California Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in California without a permit, where the permit and escort tiers start on non-yellow routes and yellow routes, when it can move, and who to call. Every figure is the JaloPermit Atlas entry for California, shown as the app shows it.
Rules as of Jul 31, 2026 · Links checked Jul 13, 2026
Read this before you trust a number. Rules change. The issued permit, posted signs and the state permit office always win over this page. JaloPermit is a reading aid, not a permit-filing service. Guests get 3 free decodes a day with no account and no card, logged-in users get 10 a day, and extra decodes are $3.50 each with no subscription.
What moves in California without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. California publishes its length limit as overall combination, so compare it against that measurement on your permit, not the overall rig.
Where the permit and escort tiers start
| Dimension | Legal without permit | Permit tier starts | First escort on non-yellow routes | First escort on yellow routes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'7" | 10'1" · Front escort | 12'1" · Rear escort |
| Height | 14'0" | 14'1" | 17' · Police escort | No escort tier (permit only) |
| Length | 65'0"overall combination | 65'1" | 85'1" · Front escort | 120'1" · Rear escort |
| Weight | 80,000 lbs | 80,001 lbs | No escort tier (permit only) | No escort tier (permit only) |
"Permit tier starts" is the lowest size in the Atlas ladder that needs a permit. "First escort" is the lowest size that adds a private or police escort on that road class; the full ladder with each tier's rule and source is below.
California escort ladder, tier by tier
Open a tier to read the rule behind it, quoted with its source. Amber tiers add a police escort or a superload review; grey tiers are permit-only with conditions.
On non-yellow routes
Escorts begin at 10'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 10'
No Caltrans color class requires a pilot car at 10'0" or less (the Legend's pilot columns begin at >10'0"). Permit required over 8'6" (CVC 35100); urban curfews apply over 10'0" (TPM 502.2). Approximation: 'non_interstate' = Caltrans GREEN/BLUE/BROWN classes (two-lane and non-standard roads); the worst-case (narrowest-road) count is shown in this ladder — confirm the route's color on the Single Trip Pilot Car Maps. RED routes carry operational restrictions per the Red Route Summary Table.
Front escort10'1" – 12'
Worst-case composite: BROWN (two-lane, lanes under 11') requires 1 PILOT CAR at >10'0"-11'0" and >11'0"-12'0"; BLUE requires 1 from >11'0"; GREEN requires NONE until width exceeds 12'0" (Legend). A single pilot precedes the escorted vehicle on two- or three-lane conventional roads (TPM 502.6.3.2).
Front + Rear12'1" – 15'
Worst-case composite: BROWN 2 PILOT CARS from >12'0"; BLUE 1 at >12'0"-13'0" then 2 from >13'0"; GREEN 1 at >12'0"-14'0" then 2 at >14'0"-15'0" (Legend). On GREEN routes one pilot suffices until width exceeds 14'0". Legend Note 2: maximum number of pilot cars is two on yellow, green, blue, and brown routes.
Front + Rear + Police15'1" – 16'
CHP escort MANDATORY over 15'0" on green, blue and brown routes: Legend >15'0"-16'0" cell = CHP; TPM Ch.5: 'When the loaded width exceeds 15' 0" on Green routes, the vehicle/load will be escorted by the CHP' (same provision for Blue and Brown routes). Variance permit required over 15'0" on green/blue/brown routes (TPM Ch.4 401.2). Pilot count of 2 retained from prior shipped data (the Legend cell reads CHP and caps pilot cars at two). A police escort is required over 15 ft wide. Source: Caltrans TPM Ch.5 sec. 502.4 (Green.
Front + Rear + Police16'1"+
CHP escort MANDATORY (Legend: >16'0" = CHP on green, blue and brown routes; variance permit required, TPM Ch.4 401.2). 'The CHP in coordination with the DTAMs will determine hours of travel' (TPM Ch.5); 'The variance permit will state the CHP escort requirement' (TPM Ch.4 403.6). Pilot count of 2 retained from prior shipped data; the prior note's '3 CHP officers' figure is unsourced and was removed. A police escort is required over 15 ft wide. Source: Caltrans TPM Ch.5 sec. 502.4 (Green.
Height
Permit required14'1" – 16'11"
Permit required over 14'0" (CVC 35250); 3" minimum clearance of the lowest structure on the permitted route (TPM Ch.4 401.1). This band tops out at 16'11" (not 17'0" as previously shipped) because CHP escort is triggered AT 17'0" on blue/brown routes — TPPM 2021-01 CHP Escort Table reads '>= 17'0"'.
Police escort17' – 18'
A California Highway Patrol (police) escort is required at 17'0" and taller on blue and brown two-lane routes (TPPM 2021-01 CHP Escort Table); this band follows the brown (strictest) route class. No private pilot car or height pole is required for height: "Height poles are not a Department requirement" (TPM 201.39). Over 17'0" a variance permit and a written route survey are required. Source: Caltrans TPPM 2021-01 (2021-05-28); TPM 201.39 (2022).
Police escort18'1"+
A California Highway Patrol (police) escort is required at 17'0" and taller on blue and brown two-lane routes (TPPM 2021-01 CHP Escort Table); this band follows the brown (strictest) route class. No private pilot car or height pole is required for height: "Height poles are not a Department requirement" (TPM 201.39). Over 17'0" a variance permit and a written route survey are required. Source: Caltrans TPPM 2021-01 (2021-05-28); TPM 201.39 (2022).
Length
Permit required65'1" – 85'
Permit required over 65'0" combination length (CVC 35401). Legend length triggers by color: pilot required >85'0" on BROWN, >100'0" on BLUE, >120'0" on GREEN — the worst-case (brown) boundary is used for this ladder. Conditional pilots regardless of length: rear pilot on all routes when rear overhang/projection exceeds 25'0" (Legend; TPM 502.6), and on dashed routes when KPRA exceeds 38'0" (TPM 501.1).
Front escort85'1" – 135'
Worst-case composite: BROWN 'Pilot Req'd for Length >85' 0"'; BLUE >100'0"; GREEN >120'0" (Legend). The Legend prints no count for the length trigger; 1 retained from prior shipped data. A single pilot precedes on two/three-lane conventional roads and follows on conventional highways with four or more lanes (TPM 502.6.3.2).
Front + Rear + Police135'1"+
CHP escort MANDATORY over 135'0" on BLUE and BROWN routes (TPPM 2021-01: 'Unlimited on controlled access roadways, >135' for others'); on GREEN routes CHP triggers over 185'0". 'Any vehicle combination and/or load greater than 135'-0" in length will require a variance permit' (TPM Ch.4 401.3). Pilot count of 2 retained from prior shipped data (Legend Note 2 caps pilot cars at two). A police escort is required over 135 ft long. Source: Caltrans TPPM 2021-01, CHP Escort Table (Blue and Brown routes.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 200,000 lbs
Extralegal-weight permit required over 80,000 lbs GVW (CVC 35550-35551). No Caltrans table assigns pilot cars by weight; extralegal weight is routed by bridge ratings — orange 42,800 / green 52,000 / purple 60,000 lbs per axle group (TPM Ch.5 500.1). Conditional: CHP escort is required when it is necessary to slow while crossing structure(s) (TPPM 2021-01).
Permit required200,001 lbs+
No pilot car is required because of weight: Caltrans' pilot-car rules cover width, length and overhangs, not weight. Heavy loads are routed by bridge ratings; a load over the purple weight chart or a bridge's permit rating needs a structure review and a variance permit, which state any restrictions. A California Highway Patrol (police) escort is required when the load must use opposing lanes or slow to cross a structure - pilot cars may not stop or hold opposing traffic. Source: Caltrans TPM Ch.5 502.6, 502.6.3.4 and Table 1 (06/2024); TPM Ch.4 401, 401.4, 401.6 (2017); TPPM 2021-01.
On yellow routes
Escorts begin at 12'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'
Permit required over 8'6" (CVC 35100). YELLOW (multilane freeway or highway) routes require no pilot car until width exceeds 12'0" (Legend: YELLOW >10'0"-11'0" NONE, >11'0"-12'0" NONE). Urban curfews apply over 10'0" wide in San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles (TPM 502.2). Approximation: 'interstate' here = Caltrans YELLOW route class; CA assigns pilot cars by a 5-color route classification, not by interstate status — confirm the route's color on the Single Trip Pilot Car Maps.
Rear escort12'1" – 15'
Legend YELLOW row: 1 PILOT CAR for >12'0"-13'0", >13'0"-14'0" and >14'0"-15'0". Legend Note 1: 'Until width exceeds 15' 0", the maximum number of pilot cars is one (1) on a yellow route.' A single pilot follows the escorted vehicle on freeways/divided highways (TPM 502.6.3.2). SF-Oakland Bay Bridge: over 12'0" wide crosses only 1100-1300 Mon-Fri (TPM 502.3). Conditional: if the freeway segment is mapped GREEN (non-standard freeway) rather than YELLOW, 2 pilot cars are required when width exceeds 14'0" (Legend GREEN >14'0"-15'0": 2 PILOT CARS) — confirm the route's color on the Single Trip Pilot Car Maps.
Front + Rear15'1" – 16'
Legend YELLOW >15'0"-16'0": 2 PILOT CARS — one precedes, one follows (TPM 502.6.3.2). Legend Note 2: the maximum number of pilot cars is two on yellow, green, blue, and brown routes. Conditional: if the freeway segment is mapped GREEN (non-standard freeway) rather than YELLOW, CHP escort is required over 15'0" wide (Legend GREEN >15'0"-16'0" = CHP; TPM Ch.5: 'When the loaded width exceeds 15' 0" on Green routes, the vehicle/load will be escorted by the CHP') — confirm the route's color on the Single Trip Pilot Car Maps.
Front + Rear + Police16'1"+
A California Highway Patrol (police) escort is required when the load is wider than 16'0" on multilane (yellow) routes, and a variance permit is required; the variance permit states the CHP escort, and the CHP and Caltrans set the hours of travel. Caltrans allows at most two pilot cars on any route; the 2 pilot cars shown are kept from earlier data because Caltrans does not say whether pilot cars still run with the CHP escort above 16'0". Source: Caltrans TPM Ch.5 502.4 and Table 1 Note 2 (06/2024); TPM Ch.4 401.2 and 403.2 (2017, rev. TPPM 2025-01).
Height
Permit required14'1" – 17'
Permit required over 14'0" (CVC 35250). Vehicle/load must maintain a three-inch (3") minimum clearance of the lowest structure on the permitted route (TPM Ch.4 401.1). No CHP height trigger on yellow routes (TPPM 2021-01 CHP Escort Table: height 'No maximum' for yellow).
Permit required17'1" – 18'
No pilot car or height pole is required for height on multilane (yellow) routes: Caltrans' pilot-car rules cover width, length and overhangs, not height, and height poles are not a Caltrans requirement. Over 17'0" a variance permit and a written route survey are required, and the survey must list where wire guide boards are needed for loads 18'0" or taller. Any obstacle within 3" of the load height may require California Highway Patrol (police) involvement; the variance permit states any CHP escort. Keep 3" clearance under the lowest structure on the route. Source: Caltrans TPM Ch.2 201.39 (06/2022); TPM Ch.5 502.6 and Tables 1-2 (06/2024); TPM Ch.4 401, 401.1 (2017); TPPM 2021-01.
Permit required18'1"+
No pilot car or height pole is required for height on multilane (yellow) routes: Caltrans' pilot-car rules cover width, length and overhangs, not height, and height poles are not a Caltrans requirement. A variance permit and a written route survey are required (over 17'0"), and the survey must list where wire guide boards are needed for loads 18'0" or taller. Any obstacle within 3" of the load height may require California Highway Patrol (police) involvement; the variance permit states any CHP escort. Keep 3" clearance under the lowest structure on the route. Source: Caltrans TPM Ch.2 201.39 (06/2022); TPM Ch.5 502.6 and Tables 1-2 (06/2024); TPM Ch.4 401, 401.1 (2017); TPPM 2021-01.
Length
Permit required65'1" – 120'
Permit required over 65'0" combination length (CVC 35401). Legend YELLOW row: pilot car required for length only when >120' 0" (GREEN routes share the same >120' 0" trigger). Conditional pilots regardless of length: a rear pilot on all routes when rear overhang/projection exceeds 25'0" (Legend; TPM 502.6/502.6.3.2), and on dashed (kingpin-advisory) routes when KPRA exceeds 38'0" (Legend; TPM 501.1).
Rear escort120'1" – 135'
Legend YELLOW: 'Pilot Req'd for Length >120' 0"'. The Legend prints no count for the length trigger; the count of 1 is retained from prior shipped data. A single pilot follows the escorted vehicle on freeways/divided highways (TPM 502.6.3.2).
Rear escort135'1" – 185'
One pilot car is required for length over 120'0" on multilane (yellow) routes, and it follows the load on freeways and divided highways. Until the load is wider than 15'0", Caltrans allows at most one pilot car on a yellow route. Over 135'0" a variance permit is required and it states any CHP escort; a CHP escort is required whenever opposing lanes are used or the load must slow to cross a structure. Source: Caltrans TPM Ch.5 Table 1 and Note 1, 502.6.3.2 (06/2024); TPM Ch.4 401.3 and 403.2 (2017, rev. TPPM 2025-01); TPPM 2021-01.
Rear escort + Police185'1"+
A California Highway Patrol (police) escort is required for loads over 185'0" long on multilane (yellow) routes, and a variance permit is required (over 135'0") that states the CHP escort. One pilot car is also required for length over 120'0"; it follows the load on freeways, and until the load is wider than 15'0" Caltrans allows at most one pilot car on a yellow route. Source: TPPM 2021-01 (05/2021); Caltrans TPM Ch.5 Tables 1-2, Note 1 and 502.6.3.2 (06/2024); TPM Ch.4 401.3 and 403.2 (2017, rev. TPPM 2025-01).
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs – 200,000 lbs
Extralegal-weight permit required over 80,000 lbs GVW (CVC 35550-35551). No Caltrans table assigns pilot cars by weight; extralegal weight is routed by bridge ratings — orange 42,800 / green 52,000 / purple 60,000 lbs per axle group (TPM Ch.5 500.1). Conditional: CHP escort is required when it is necessary to slow while crossing structure(s) (TPPM 2021-01).
Permit required200,001 lbs+
No pilot car is required because of weight: Caltrans' pilot-car rules cover width, length and overhangs, not weight. Heavy loads are routed by bridge ratings; a load over the purple weight chart or a bridge's permit rating needs a structure review and a variance permit, which state any restrictions. A California Highway Patrol (police) escort is required when the load must use opposing lanes or slow to cross a structure - pilot cars may not stop or hold opposing traffic. Source: Caltrans TPM Ch.5 502.6, 502.6.3.4 and Table 1 (06/2024); TPM Ch.4 401, 401.4, 401.6 (2017); TPPM 2021-01.
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
24/7 is the default unless the permit face states No Night Travel. Loads requiring no pilot car travel around the clock. Escorted loads run 24/7 on yellow routes to 16' wide; green allows daylight travel to 15'; blue and brown are weekday daylight only. Red routes restricted.
- Night travel
Permitted. Unless the permit states No Night Travel, loads requiring no pilot car may run during darkness on yellow, green, blue and brown routes. Escorted loads may run at night on yellow routes to 16' wide and green to 14'. Not on blue or brown. Red routes: consult Caltrans.
- Weekend travel
Permitted. Loads not requiring a pilot car travel 24/7 including weekends. On green routes the same daylight and darkness width limits apply on weekends. On blue and brown routes escorted weekend travel runs Saturday and Sunday from a half hour before sunrise to noon.
- Holiday restrictions
Applies only to loads required to have a pilot car. Barred 4 PM to midnight the day before and noon to midnight on the holiday and holiday-weekend days: New Year's Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
- Urban restrictions
Loads over 10' wide barred Mon-Fri in curfew areas: San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM; Los Angeles 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM. The Bay Bridge is closed to permit loads 6:30-9 AM and 3:30-6:30 PM daily; over 12' wide crosses only 11 AM-1 PM Mon-Fri.
Signage California expects
- Oversize load sign
Required over 8'6" wide, over 80'0" long, or with more than 10'0" of overhang. Front and rear signs read OVERSIZE, or LONG LOAD when overall length exceeds 100'. Black letters on yellow, 10" minimum height, 1-5/8" brush stroke, 1" margin, mounted at least 18" above the road.
- Flags
Red or fluorescent orange flags at least 18" square at the end of any load projecting 4' or more to the rear, placed to mark maximum width where a load extends beyond the sides or rear. One flag if the projection is 2' or less, two if wider. Two red lights replace them at night.
- Beacons
Flashing amber warning lights are required on every pilot car, and on the permitted vehicle itself only when the permit specifies them. They must be displayed while actually engaged in the permitted move and removed or covered with opaque material at all other times.
California permit office
The permit office is the authority on every number on this page. Call it, or open the official site, before you rely on a threshold for a load that is close to a line.
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What are the legal limits in California without an oversize or overweight permit?
In California, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 14'0" high, 65'0" long (overall combination) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 3'0" front and 10'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the California permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in California?
On non-yellow routes in California, escorts begin at 10'1" wide. On yellow routes, escorts begin at 12'1" wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 10'1" – 12' wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in California?
Night travel: Permitted. Unless the permit states No Night Travel, loads requiring no pilot car may run during darkness on yellow, green, blue and brown routes. Escorted loads may run at night on yellow routes to 16' wide and green to 14'. Not on blue or brown. Red routes: consult Caltrans. Weekend travel: Permitted. Loads not requiring a pilot car travel 24/7 including weekends. On green routes the same daylight and darkness width limits apply on weekends. On blue and brown routes escorted weekend travel runs Saturday and Sunday from a half hour before sunrise to noon. Holidays: Applies only to loads required to have a pilot car. Barred 4 PM to midnight the day before and noon to midnight on the holiday and holiday-weekend days: New Year's Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.