Seasonal load limits in Ontario
Seasonal changes to legal load limits, including spring-thaw restrictions, their dates and zones, and freeze-up allowances.
17 facts, each with the passage it comes from, quoted from 3 official sources.
Where to apply
Where an application for Seasonal load limits 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.
What reduced axle-group and gross-weight limits apply during spring thaw?Nothing on file for Ontario answers this yet.
When are spring-thaw restrictions in effect for each zone or schedule?Nothing on file for Ontario answers this yet.
When do freeze-up load allowances apply?Nothing on file for Ontario answers this yet.
Facts
6 topics
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
Spring thaw restriction end date (Dates)
Calendar date on which the spring thaw reduced-load restriction period ends for a designated schedule or thaw zone.
- April 30, 2026Schedule 1
- May 31, 2026Schedule 2
- June 30, 2026Schedule 3
Spring thaw restriction active (Yes or no)
Whether a spring thaw reduced-load restriction is currently in effect for a designated schedule or zone.
Noin 3 cases
- Schedule 1
- Schedule 2
- Schedule 3
Raw forest products freeze-up period active (Yes or no)
Whether the raw forest products freeze-up period, during which additional load allowances may apply, is currently in effect for a given area.
No
All areas
Where these facts come from
- Ontario Seasonal Loads | Ontario 511(opens in a new tab)
511on.ca, web page, 12 facts
- Guide to oversize/overweight vehicles and loads(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 3 facts
- Guide sur les véhicules et charges de dimensions/poids exceptionnels(opens in a new tab)
www.ontario.ca, web page, 2 facts