Landowner Permit Policy

Requirements for landowner work within the right-of-way of a Fairfield County road.

All Forms and Permits · Landowner Road Right-of-Way Permit

Landowner Permit Requirements

  1. Prior to any excavation in the road right-of-way, the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) must be contacted a minimum of 48 hours in advance in accordance with ORC Section 3781.25 to 3781.32. OUPS can be reached by dialing 811, 1-800-362-2764, or online at OHIO811.org
  2. There shall be no overnight parking of any equipment, materials, items, etc. within 10 feet of edge of pavement.
  3. Driveway Requirements (one permanent drive per parcel permitted)
    1. A separate permit is required from the Fairfield County Engineer’s Office for the installation of each temporary or permanent drive. For a new drive, a copy of the Deed or Access Easement for the property being accessed shall be supplied with the permit application. Commercial drives may require a traffic study as determined by the Fairfield County Engineer.
    2. Driveways forcing vehicles to back out onto the public highway shall not be permitted. Safe sight distance shall be checked, during County site visit, for conformance with minimum standards. If adequate sight distance is not available, a drive may not be permitted.
    3. The elevation of the drive where it abuts the road shall be constructed ½ inch below the edge of the existing road and then sloped away from the road per the Fairfield County Engineer Standards - Driveway Detail. This is to ensure that no water from the drive is forced onto the road.
    4. Driveway culvert type, size, and length will be established during County site visit and specified in the permit. Driveway culvert pipes will be a minimum of 12 inches in diameter. Residential drive pipes shall generally be a minimum of 30 feet long and a maximum of 32 feet long. Commercial drive pipes generally will be 40 feet long and Reinforced Concrete Pipe.
  4. Mailbox Requirements
    1. Mailbox units, attachments, supports, and the installations thereof, are to be in strict compliance with U.S. Postal and County Regulations.
    2. All supports for rural mailboxes shall be of the breakaway type and not set in concrete. Examples of satisfactory mailbox support are:
      1. 4” x 4” timber post
      2. 4-1/2” round timber post
      3. 2” inner diameter standard strength steel pipe (2-3/8” outer diameter)
    3. The face of the mailbox shall be a minimum of 30” from the edge of pavement.
    4. There shall be no planting/landscaping (other than grass) around the mailbox.
  5. All work requiring personnel or vehicles within county road right-of-way shall comply with all applicable requirements of the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and ODOT Construction and Material Specification Item 614 (Maintaining Traffic), latest editions. Road closures will NOT be permitted unless a separate permit is issued and public advanced notice is arranged.
  6. Any disturbed area shall be restored to its original or better condition within 14 days.
  7. Nothing shall be permanently installed within 3 feet of the centerline of any ditch or waterway or between the edge of pavement and the centerline of the road ditch except County Engineer approved signs, mailboxes, culvert pipes or ditch enclosures.
  8. Anything considered a road hazard, in accordance with the Fairfield County Engineer’s Office Road Hazard Policy, is not permitted within the preferred clear zones established by this policy. Preferred clear zone widths vary from 9 feet to 14 feet from edge of pavement, depending on the County Road Classification. Any road hazard, including poles, lines, vent pipes, etc., installed within the right-of-way must be delineated on a set of plans accompanying the permit application, with the offset from centerline and edge of pavement to each object clearly marked.
  9. Drainage into the right-of-way shall be by permit only. At no time shall subsurface water be discharged to the right-of-way. Treated effluent shall be as a last resort only, and a permit application must be accompanied by a letter from the Fairfield County Health Department, stating no other reasonable option is available.
  10. No landscaping or plantings, shall be located within 30 feet of the centerline of the road or within the road right-of-way. Plantings along the road can be affected by winter road treatments and can create sight distance problems. Planters, rocks, or other objects more than 6 inches above the ground may also constitute a potential road hazard.
  11. Fences are not permitted within the right-of-way. Gates should be set at a sufficient offset distance from the roadway so a vehicle and/or trailer can pull to open or close gate and not occupy any portion of the roadway.