Ohio Oversize Permits

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

⚠ 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: 13.5ft (162in)
Max semitrailer length: 53ft
Max single-unit vehicle length: 50ft
Gross Weight: 80,000 lbs
Single Axle: 20,000 lbs
Tandem Axle: 34,000 lbs

Ohio Rev. Code 5577.05(D): no vehicle shall have a height in excess of 13 ft 6 in (162 in), with or without load.

Official source for this height limit →

ORC 5577.05(C)(3): "Fifty-three feet for any semitrailer when operated in a commercial tractor-semitrailer combination." Clean, statewide, road-class independent — 5577.05 applies to all Ohio public highways. ⚠️ TWO figures commonly misreported as Ohio's legal maximum: (1) the 65 ft in 5577.05(C)(6) reads "for any OTHER combination of vehicles coupled together" — a residual clause that does not govern a commercial tractor-semitrailer; (2) the widely quoted 75 ft is a PERMIT ceiling from OAC 5501:2-1, applying only once you already hold a permit. Ohio's 50 ft is a single-unit limit. The only road-class split in the section is for drive-away saddlemounts (97 ft on interstate/US/state routes vs 75 ft elsewhere).

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: 13ft wide
Rear escort required over: 13ft wide
Both escorts required over: 14.5ft wide
Height escort required over: 14.5ft tall

Per ODOT Form OS-1A: one lead escort (rear on multi-lane highways) required when permitted width exceeds 13 ft (156 in). One rear escort required when permitted length exceeds 90 ft. Height-sensing lead escort required when height exceeds 14'6" (174 in). BOTH a lead and a rear escort required when width exceeds 14'6" (174 in) OR height exceeds 14'10" (178 in). If more than one base condition (width>13', length>90', height>14'6") is met, two escorts (lead+rear) required. Loads over 14'10" high must coordinate with owners of overhead signs/signals/utilities. Police escort not tied to a fixed dimension; ODOT may require one for high-risk moves. Not tied to weight.

Travel Restrictions

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

Over-dimensional loads move daylight only (1/2 hr before sunrise to 1/2 hr after sunset), Sunday through Saturday. Overweight-only loads with legal dimensions have NO day/hour restriction (may run 24/7 if they don't obstruct traffic). Loads over 12 ft wide are prohibited in 21 named metro counties (incl. Franklin, Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Summit, Lucas, Montgomery, Stark, Butler, Warren) from 6:30-9:00 a.m. and 4:30-6:00 p.m. Mon-Fri. Loads over 12 ft wide also barred Sat 3 p.m.-Sun sunrise, Sun 3 p.m.-Mon sunrise, and Fri 3 p.m.-Sat sunrise (Apr 1-Nov 30).

Holiday blackouts: No movement (except overweight-only legal-dimension loads) on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Prohibition runs from noon the day preceding until 1/2 hr before sunrise the day after the holiday or holiday weekend.

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Superload Thresholds

Width over: 14ft
Height over: 14.5ft
Length over: 150ft
Weight over: 120,000 lbs

Per ODOT SHP Operational Guide: superload = any vehicle/load with gross weight over 120,000 lbs, or axle/group weights over Guide limits, or overall width over 14'0" (168 in), or overall height over 14'6" (174 in). No stated superload length threshold.

Estimated Permit Cost Current

$55–$125 oversize by category; $125 overweight (≤120k lbs), + $0.04 per ton-mile over 60 tons above that

Source: Ohio Admin. Code 5501:2-1-05 (effective Nov 2023).

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://www.transportation.ohio.gov/working/permits/special-hauling-permits
Phone: 614-351-2300

Planning a move through Ohio?

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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