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North Carolina Oversize Permits
Legal size/weight limits, escort thresholds, travel restrictions, and permit office contact for North Carolina.
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
- 13.5ft (162in)
- Max semitrailer length
- 53ft
- Max kingpin to rear axle
- 41ft
- Gross Weight
- 80,000 lbs
- Single Axle
- 20,000 lbs
- Tandem Axle
- 38,000 lbs
N.C.G.S. 20-116(c): no vehicle, unladen or with load, shall exceed 13 ft 6 in (162 in). ⚠️ Neither the State nor any agency or subdivision is required to raise or alter any underpass, wire, pole, trestle or other structure for a vehicle over 12 FT 6 IN, and the operator or owner of any vehicle over 12 ft 6 in is LIABLE for damage to any structure caused by that excess height. Legal to 13 ft 6 in, at your own risk above 12 ft 6 in.
Official source for this height limit →
No overall length limitation for a tractor-semitrailer (NCGS 20-115.1(d)). ⚠️ Our previous 60 ft came from NCGS 20-116(e), which EXPRESSLY excepts tractor + semitrailer of 53 ft or less — such a combination "may exceed the 60-foot maximum length." Do not report 60 ft for NC. ⚠️ The 53 ft is NOT unconditional: lawful only where kingpin-to-rearmost-axle is 41 ft or less (46 ft for motorsports haulers), AND any semitrailer over 48 ft carries a conforming rear underride guard. A 53 ft trailer with a 45 ft KPRA is legal in many states and ILLEGAL in North Carolina.
A 53 ft trailer is lawful only if kingpin-to-rearmost-axle is 41 ft or less. 46 ft for trailers used exclusively or primarily to haul motorsports-competition vehicles. A 53 ft trailer with a 45 ft KPRA is legal in many states and ILLEGAL here.
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
- 14ft wide
- Height escort required over
- 14.4ft tall
- Weight escort required over
- 150,000 lbs
NCDOT escort thresholds (Oversize/Overweight Permit Handbook + Pub E-9): FRONT escort for width more than 12 ft (>144 in) on two-lane/two-way highways; on multi-lane highways an over-12-ft load requires a REAR escort instead. FRONT AND REAR escorts for width exceeding 14 ft (>168 in) on two-lane roads. THREE escorts for width over 16 ft (>192 in), ONE of which must be NC State Highway Patrol (police). Front pole-car escort with height-pole indicator for overheight exceeding 14 ft 5 in (>173 in). Length: REAR escort for length over 110 ft; FRONT AND REAR for overall length 150 ft or greater; REAR escort for rear overhang 15 ft or greater. Weight: FRONT escort for weight greater than 149,999 lbs (i.e., 150,000 lbs and up). All escort operators must hold NC-approved certification.
Travel Restrictions
- Night travel
- Generally restricted
- Weekend travel
- Generally allowed
- Sunday travel
- Generally restricted
General commodities/equipment and 12-14 ft mobile homes: Monday-Saturday sunrise to sunset only; NO Sunday travel and NO sunset-to-sunrise movement unless stated on the permit. 16-ft mobile/manufactured homes: Mon-Sat 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. only. METRO CURFEW: loads over 12 ft wide prohibited within a 10-mile radius of Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. CONTINUOUS 24/7 travel authorized ONLY if permitted gross weight does not exceed 112,000 lbs AND no over-dimension. No move when visibility under 500 ft, highway snow/ice covered, or unsafe; mobile/modular units over 10 ft wide may not move when wind gusts exceed 25 mph. Permitted vehicles must travel at least 2 miles apart.
Holiday blackouts: Vehicles over 112,000 lbs AND/OR any over-dimension cannot travel from NOON the weekday before until NOON the weekday after: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Properly permitted vehicles may travel on all other observed holidays.
Superload Thresholds
- Width over
- 15ft
- Length over
- 150ft
- Weight over
- 132,000 lbs
A superload exceeds routine permit policy and may require engineering/bridge review (Pub SL-6). A written superload application (form PF-20) with schematics is required at least 10 working days before the move. Triggered when: gross weight exceeds 132,000 lbs; steer-axle weight exceeds 20,000 lbs; or width exceeds 15 ft (>180 in). Fees: $100 application fee plus state fee plus $3 per 1,000 lbs over 132,000 lbs. No numeric superload height or length threshold defined.
Estimated Permit Cost Verify before relying
$12–$48 by dimension/weight; superload +$100 application fee + $3 per 1,000 lb over 132,000
⚠ Source document is dated 2010 (~16 years old) — the highest staleness risk in this dataset. Confirm directly with NCDOT before relying on this.
Source: NCDOT Handbook — 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://connect.ncdot.gov/business/trucking/Pages/OverPermits.aspx
- Phone
- 1-888-221-8166
NC tandem axle limit 38,000 lbs (higher than federal for intrastate). NCDOT online portal.
Planning a move through North Carolina?
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