Placing signage within a public right-of-way

You need to be careful when placing signs to promote a political candidate, referendum, businesses and events such as garage sales and open houses. By putting them next to the road or on a bridge, you may be in county right-of-way.

Minnesota statute prohibits the unauthorized placement of advertisements in a public right-of-way. This includes installing signs, as well as painting, printing or attaching advertisements on any object within the limits of a public right-of-way. This law protects the safety of all roadway users. Unauthorized signs and people stopping to place signs in this space can compromise safety.

• Minnesota Statute 160.2715
• Signage located within public right-of-way (PDF)

Check before you place signage

The county right-of-way typically extends beyond the actual road surface and includes shoulders and ditches. Because the right-of-way width can vary some, you should check where the private property line starts and ends to ensure you are following the law.

If you choose to display a sign near a county road, all of the following must be followed: 

• located on private property with the permission of the property owner
• outside of public right-of-way (typically located at least 10 feet inside the property line)
• contains the name of the person or committee responsible for sign and its removal

Using the map

Hennepin County offers an interactive map that highlights county road and property line information.

• interactive property map

Contact permit office

You can also contact the transportation permit office to find out where a sign can be placed when specific right-of-way cannot be clearly identified.

• roadpermits@hennepin.us
• 612-596-0339

Sign removal and reclamation

As allowed by Minnesota Statute 160.27, county staff will remove any unauthorized signage located within county right-of-way.

The owner of the removed signs will need to contact Hennepin County dispatch to claim removed signs.

• dispatch@hennepin.us
• 612-596-0299

Signs will be stored until February 1 of the year following their removal. All unclaimed signs will be recycled.

Access management has become as important subject as transportation professionals grapple with the issues of increasing congestion and deteriorating roadway operations. The goal of managing access is to achieve an optimal balance between what is needed for safe and efficient roadway operations versus the need to provide access to adjacent properties and businesses.

The term access management is applied to a number of measures that can be used to enhance a roadway’s safety and its ability to move vehicular traffic through management and control of access points to the roadway. These measures include:

• Limiting the number of driveway access points to decrease turning conflicts
• Location of entrance or access points further from adjacent intersections
• Providing sufficient spacing between intersecting streets
• Spacing traffic signals to optimize traffic flow
• Implementing sight distance guidelines to improve safety
• Use of channelization to preclude selected turning conflicts

The purpose of a county access management program is to:

• Enhance the county’s ability to provide a safe roadway system
• Assist in efficiently moving traffic
• Support orderly development patterns
• Provide reasonable access to adjacent properties

Through State Statute (160.18, Subd. 3), the State of Minnesota has granted regulatory authority to agencies that have roadway and highway responsibilities. These agencies include the Minnesota Department of Transportation, counties and cities. The regulatory authority includes the issuance of access permits for properties located immediately adjacent to the roadway.

Hennepin County exercises access management techniques on its roadway system through a variety of practices. The access permitting process and preliminary review of developments/plats have been significant tools for access management. In cases of commercial driveway inquiries or changes in land use, the inquiry must go through our preliminary plat and development review process.

Most driveways and street entrances constructed on the county system since the 1960’s required permits governing their location and configuration.

Obtaining access permits

The road authority onto whose roadway you wish to install an access must issue the access permit. Hennepin County is the road authority for county state-aid highways and county roads. For local roads, the road authority can be the city, township or municipality. Hennepin County does not issue permits for accesses on local roads.

Prior to applying for an entrance permit, plans may be submitted for review by contacting Mike Olmstead, Permits Office Supervisor at 612-596-0336 or at michael.olmstead@hennepin.us.

Permits are applied for through the e-permitting system.

To order access permits online, you must first establish an account and submit evidence of insurance. After your account is established, you can apply online at any time.

Municipal signal wrapping of Hennepin County signal cabinets

Hennepin County is now allowing municipalities to take out a permit to wrap county signal cabinets. Follow the steps below to obtain a permit to wrap a Hennepin County signal.

• The city must provide city adopted guidance document and approved city council resolution supporting proposed designs and locations
• Permittee must be a representative of the municipality. We will not allow private organizations or individuals to apply for applications
• Permit must be taken out to begin work on an signal cabinet and work will not begin until permit has been approved

Signal cabinet permit tutorial

Starting an account

• Start by going to our permitting website.
• In the upper right hand corner click on the New User tab.
• Select Right of Way.
• Fill out all the information.
• Post your organizations most current Certificate of Liability Insurance.

Once this is completed your account is setup. We will receive a notice that the account has been setup and we will need to verify your COI is current and accept your account. This is a very quick process and we will follow up with you that the account is active.

Taking out the permit

• Start by logging into your account.
• Click on Signal Cabinet Wrapping in the upper left corner.
• Tell us what type of work you are doing and when you will start and end (you must put a future not a past date also take the permit out until the last day of the current year you are applying for).
• Zoom into your location and highlight where you will be working (using the first tool in the upper right of the map is the easiest).
• Select your city, the county road # you will be working on, and the closest side streets (example Zane Avenue to Xylon Avenue).
• You will be required to attach an example of what will be placed on the cabinet, an approved letter from the municipality of the design and layout, and any plans sheets for application of wrapping.
• Fill out all the information from the MUNICIPALITY.
• Fill out all the information of the CONTRACTOR applying the wrapping.
• Read through and follow ALL special provisions.

Ignore the payment portion, that takes place after the permit has been submitted

Paying for your permit

Your permit will not be valid or approved until it has been paid in full.

• Log onto your ePermitting Account.
• Click on applications, Right of Way.
• Your permit should appear in the middle of the screen and on the right it should say Pay Online, click this.
• In the left you should see a submit tab.
• This will re-direct you to the U.S. Bank website.
• Select pay as an un-registered user.

Complete the information and your receipt will be emailed to you.

Starting an account

Start by going to our permitting website.

In the upper right hand corner click on the New User tab.

Select Right of Way.

Fill out all the information.

Post your organizations most current Certificate of Liability Insurance.

Once this is completed your account is setup. We will receive a notice that the account has been setup and we will need to verify your COI is current and accept your account. This is a very quick process and we will follow up with you that the account is active.

Taking out the permit

Start by logging into your account.

Click on Signal Cabinet Wrapping in the upper left corner.

Tell us what type of work you are doing and when you will start and end (you must put a future not a past date also take the permit out until the last day of the current year you are applying for).

Zoom into your location and highlight where you will be working (using the first tool in the upper right of the map is the easiest).

Select your city, the county road # you will be working on, and the closest side streets (example Zane Avenue to Xylon Avenue).

You will be required to attach an example of what will be placed on the cabinet, an approved letter from the municipality of the design and layout, and any plans sheets for application of wrapping.

Fill out all the information from the MUNICIPALITY.

Fill out all the information of the CONTRACTOR applying the wrapping.

Read through and follow ALL special provisions.

Ignore the payment portion, that takes place after the permit has been submitted.

Paying for your permit (your permit will not be valid or approved until it has been paid in full)

Log onto your ePermitting Account.

Click on applications, Right of Way.

Your permit should appear in the middle of the screen and on the right it should say Pay Online. Click this.

In the left you should see a submit tab.

This will re-direct you to the U.S. Bank Website.

Select pay as an un-registered user.

Complete the information and your receipt will be emailed to you.

Hennepin County holds the rights-of-way within its geographical boundaries as an asset in trust for its citizens. Under Minnesota law, the county is to manage the use of the right-of-way for public purposes, including use by public utilities. To provide for the health, safety and well-being of its citizens and to ensure the structural integrity of its roads and the appropriate use of rights-of-way, the county strives to keep its rights-of-way in a state of good repair and free from unnecessary encumbrances.

Hennepin County Ordinance 22 imposes reasonable regulations on the placement and maintenance of facilities currently within its rights-of-way or to be placed therein at some future time. It is intended to compliment the regulatory roles of all interested local, regional, state and federal agencies. Under the ordinance, persons disturbing and obstructing the rights-of-way will bear a share of the financial responsibility for their restoration and integrity. Finally, the ordinance provides for partial recovery of the county’s costs associated with managing its rights-of-way.

Pursuant to the authority granted to the county under state and federal statutory, administrative and common law, the county elects to manage rights-of-way under its jurisdiction. “Manage the rights-of-way” means the authority of the county to do any or all of the following:

• Require registration
• Require construction performance bonds and insurance coverage
• Establish installation and construction standards
• Establish and define location and relocation requirements for equipment and facilities
• Establish coordination and timing requirements
• Require right-of-way users to submit to the county required project data reasonable necessary to allow the county to develop a right of way mapping system including GIS system information
• Require right-of-way users to submit, upon request of the county, existing data on the location of users’ facilities occupying the public right-of-way within the county
• Establish right-of-way permitting requirements for excavation and obstruction
• Establish removal requirements for abandoned equipment or facilities, if required in conjunction with other right-of-way repair, excavation or construction
• Impose reasonable penalties for unreasonable delays in construction or work conducted without having been issued the necessary permits

Obtaining utility permits

The road authority in whose right-of-way you wish to install a facility must issue the utility permit. Hennepin County is the road authority for county state-aid highways and county roads. For local roads, the road authority can be the city, township or municipality. Hennepin County does not issue permits for utility facilities on local roads.

Prior to applying for an utility permit, plans may be submitted for review by contacting Mike Olmstead, Permits Office Supervisor at 612-596-0336 or at michael.olmstead@hennepin.us.

Permits are applied for through the e-permitting system.

To order utility permits online, you must first establish an account and submit evidence of insurance. After your account is established, you can apply online at any time.

The authority to issue permits and collect fees was granted to the County Engineer or Director of Transportation by County Board Resolution, dated January 9, 1968 and June 22, 1971.

A transportation permit is required for the movement of any vehicle or load over a Hennepin County roadway when the legal dimensions and/or legal axle or gross load weights are exceeded as set forth in Minnesota State Statutes 169.80 through 169.825.

Maximum vehicle dimensions

For height, width and length requirements see Minnesota State Statutes 169.80 and Minnesota State Statutes 169.81.

Weight, axle and tire limitations

For weight, axle and tire limitations see Minnesota State Statutes 169.825.

Weight restriction map (PDF)

All county roadways carry a ten-ton axle weight limit. Some county bridges carry a posted weight restriction.

Obtaining transportation permits

The road authority over whose roadway you wish to travel must issue the transportation permit. Hennepin County is the road authority for county state-aid highways and county roads. For local roads, the road authority can be the city, township or municipality. Hennepin County does not issue permits for travel over local roads.

Permits are applied for through the e-permitting system.

To order oversize/overweight permits online, you must first establish an account and submit evidence of insurance. After your account is established, you can apply online at any time.

Moving corridor

Below is a downloadable map that shows Hennepin County Roads where standard wire heights 24’

Moving corridor map (PDF)

On most county roads we require wire height crossing the road to be 18. This map shows the roads where we have a lot of big loads go through that we require wire heights to be 24’.

Minnesota Statute 169.04 provides that local authorities may regulate or prohibit processions or assemblages on the streets and highways under their jurisdiction. The County Engineer or designee may issue permits for such parades or processions on county highways if the following criteria are met:

1. That a legitimate public interest is being served by the partial or full closure of the highway. (This does not permit the use of county highways to foster private interests).
2. That requests for temporary highway restrictions or closures be made, in writing, by the Event Coordinator with approval from the local municipality to the Permit Engineer
3. That a specific date and time is agreed upon
4. That a definite area of the highway is designated for the partial or exclusive use of such public events. The area to be used shall be defined by the beginning and end of the restricted area, width of the highway to be used, and whether partial or total use is required.
5. That safe and convenient detour routes are made available for the through highway traffic. Such detour routes shall be provided by the applicant and approved by the local authority. A complete detour plan must be submitted with the Event Permit request and must be approved by the Permit Engineer. All signing for such detours shall be provided and maintained by the applicant for the duration of the detour and must conform to the Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The county shall have no responsibility for damage incurred on the local roads or streets being used for the detour.
6. That adequate police coverage of the highway closure and direction of the detour traffic is available. Coordination of the local police and the County Sheriff's Patrol may be necessary for establishing this police requirement.
7. That no stands, buildings, tents or other encroachments be permitted within the highway right-of-way
8. The county reserves the rights to deny any event permit application on the grounds of not being in the best interest of the public.

For further information regarding event permits, contact Mike Olmstead, Right-of-Way Use Manager at 612-596-0336 or at michael.olmstead@hennepin.us.