Florida Oversize & Overweight Permit Rules
What a load can be in Florida without a permit, where the permit and escort tiers start on non-interstate and interstate, when it can move, and who to call. Every figure is the JaloPermit Atlas entry for Florida, 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 Florida without a permit
Legal limits are the dimensions and gross weight a vehicle may run at without an oversize or overweight permit. Florida publishes its length limit as semitrailer, 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-interstate | First escort on interstate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 8'6" | 8'7" | 12'1" · Front escort | 12'1" · Rear escort |
| Height | 13'6" | 13'7" | 14'7" · Front + High pole | 14'7" · Front + High pole |
| Length | 48'0"semitrailer | 75'1" | 95'1" · Rear escort | 95'1" · 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.
Florida 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-interstate
Escorts begin at 12'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'
Permit required over 8'6". 8'7"-10': daytime only, flags; 10'1"-12': add warning signs and amber warning lights ((7)(a)-(b)). In the Keys south of Florida City, over-10-ft loads move only 9 PM-5 AM and require a minimum of one qualified escort (FDOT movement conditions). Authorized night moves require law enforcement escort(s) ((5)(f)).
Front escort12'1" – 14'
Minimum one escort at all times; a single width escort precedes the load on two-lane highways ((7)(c), escort functions). Two qualified escorts (front and rear) are required on lanes under 12 ft, bridges under 30 ft curb-to-curb, or ADT over 12,000/lane rural / 8,000/lane urbanized ((7)(c)3.), except loads carrying four warning lights. Daytime only. non_interstate approximates FL's two-lane/non-limited-access class.
Front + Rear14'1" – 16'
Two qualified escorts at all times, one front and one rear ((7)(d)). Two-lane roadways shall not be used as connector routes when viable four-lane routes are available ((7)(d)3.). Trip permits only; daytime only.
Police escort16'1"+
Two law enforcement escorts at all times over 16 ft wide on state roads other than limited access facilities ((7)(e)3.); on limited access facilities (Interstates, Florida's Turnpike, toll expressways) two qualified escorts by day instead ((7)(e)1.). Local moves only; items must move by rail, air or water when possible ((7)(e)4.); signed route Survey Letter on board over 16 ft wide; over 22 ft requires a horizontal-clearance affidavit. Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 14-26.012(7)(e).
Height
Permit required13'7" – 14'6"
Permit required over 13'6". Movement all days, all hours ((8)(a)); maximum height for straight trucks except local moves. Florida's height rule does not distinguish road class.
Front + High pole14'7" – 15'
One escort with vertical height indicator (height pole at least 6 in above the load) must precede the load at evasive-action distance ((8)(b)). Daytime only; flags, signs, two warning lights. Hauler must survey vertical clearances before movement (FDOT movement conditions, Surveys).
Front + High pole15'1" – 16'
Same pole-equipped lead escort as (8)(b). Over 15 ft high the hauler must carry the signed route Survey Letter on board verifying clearance of load height + 6 in (FDOT movement conditions, Surveys). Daytime only.
Front + High pole + Police16'1"+
One LAW ENFORCEMENT escort plus one qualified escort ((8)(c)1.); the qualified escort precedes with the height pole; with two escorts one precedes and one follows (LE position not fixed by rule). Local moves only; utility personnel required at low wires/structures ((8)(c)2.); multi-trip permits capped at 18 ft; over 18 ft requires clearance affidavit (height + 6 in). Daytime only. A police escort is required over 16 ft high, in addition to the private escorts. Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 14-26.012(8)(c)1. (repeated in FDOT Blanket Permit Movement Conditions rev. 2026-07-27: 'One (1) law enforcement escort is also required.').
Length
Permit required75'1" – 80'
Movement all days, all hours up to 80 ft ((9)(a)). Night rear overhang capped at 10 ft; overhang over 4 ft needs a warning light plus two red lamps and two red reflectors at the extreme rear. Florida's first length restriction begins over 80 ft (prior data started at 75 ft; edge retained).
Permit required80'1" – 95'
Daytime only; flags, warning signs and two warning lights ((9)(b)). No escort tier until length exceeds 95 ft ((9)(b)3.). Over 85 ft: no movement in congested areas during weekday peak hours ((9)(b)1.).
Rear escort95'1" – 150'
One qualified escort required over 95 ft ((9)(b)3.); an over-length-only escort stays at the rear at all times (escort functions). Exception: truck tractor semi-trailers with three points of articulation allowed to 105 ft without an escort ((9)(b)2.). Daytime only.
Front + Rear150'1" – 250'
Two qualified escorts over 150 ft, one preceding and one following ((9)(b)4., escort functions). Daytime only.
Front + Rear + Police250'1"+
One LAW ENFORCEMENT escort plus one qualified escort over 250 ft ((9)(b)5.); one precedes and one follows (escort functions). Daytime only. A police escort is required over 250 ft long, in addition to the private escorts. Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 14-26.012(9)(b)5. Off limited-access roads a load over 150 ft also needs two qualified escorts (R. 14-26.012(9)(b)4.), so two are kept beside the law enforcement escort.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs+
Overweight permit required above 80,000 lbs gross (s. 316.535). Rule 14-26.012 attaches escorts to width, height and length only — no weight threshold triggers an escort. Heavy moves receive individual FDOT/bridge review and the permit face may stipulate escorts; permit stipulations govern.
On interstate
Escorts begin at 12'1" wide
Width
Permit required8'7" – 12'
Permit required over 8'6" (s. 316.515). 8'7"-10': daytime only, flags (Rule 14-26.012(7)(a)). 10'1"-12': flags, warning signs and Class 2 amber warning lights, daytime only ((7)(b)). No escort tier below 12'1" in (7)(a)-(b). Authorized night moves of overdimensional loads require law enforcement escort(s) ((5)(f)).
Rear escort12'1" – 14'
Minimum one escort at all times ((7)(c)); a single width escort follows the load on four-lane highways. Two qualified escorts (front and rear) are required where lanes are under 12 ft, bridges under 30 ft curb-to-curb, or ADT exceeds 12,000/lane rural or 8,000/lane urbanized ((7)(c)3.), except loads carrying four warning lights. Daytime only; weekday peak-hour bans in 7 counties and 9 cities.
Front + Rear14'1" – 16'
Two qualified escorts at all times, one front and one rear ((7)(d)). Trip permits only; daytime only; two-lane connector routes require justification when four-lane routes exist ((7)(d)3.).
Front + Rear16'1"+
Limited access facilities: two qualified escorts, daytime only ((7)(e)1.); authorized nighttime movement instead requires one law enforcement escort plus one qualified escort ((7)(e)2.). Local moves only; District Traffic Engineering review; signed route Survey Letter on board over 16 ft wide; over 22 ft requires horizontal-clearance affidavit (width + 2 ft each side).
Height
Permit required13'7" – 14'6"
Permit required over 13'6". Movement all days, all hours ((8)(a)); maximum height for straight trucks except local moves. Florida's height rule does not distinguish road class.
Front + High pole14'7" – 15'
One escort with vertical height indicator (height pole at least 6 in above the load) must precede the load at evasive-action distance ((8)(b)). Daytime only; flags, signs, two warning lights. Hauler must survey vertical clearances before movement (FDOT movement conditions, Surveys).
Front + High pole15'1" – 16'
Same pole-equipped lead escort as (8)(b). Over 15 ft high the hauler must carry the signed route Survey Letter on board verifying clearance of load height + 6 in (FDOT movement conditions, Surveys). Daytime only.
Front + High pole + Police16'1"+
One LAW ENFORCEMENT escort plus one qualified escort ((8)(c)1.); the qualified escort precedes with the height pole; with two escorts one precedes and one follows (LE position not fixed by rule). Local moves only; utility personnel required at low wires/structures ((8)(c)2.); multi-trip permits capped at 18 ft; over 18 ft requires clearance affidavit (height + 6 in). Daytime only. A police escort is required over 16 ft high, in addition to the private escorts. Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 14-26.012(8)(c)1. (repeated in FDOT Blanket Permit Movement Conditions rev. 2026-07-27: 'One (1) law enforcement escort is also required.').
Length
Permit required75'1" – 80'
Movement all days, all hours up to 80 ft ((9)(a)). Night rear overhang capped at 10 ft; overhang over 4 ft needs a warning light plus two red lamps and two red reflectors at the extreme rear. Florida's first length restriction begins over 80 ft (prior data started at 75 ft; edge retained).
Permit required80'1" – 95'
Daytime only; flags, warning signs and two warning lights ((9)(b)). No escort tier until length exceeds 95 ft ((9)(b)3.). Over 85 ft: no movement in congested areas during weekday peak hours ((9)(b)1.).
Rear escort95'1" – 150'
One qualified escort required over 95 ft ((9)(b)3.); an over-length-only escort stays at the rear at all times (escort functions). Exception: truck tractor semi-trailers with three points of articulation allowed to 105 ft without an escort ((9)(b)2.). Daytime only.
Rear escort150'1" – 250'
On a limited access facility only one qualified escort is required over 150 ft ((9)(b)4.: two escorts 'unless the vehicle is traveling on a limited access facility, then only one qualified escort is required'); it trails the load. Off limited access the same load needs two. Daytime only.
1 escort + Police250'1"+
One LAW ENFORCEMENT escort plus one qualified escort over 250 ft ((9)(b)5.); one precedes and one follows (escort functions). Daytime only. A police escort is required over 250 ft long, in addition to the private escorts. Source: Fla. Admin. Code R. 14-26.012(9)(b)5.
Weight
Permit required80,001 lbs+
Overweight permit required above 80,000 lbs gross (s. 316.535). Rule 14-26.012 attaches escorts to width, height and length only — no weight threshold triggers an escort. Heavy moves receive individual FDOT/bridge review and the permit face may stipulate escorts; permit stipulations govern.
When a permitted load can move
- Standard hours
Daytime is a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. Any over-width load is daytime only. A legal-width load up to 14'6" high and 80' long may move all days, all hours. Hour limits are keyed to width, height and length, not to weight.
- Night travel
Over-width loads are daytime only. Within 14'6" high and 80' long, movement is all days, all hours. Other night moves need permit authorization, law enforcement escort and lights outlining the load. In the Keys south of Florida City, over 10' wide moves 9 PM-5 AM only.
- Weekend travel
Rule 14-26.012(5)(e): movements are prohibited on weekends and holidays unless the permit states otherwise. Within 14'6" high and 80' long the rule allows all days. Do not assume Saturday or Sunday travel for an oversize load - check the permit face.
- Holiday restrictions
No movement for loads over 10' wide, 14'6" high or 80' long on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas. A holiday on a Saturday is observed the preceding Friday; on a Sunday, the following Monday.
- Urban restrictions
Over 12' wide or 85' long: no movement 7-9 AM/4-6 PM weekdays on state roads incl. interstates in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orange, Duval, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and off-interstate in nine listed cities. Kennedy Space Center: over 10' wide barred 6-9 AM/3-6 PM weekdays.
Signage Florida expects
- Oversize load sign
Two OVERSIZE LOAD signs required over 10' wide, 80' long or 14'6" high. Black 12-inch letters, 1-1/2 inch brush stroke on yellow, each sign at least 7 feet long by 18 inches high, bumper or roof mounted; if one is roof mounted the other goes at the rear of the load.
- Flags
Flags must be clean, high visibility and at least 18 inches by 18 inches, displayed so as to wave freely on all four corners of the vehicle and at the extreme ends of all protrusions, projections or overhangs.
- Beacons
Class 2 rotating, strobe or flashing amber warning lights required over 10' wide, 80' long, 14'6" high, or over 3' front overhang on self-propelled equipment, mounted to be seen by approaching traffic at 500 feet.
Florida 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 Florida without an oversize or overweight permit?
In Florida, the legal limits without an oversize or overweight permit are 8'6" wide, 13'6" high, 48'0" long (semitrailer) and 80,000 lbs gross. Legal overhang is 3'0" front and 4'0" rear. Anything over those figures needs a permit from the Florida permit office before it moves.
When does an oversize load need an escort or pilot car in Florida?
On non-interstate in Florida, escorts begin at 12'1" wide. On interstate, escorts begin at 12'1" wide. The first escort tier is "Front escort" at 12'1" – 14' wide. Every tier on this page quotes its rule and source.
Can oversize loads travel at night, on weekends or on holidays in Florida?
Night travel: Over-width loads are daytime only. Within 14'6" high and 80' long, movement is all days, all hours. Other night moves need permit authorization, law enforcement escort and lights outlining the load. In the Keys south of Florida City, over 10' wide moves 9 PM-5 AM only. Weekend travel: Rule 14-26.012(5)(e): movements are prohibited on weekends and holidays unless the permit states otherwise. Within 14'6" high and 80' long the rule allows all days. Do not assume Saturday or Sunday travel for an oversize load - check the permit face. Holidays: No movement for loads over 10' wide, 14'6" high or 80' long on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas. A holiday on a Saturday is observed the preceding Friday; on a Sunday, the following Monday.