A Building and Setback Permit must be issued prior to the construction of a new building or an addition to an existing building that is located on a County Road. Information including location of the proposed structure and a description of the existing drainage system will be required.
Road Permits and Fees
A county permit is required for certain types of road-related activities. Please note that the county provides permits for activities on County Roads only. Contact your local municipality if you intend on using local roads.
An administration fee and, in some cases, a deposit is also required.
**Please be advised that any holiday administration office hours may delay the processing of permits**
NOTE: A Certificate of Insurance naming the County of Essex as an additional insured must be submitted with a moving permit application. The certificate should state a minimum of $5,000,000 auto and $5,000,000 general liability coverage, including a cross liability clause and a 30-day cancellation notice. This insurance certificate must meet the County of Essex requirements before the permit can be approved.
Purchase Permits:
Types of County Road permits:
Entrance / Other Miscellaneous Works Permits
An entrance / other miscellaneous works permit is required to construct a new entrance (driveway) or alter an existing entrance onto a County Road. Information including a description and location of the property and a description of the existing drainage system will be required.
An entrance and other miscellaneous works permit must be issued prior to the construction or alteration of any driveway or passway or other access for any purpose whatsoever over to or from any public highway within the jurisdiction of the County of Essex.
An entrance and other miscellaneous works permit must be issued prior to the breaking up of, or alteration of, any earth, gravel, curb, sidewalk, shoulder, or any surface of any public highway within the jurisdiction of the County of Essex.
A moving permit is required when the weight or dimensions of a vehicle exceeds the normal limits permitted by the County of Essex. Permits can be issued as:
- Single Trip
- Superload
- Project Permit (Multiple Trip)
- Annual (Blanket)
Oversize loads:
- Wider than 2.6 metres (8.5 ft)
- Longer than 12.5 metres (41 ft) for Single Vehicles
- Longer than 14.65 metres (48 ft) for Semi-Trailers
- Higher than 4.15 metres (13.5 ft)
Overweight loads:
- Exceeds the maximum allowable unit weight (36,364 kg or 80,000 lbs)
Superloads:
- Any loads that are in excess of 120,000 kg (264,000 lbs), gross vehicle weight, and/or 6 metres in width, and/or 45.75 metres in length, are considered to be "superloads".
Note: "Superloads" are not considered to be routine applications and will require additional time for processing and will be subject to a thorough review.
The following information must be supplied to the County when applying for any moving permit:
- A copy of the Applicant's Liability Insurance
- The item/product to be moved
- The overall dimensions of the load (including vehicle)
- The exact route the Applicant proposed to take and final destination
- The date of the move (min. 3 days notice required or expedited fees will apply)
- An axle spacing and Loading sketch if the load exceeds the max. allowable weight.
Load limit policy and by-law
There are some County roads that restrict axle loading to a maximum of 5 tonnes per axle to protect them from damage. The load restrictions apply only when the signs are displayed during the Load Restriction period including but not restricted to the period of March 1 to April 30, inclusive in each and every year. When planning your route, please refer to our map of County Roads with Load Restrictions
By-law 2021-08 regulates traffic and parking on highways within the Essex County roads system.
Schedule K provides a list of roads where seasonal load limits apply.
Schedule L provides a list of roads with year-round load limits.
| Type of Fee | Name of Fee | Unit | Description / Special Notes | Cost Per Unit | Deposit Per Unit |
|
Moving Permit |
Event Specific - Single Trip Permit |
each |
single trip moving permit |
$150.00 |
|
|
Moving Permit |
Product Specific - Multiple Trips Permit |
per product |
multiple trips - one product |
$300.00 |
|
|
Moving Permit |
Blanket Permit - Annual Trips |
each |
multiple trips & product |
$300.00 |
|
|
Moving Permit |
Superload Moving Permit |
each |
Fee is charged as opposed to the normal permit fee |
$500.00 |
|
|
Moving Permit |
Expedited Moving Permit |
each |
Fee is charged as opposed to the normal permit fee |
$500.00 |
|
|
Moving Permit |
Additional Fleet Vehicles Permit |
per vehicle |
Fee for each additional vehicle listed on a permit |
$30.00 |
|
|
Moving Permit |
Permit Amendments |
each |
Amendments to permits after processed |
$25.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Altering an existing entrance fee |
each |
$75.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Constructing a new entrance (Permanent) fee |
each |
$250.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Constructing a new entrance crossing a Municipal Drain (Permanent) fee |
each |
$150.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Constructing a new entrance (Temporary) fee |
per entrance / yr. |
$150.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Constructing a new entrance (Temporary Industrial) fee |
per entrance / yr. |
$250.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Paving an existing entrance (Residential) fee |
each |
$75.00 |
$500.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Closing-in a County-owned roadside ditch (Single Lot) fee |
per lot |
$500.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Closing-in a County-owned roadside ditch (Multiple Lot) fee |
per lot |
$450.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Installation of private underground hydro service fee |
each |
$150.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Installation of private storm sewer/drainage outlet or water supply across roadway fee |
each |
$150.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Access Management |
Construction of a public road intersection (design and inspection provided by a consulting engineer) fee |
each |
$1,500 |
$2,500.00 |
|
|
Administration |
Work Permit |
each |
$150.00 |
|
|
|
Sign |
All signs fees (initial permit) |
each |
$150.00 |
|
|
|
Sign |
Annual signs fees (annual renewal) |
each |
100.00 |
|
|
|
Sign |
Installation of New Tourism Oriented Destination Signs (TODS) sign fee |
each |
$500.00 |
|
|
|
Sign |
Annual TODS sign fee |
each |
$350.00 |
|
|
|
Sign |
Encroachment of Wayfinding Sign fee |
each |
$150.00 |
|
|
|
Sign |
Detour Route & Detour Sign Permit |
each |
$450.00 |
|
|
|
Land Use |
Setback Permit |
each |
$150.00 |
$1,000.00 |
|
|
Transportation Planning |
Fee for review of Transportation Impact Studies |
each |
$500.00 |
|
|
|
Transportation Planning |
Fee for most current Traffic Data |
each |
$50.00 |
|
|
|
Transportation Planning |
Fee for historical Traffic Data |
each |
$250.00 |
|
|
|
Transportation Planning |
Fee for hard copy Tender Packages including applicable drawings |
each |
$50.00 |
|
|
|
Transportation Planning |
Fee for copies of Special Studies and Reports |
each |
$250.00 |
|
|
|
Transportation Planning |
Fee for copies of Transportation Planning Maps |
each |
$50.00 |
|