Legal dimensions in Ontario
182 facts, each with the passage it comes from, quoted from 4 official sources.
Where to apply
Where an application for Legal dimensions is submitted in Ontario.
Phone · Ministère des Transports
Bureau de délivrance de permis, par téléphone
Contact the permit issuing office during business hours if the route indicated on your permit needs to be changed.
Phone · Ministère des Transports
Bureau de délivrance de permis, par téléphone (sans frais)
Contact the permit issuing office during business hours if the route indicated on your permit needs to be changed.
Mail · Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Permit Issuing Office
Permit Issuing Office, by mail
301 St. Paul Street, 3rd Floor, St Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7R4
Application forms must be completed in full. Incomplete applications will be returned.
In person · Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Permit Issuing Office
Permit Issuing Office
301 St. Paul Street, 3rd Floor, St Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7R4
Email · Ministry of Transportation
Oversize/Overweight Permit Office, by email
Use it when: For Permitting and Registration for International Registration Plan and Oversize/Overweight (PRIO) online permitting system account set up, tow truck certificate applications, special vehicle configuration permits or project permits
Fax · Ministry of Transportation
Highway Operations Permits Office, by fax
905-704-2545
Use it when: Until January 1, 2026
Download and complete an application form. Include payment (Canadian funds only) by visa or Mastercard using an authorization form, cheque made out to the Ministry of Finance, bank draft, money order or certified cheque made out to the Ministry of Finance.
Start with a question
Open a question to read the facts on file that bear on it.
General
13 topics
Maximum legal vehicle width (Measures)
Maximum legal overall width of a vehicle or combination (including load), measured at the widest point, in metres.
2.6 m8′ 6.5″
In general
- 2.6 m8′ 6.5″In general
- 3.85 m12′ 7.5″Annual permit, multi-lane highways
- 3.85 m12′ 7.5″Annual permit, multi-lane road
- 3.7 m12′ 1.5″Annual permit, on 2-lane highways
Maximum legal vehicle length (Measures)
Maximum legal overall length for one vehicle configuration (e.g. single vehicle, bus, articulated bus, semitrailer or trailer, each unit of a double bottom, house coach, or whole combination), in metres.
12.5 m41′
In general
- 23 m75′ 5.5″In general
- 12.5 m41′In general
- 25 m82′ 0.5″Annual permit
- 25 m82′ 0.5″Annual permit, combination vehicles
Maximum legal vehicle height (Measures)
Maximum legal overall height of a vehicle including its load, measured from the road surface, in metres.
4.15 m13′ 7.5″
In general
- 4.15 m13′ 7.5″In general
- 4.26 m13′ 11.5″Annual permit
- 4.26 m13′ 11.5″Annual permit
- 4.26 m13′ 11.5″Annual permit
Permit fee (Fees)
Fee charged for a permit, in the currency stated.
- Annual permit$448.75CAD
- Annual Permit, as of July 12, 2019$448.75CAD
- Annual permit, from July 12, 2019$448.75CAD
- Enhanced annual permit$744.50CAD
Maximum length of a combination of vehicles (Measures)
The maximum overall length of a combination of vehicles, inclusive of load and bumpers, permitted on the applicable highway.
23 m75′ 5.5″
Escort vehicle required (Yes or no)
Whether one or more escort vehicles are required to accompany the oversize vehicle or combination.
Yesin 21 casesNoin 1 case
- Annual and project permit holders, specified highways, load width meets or exceeds listed widths
- Bulldozer equipped with a blade measuring between 4 m and 4.27 m in width
- Bulldozer with blade attached, 4 m to 4.27 m in width, private escort warning vehicle
- Height 4.87 m and greater, pole car
Maximum vehicle width (Measures)
The maximum overall width of a vehicle or combination of vehicles, inclusive of load and safety devices, permitted on the applicable highway.
2.6 m8′ 6.5″
In general
- 3.85 m12′ 7.5″Annual Permits; multi-lane highways (standard for both single and combination vehicles)
- 3.7 m12′ 1.5″Annual Permits; two lane highways (standard for both single and combination vehicles)
- 4.3 m14′ 1.5″Project Permits (standard for both single and combination vehicles)
- 2.8 m9′ 2″Raw forest products (en route)
Maximum vehicle height (Measures)
The maximum overall height of a vehicle or combination of vehicles, inclusive of load, measured from the underside of the tire to the top of the vehicle, permitted on the applicable highway.
4.15 m13′ 7.5″
In general
- 4.26 m13′ 11.5″Annual Permits (standard for both single and combination vehicles)
- 4.26 m13′ 11.5″Project Permits; Single vehicle
- 4.26 m13′ 11.5″Single Trip Permits; flatbed trailer
- 4.26 m13′ 11.5″Single Trip Permits; Single vehicle
Legal vehicle weights
1 topic Open Legal vehicle weights
Maximum gross vehicle weight (Measures)
Maximum legal gross weight of a vehicle or combination, in kilograms.
- 63,500 kg139,993 lbAnnual permit, combination vehicles
- 63,500 kg139,993 lbCongested traffic condition
- 120,000 kg264,554 lbExtraordinary load
- 63,500 kg139,993 lbFriday summer restrictions exception
Seasonal load limits
6 topics Open Seasonal load limits
Travel allowed during thaw period (Yes or no)
Whether the oversize vehicle or combination is permitted to travel during the spring thaw period.
Noin 4 cases
- All permits, designated reduced load highways
- Annual and project overweight permits; Southern Ontario (March and April) and Northern Ontario (March, April and May)
- Annual and project permits, King's highways, March and April (Southern Ontario), March, April and May (Northern Ontario)
- Annual and project permits; primary routes; March and April in Southern Ontario, March, April and May in Northern Ontario
Single trip permit allowed during thaw period (Yes or no)
Whether single trip permits for moving overloads may be issued during the spring thaw restriction period on highways not designated in the applicable schedules.
Yesin 3 cases
- Highways not designated in Schedules 1, 2 and 3; subject to axle controls established by the Ministry of Transportation
- Highways subject to reduced loading restrictions, Weight and Load Engineer approval required
- Route subject to a reduced load period; approval of the engineer responsible for weights and loads
Spring thaw restriction start date (Dates)
Calendar date on which the spring thaw reduced-load restriction period begins for a designated schedule or thaw zone.
- March 1, 2026Schedule 1
- March 1, 2026Schedule 2
- March 1, 2026Schedule 3
Where these facts come from
- Guide to oversize/overweight vehicles and loads(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 98 facts
- Guide sur les véhicules et charges de dimensions/poids exceptionnels(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 50 facts
- Get an oversize/overweight permit(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 22 facts
- Ontario Seasonal Loads | Ontario 511(opens in a new tab)
511on.ca, web page, 12 facts