

Official source for this height limit →

Colorado is governed by a LADEN vs UNLADEN distinction that no other jurisdiction in this dataset uses, which is why it has no single trailer number. CRS 42-4-504(4.5)(b): a LADEN combination may not exceed 75 ft overall — that is the figure that binds a loaded truck and the one shown here. CRS 42-4-504(4) removes the length limit for an UNLADEN combination whose trailer is 57 ft 4 in or less. ⚠️ Colorado sets NO standalone maximum semitrailer length: "57 ft 4 in" appears exactly once in all of CRS Title 42 and functions as the UNLADEN EXEMPTION THRESHOLD, not a trailer maximum. The Legislative Council handbook's "57.3 foot semitrailer" is a secondary summary table, not operative statutory text — do not publish it as a trailer limit. ⚠️ CDOT's own rule 2 CCR 601-4 s.305.4.1 states "no length limit when trailer is 57 ft 4 in or less" WITHOUT the laden qualifier its own statute requires; publishing CDOT's wording would tell operators a LOADED combination is uncapped, which is false. Colorado State Patrol's chart matches the statute, not CDOT's rule. If you are running loaded — which on this platform you are — 75 ft overall is your number.

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: 11ft wide
Rear escort required over: 11ft wide
Both escorts required over: 11ft wide
Height escort required over: 16ft tall

Escort requirements are ROUTE-COLOR dependent per CDOT's Pilot Escort and Oversize Restriction Map. Blue routes: >8'6"-11'=1 front escort; >11'-13'=1 front+1 rear; >13'=Chapter 6 Special. Yellow routes: >11'-13'=1 front; >13'-15'=1 front + 1 rear (or rear flashing yellow light); >15'=Ch.6 Special. Green/white routes vary (generally escorts begin >13'-15'). Red routes: any width >8'6"=Ch.6 Special. Height: >16'=front escort with height pole; >17' requires licensed signal contractor at signalized intersections; >17'6" requires route survey. Length escort: >85' on mountainous 2-lane=1 front; >110' non-mountainous 2-lane=1 front; >115' four-lane=1 rear. Front overhang >15'=front car; rear overhang >25'=rear car. Pilot escort drivers must be Colorado-certified (or reciprocal). Not weight-tied. NOTE: front-escort trigger is route-color specific (as low as >8'6" on blue routes) so the structured front-escort field is left unset; use this note + the CDOT route map.

Travel Restrictions

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

Denver-area curfew 6:00-9:00am & 3:00-6:00pm Mon-Fri on listed I-25/I-70/I-76/I-225/I-270 and SH segments (unless Ch.6 Special/Super Load). Colorado Springs & Pueblo: 7:00-9:00am & 4:00-6:00pm Mon-Fri. Aspen-Carbondale SH82: 7-9am & 4-6pm Mon-Fri. Central City: travel only 3:00-11:00am. Clear Creek Canyon US6: prohibited all day. I-70 West Corridor seasonal (May15-Sep15) Fri/Sat/Sun restrictions. Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels: >11' width must stop and get permission, >13'11" height prohibited. >13' width must use farthest right lane. Night: >14' width prohibited during darkness unless Ch.6 Special.

Holiday blackouts: Extra-legal loads (non-LVC) prohibited 6:00am-9:00pm on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, plus 12:00 noon-9:00pm the preceding Friday. Loads MAY travel New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas (LVCs blocked on the Fri before if holiday is Sat, or Mon after if holiday is Sun). Cripple Creek area extra Fri/Sat/Sun 3-7pm restrictions on SH24/SH67.

See how Colorado compares to every state ›

Superload Thresholds

Width over: 17ft
Height over: 16ft
Length over: 130ft
Weight over: 200,000 lbs

A 'Super Load' is a sub-permit of a Chapter 6 Special (2 CCR 601-4 s.300.10, per C.R.S. 42-4-510(1.7)). A Chapter 6 Special is required when a load exceeds the Annual OSOW maximum limits: height >16 ft, width >17 ft, GVW >200,000 lbs, or length >130 ft (four-lane) / >120 ft (non-mountainous two-lane) / >110 ft (mountainous two-lane). Route survey required for >17'6" height or >130' length.

Estimated Permit Cost Verify before relying

$15 oversize / $15 + $5 per axle overweight / $125 special — doubled by SB09-108 surcharge

Source: CDOT "FYI: Legal Load and Permit Info" — verify current fee with the permit office before budgeting a move.

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://coopr.codot.gov
Phone: 303-757-9539

Mountain pass restrictions vary seasonally. I-70 mountain corridor has specific time restrictions.

Planning a move through Colorado?

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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