ARC 0069D

ARC 0069D

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT[761]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rulemaking related to special permits for operation and movement of vehicles and loads of excess size and weight and providing an opportunity for public comment

    The Transportation Department hereby proposes to amend Chapter 511, “Special Permits for Operation and Movement of Vehicles and Loads of Excess Size and Weight,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code sections 321E.3 and 321E.15.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code sections 321E.3 and 321E.12.

Purpose and Summary

    The purpose of the proposed amendments to the chapter is to comply with 2025 Iowa Acts, House File 979, sections 1 and 4.

    House File 979 amended Iowa Code section 321E.3. Changes to Iowa Code section 321E.3 include an alteration in the routes for which the Department may issue all-systems permits under Iowa Code section 321E.8, a requirement for secondary roads and designated truck routes to be valid unless the local authority communicates the nonvalid designation to the Department in writing, and a requirement for a local authority to work with the Department to find an alternate route for a permitted vehicle if all roads to the loading or unloading destination are not valid. Iowa Code section 321E.3 also now states that all nonvalid designations are subject to Department review and requires the Department to adopt rules to resolve exemption determination disputes and establish a process for alternate route requests.

    House File 979 also amended Iowa Code section 321E.12 to allow a vehicle traveling under a single-trip permit to meet the statutory requirement to be registered for the gross weight of the vehicle and load by collecting the required tonnage fees along with the permit application.

Regulatory Analysis

    A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on December 10, 2025. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   December 30, 2025

    The Department received no comments.

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 761—Chapter 11.

Public Comment

     Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rulemaking, which must be received by the Department no later than 4:30 p.m. on March 10, 2026. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

    Public hearings at which persons may present their views orally will be held as follows:

    Persons who wish to make oral comments at a public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rulemaking.

     Any persons who intend to attend a public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing impairments, should contact Ryan Pell and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

    The following rulemaking action is proposed:

    ITEM 1.  Amend rule 761—511.1(321E), definitions of “Emergency interstate permit” and “Permit-issuing authority,” as follows:

    “Emergency interstate permit” means a permit issued under Iowa Code section 321E.29B 321E.27.

    “Permit-issuing authority” means the:

    1.   Department’s motor vehicle division for permits for movement on the primary road system.

    2.   Authority responsible for the maintenance of a nonprimary system of highways or streets for permits for movement on that system. However, the motor vehicle division may issue single-trip permits on primary road extensions in cities in conjunction with movement on the rural primary road system. The department may also issue all-systems permits on the secondary road and municipal systems.

    ITEM 2.  Adopt the following new definition of “Designated truck route” in rule 761—511.1(321E):

    “Designated truck route” when used in relation to the all-systems overweight permit in Iowa Code section 321E.8(2) means one or more of the following:

    1.   A route designated in a city’s code of ordinances as a truck route.

    2.   A route physically signed as a truck route.

    3.   A route designated by a city as valid for this permit, whether for a single occurrence or on a short-term or long-term basis.

    ITEM 3.  Amend subrule 511.2(1) as follows:

    511.2(1) Permits may be obtained electronically upon making application to the motor vehicle division at www.iowadot.gov/mvd/motorcarriers/oversize-overweight-trip-permits iowadot.gov/motor-carriers. Applications, forms, instructions and restrictions are also available by mail from the Motor Vehicle Division, Iowa Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 10382, Des Moines, Iowa 50306-0382; in person at 6310 SE Convenience Boulevard, Ankeny, Iowa; by telephone at 515.237.3264; or by facsimile at 515.237.3257.

    ITEM 4.  Amend paragraph 511.4(3)“d” as follows:

    d.  Emergency interstate permits issued under Iowa Code section 321E.29B 321E.27 are effective for 30 calendar days. However, the permit will not be valid past the expiration of the applicable governor’s proclamation of disaster emergency issued under Iowa Code section 29C.6 in conjunction with the presidential declaration allowing interstate travel under the Stafford Act or the expiration of the declaration of major disaster under the Stafford Act, whichever expires first.

    ITEM 5.  Amend rule 761—511.5(321,321E) as follows:

761—511.5(321,321E) Fees and costs.

    511.5(1) No change.

    511.5(2) Special or emergency oversize permit for certain divisible loads. The fee for each single-trip permit issued pursuant to Iowa Code section 321E.27 321E.9 is $35.

    511.5(3) and 511.5(4) No change.

    511.5(5) Registration fee for single-trip permits. A vehicle traveling under a single-trip permit may register with the department for the combined gross weight of the vehicle and load on a single-trip basis, upon payment of the applicable statutory fees, pursuant to Iowa Code section 321E.12. The department may access Iowa registration records to determine the weight for which the vehicle is currently registered prior to assessing the statutory fee under this subrule. The fee for single-trip registration is $4 per ton exceeding 40 tons.

    511.5(5) 511.5(6) Registration fee for vehicles transporting buildings other than mobile homes or factory-built structures. A registration fee will be charged for vehicles transporting buildings, except mobile homes and factory-built structures, on a single-trip basis. The vehicle shall be registered for the combined gross weight of the vehicle and load, and the fee is 5 cents per ton exceeding the weight registered under Iowa Code section 321.122 per mile of travel. Fees will not be prorated for fractions of miles.

    511.5(6) 511.5(7) Fair and reasonable costs. Permit-issuing authorities may charge any permit applicant:

    a.  A fair and reasonable cost for the removal and replacement of natural obstructions or official signs and signals.

    b.  A fair and reasonable cost for measures necessary to avoid damage to public property including structures and bridges.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 321.12, 321.122, 321E.8, 321E.9, 321E.12, 321E.14, 321E.15, 321E.29, 321E.29A and 321E.30.

    ITEM 6.  Amend rule 761—511.7(321,321E), introductory paragraph, as follows:

761—511.7(321,321E) Annual oversize permits. Annual oversize permits are issued for indivisible vehicles or indivisible loads for travel when the dimensions of the vehicle or load exceed statutory limits but the weight is within statutory limits. Routing is subject to embargoed bridges and roads and posted speed limits. The owner or operator shall select a route using the vertical clearance map and road construction and travel restrictions map provided by the department for state roads. If the owner or operator is operating under an all-systems permit, the owner or operator shall also review the road construction and travel restrictions map provided by the Iowa county engineers service bureau. Route, detour and road embargo information may be found online at www.511ia.org or the department’s website for the embargo bridge maps at www.iowadot.gov/mvd/motorcarriers/bridgemap.pdf. County restriction information may be found online at www.iceasb.org/roads. Annual oversize permits are issued for the following:

    ITEM 7.  Amend rule 761—511.9(321,321E), introductory paragraph, as follows:

761—511.9(321,321E) Annual all-systems oversize permits. Annual all-systems oversize permits are issued by the motor vehicle division for indivisible vehicles or indivisible loads for travel on the primary road system and specified city streets and county roads when the dimensions of the vehicle or load exceed statutory limits but the weight is within statutory limits. Routing is subject to embargoed bridges and roads and posted speed limits. The department will provide a map of the authorized city streets and county roads. Permit holders shall check the county 511 map available online at www.iceasb.org/roads and consult with local officials when traveling on county roads or city streets for bridge embargo, vertical clearance, detour, and road construction information. These permits are issued for the following:

    ITEM 8.  Amend rule 761—511.10(312,321,321E) as follows:

761—511.10(312,321,321E) Annual all-systems overweight permits.

    511.10(1) Issuance. Annual all-systems overweight permits are issued by the department for indivisible vehicles or indivisible or divisible loads for travel on the primary road system and specified city streets and county roads when the weight of the vehicle or load exceeds statutory limits but the dimensions are within statutory limits. Routing is subject to embargoed bridges and roads, including highways restricted by a local authority pursuant to Iowa Code section 321.473, and posted speed limits. The department will provide a map of the authorized city streets and county roads. Permit holders shall review route, detour and road embargo information online at www.511ia.org, check the county 511 map available online at www.iceasb.org/roads, and consult with local officials when traveling on county roads or city streets for bridge embargo, vertical clearance, detour, and road construction information. These permits are issued for vehicles with divisible or indivisible loads provided the following are not exceeded.

    a. to e. No change.

    511.10(2) Distribution of monthly credit. In accordance with Iowa Code section 312.2(18), the department will allocate the monthly credit as follows: divide the monthly credit among the counties as determined by the department after consultation with county officials through their representative organizations.

    a.   The department will maintain a list of participating counties. The list will be updated on a monthly basis as determined by the department after consultation with county officials through their representative organizations.

    b.   The monthly credit will be divided among the participating counties as determined by the department after consultation with county officials through their representative organizations.

    c.   The funds from the monthly credit will be distributed to each participating county based on the list of participating counties for the applicable month.

    511.10(3) Route exemption justification determinations, submittals, reviews and appeals. If a local authority determines that a road segment needs to be designated as not valid for a permit issued under this rule, a written exemption justification must be provided to the department explaining the local authority’s determination. The department will accept the submittal of exemption justifications in the form and manner prescribed by the department, including via communications between electronic systems. Criteria for exemption justifications and processes for disputes and appeals regarding the department’s approval of submitted exemption justifications are determined by the department after consultation with county and city officials through their representative organizations. Additional guidance is published on the department’s website.

    a.   For paved farm-to-market (FM) routes, designated truck routes, non-paved FM routes and non-FM routes, the exemption justification submittal, review and appeal process is as follows:

    (1)   The local authority will provide the justification and any necessary explanation for exempting the road segment.

    (2)   The department will either approve or deny the local authority’s exemption request.

    (3)   If the department denies the exemption request, the local authority may appeal the department’s decision. If the local authority appeals the department’s decision or requests further consideration, the department will gather additional information, if possible, and may consult with additional stakeholders, including but not limited to the representative organizations for county and city officials, before making a final decision.

    b.   Exemption approvals are reviewed periodically at a frequency determined by the department. The local authority is to submit exemption justification renewals and updates in the form and manner described by the department.

    511.10(4) Alternate route requests. When a permit holder is unable to reach a loading or unloading destination because all routes leading to said destination have been designated as not valid, the permit holder may request establishment of an alternate route to provide access to the loading or unloading destination via the permit. The department, after consultation with county and city officials through their representative organizations, establishes a procedure for alternate route requests. The alternate route procedure is as follows:

    a.   The permit holder will contact the local authority to request an alternate route. Contact information for each local public agency is obtained by clicking on the desired route in the all-systems overweight permit map found on the department’s website for motor carriers.

    (1)   If, upon further evaluation, the local authority chooses to designate the requested route as valid, the local authority must contact the department to remove the non-valid designation. The local authority will notify the permit holder of the removal of the non-valid designation.

    (2)   If the local authority establishes an alternate route, the local authority must provide written notice to the permit holder of the approved alternate route and the dates for which the route is valid. The written notice is given in the form and manner prescribed by the department or in an alternate form and manner approved by the department.

    b.   If the local authority does not respond to the request to establish an alternate route after five business days, or if the local authority does not make the existing route valid, provide an acceptable alternate route, or resolve the situation within seven business days, the permit holder may contact the department to request the department establish an alternate route.

    (1)   In establishing the alternate route, the department will consult with the local authority, if responsive, and may consult with stakeholders, including but not limited to the permit holder, and county and city officials through their representative organizations.

    (2)   Once the department has established an alternate route, the department will provide written notice to the permit holder and the local authority of the established alternate route and the dates for which the alternate route is valid.

Additional guidance is published on the department’s website.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 312.2, 321.454, 321.456, 321.457, 321.463, 321E.2, 321E.3, 321E.8, 321E.10 and 321E.15.