Transportation Right-of-Way Permit

A transportation right-of-way (ROW) permit is required when construction activity in the right-of-way blocks or limits the use of any type of lane, including vehicular travel lanes, curbside parking lanes, on-street bike lanes, sidewalks or multi-purpose trails.

There are two types of transportation ROW permits:

Submission Requirements

Transportation ROW permit applications must be submitted online.

• You must submit a Transportation Right-of-Way Permit Application in Permit Arlington.
  • From the Create drop-down menu, select Building Application. Then select either Transportation ROW — with excavation or Transportation ROW — no excavation.
  • View Permit Arlington Help for assistance with the online system.
• Submit the online permit application a minimum of five (5) business days prior to preferred permit start date.
• Full payment of fees is required before permit issuance. Online payment via eCheck or credit card is available.
• If the work activity or street and sidewalk closures will preclude adequate access to homes or businesses, a letter must be sent via certified mail at least seven (7) days prior to the start of construction to all property owners impacted and to the presidents of any associated neighborhood civic associations and condominium, homeowner and tenant associations. The letter must include:
  • Description of project
  • Construction schedule
  • Name of field superintendent
  • Name, phone and email contacts of community liaison(s) who can address community questions or concerns
• The online application requires the following information:
  • Applicant’s name, address, phone number and email
  • Permit holder’s name, address, phone number and email (if different than applicant)
  • Address or location of proposed work
  • Description of work
  • Preferred start date and end date
  • ID numbers of any parking meters impacted by lane closure (if applicable)
  • ID numbers of any bus stops impacted by lane closure (if applicable)
  • Notification letter and certified mail receipts (if applicable)
  • Maintenance of Traffic Plan or Traffic Control Plan
• Applicants receive their transportation ROW permits by email.

Additional Information

• An Excavation ROW Permit (formerly known as a public right-of-way, or PROW, permit) is also required if the lane closure results from any type of excavation in the right-of-way. If construction activity in the right-of-way includes lane closure and excavation/digging, apply for both an Excavation ROW Permit and a Transportation ROW – with excavation (TREX) permit  in Permit Arlington. The two associated permits will be issued together.
• Temporary covered walkways for pedestrians require an approved building permit from the Inspection Services Division (ISD) before the transportation ROW permit is issued.
• Upon permit expiration, all work must cease. The permittee must remove equipment, unless a permit extension is requested a minimum of three (3) business days prior to the expiration date.
• Depending on the location of the permit request, police assistance may be required for traffic control and pedestrian safety. If County staff indicate that police assistance may be required, the permit applicant must notify the Police Department at least five (5) business days in advance so a determination can be made about the need for police support. There is a fee for police assistance.
• All work zones must be sufficiently protected by safety devices at all times. Safety devices for all work authorized by a permit must conform with all codes, rules and regulations and be maintained in proper working order to protect the public.
• Traffic Control Plans and Maintenance of Traffic Plans must be in accordance with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices or the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Virginia Work Area Protection Manual.

Work Hours

• Unless otherwise permitted, standard hours of operation for work within the County right-of-way are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Work is prohibited during morning and evening commuter rush hours, 7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m., respectively.
• As stated above, upon permit expiration, all work must cease. The permittee must remove equipment, unless a permit extension is requested a minimum of three (3) business days prior to the expiration date.
• Weekend work hours, if requested, will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Night work—9 p.m.-7 a.m. on weekdays, 9 p.m.-10 a.m. on weekends—requires that an exemption request to the Noise Control Ordinance be submitted to Code Enforcement in addition to securing the necessary right-of-way permits.

Fees

Fee Schedules provide the range of fees charged for each type of application or activity related to land development in Arlington. Fees cover permitting, plan review, enforcement, inspection, service delivery, performance agreements and conditions. There are separate fee schedules for ISD, Zoning and the Department of Environmental Services (DES). Some permits involve fees from more than one schedule.