Obstruction Permits

Development Application

Depending on the scale of a project and the development application process it follows, Public Works may require a project to estimate its maximum impacts to the ROW during construction. If requested, this information will allow Public Works to prioritize public construction projects in the area and begin planning for potential traffic impacts. ROW information requested at this stage in a project is understood to be preliminary, as projects often lack full understanding of their needs until they reach Pre-Construction.

Pre-Construction

As projects approach construction, representatives from the construction team are expected to approach Public Works at least 2 to 4 months in advance of construction to begin review of possible ROW impacts. Projects should anticipate at least one meeting with Public Works staff and an iterative review process of negotiating ROW use where public safety, project needs, project phasing/schedule, traffic impacts, and pedestrian/bike access are considered. The process culminates in issuance or denial of a ROW Obstruction Permit.

Right-of-Way (ROW) Obstruction Permit applicants should use the following guidance when planning a construction project:

• Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists must be protected from hazards associated with construction activity. In order to minimize disruption to the ROW, projects should consider varying access adjacent to their site based on the activities associated with each phase of construction.
• ROW closures must remain within the frontage of the parcels under construction unless documented agreements with adjacent parcels are provided to the City.
• ROW closures cannot be used for material or construction equipment storage.
• Only logoed contractor vehicles can be parked inside a ROW closure.
• Logoed work vehicles can park in residential areas without an obstruction permit. See Rochester Code of Ordinances Section 11-10-6.
• Closures and shifts of sidewalks, boulevards, bike lanes, parking lanes, and vehicle lanes are permitted, but projects ideally accommodate existing same-side pedestrian/bike access while maintaining existing directional flow of traffic.
• If existing pedestrian/bike facilities must be impacted, Public Works often permits closures/shifts of parking and vehicle lanes to accommodate same-side temporary pedestrian/bike access. Public Works reviews projects on a case-by-case basis and determines if impacts to travel lanes are acceptable to prioritize pedestrian/bike access.
• In some cases, skyway and subway detours may be an acceptable alternative to a temporary pedestrian access route adjacent to a construction site.
• Pedestrian signage including detour routes and wayfinding must be provided one block in advance, in all directions of sidewalk closures. These measures are not required if same-side pedestrian access is provided.
• Projects impacting the ROW are responsible for permit application fees, parking meter bagging fees, and area-based ROW usage fees. Area-based ROW usage fees are based on the square footage of ROW impacted, but portions of the ROW used to replace existing pedestrian/bike access are excluded from the area calculations. This exclusion also requires normal directional flow of traffic adjacent to a site.
• ROW impacts in-place for 7 days or less are considered temporary and only pay fees associated with permit applications and parking meters. Longer-duration ROW impacts begin compiling area-based fees on the 8th consecutive calendar day.
• Revisions to and extensions of Tier 2 ROW Obstruction Permits (defined below) require the same documentation as initial applications and are subject to the same permit fees.
• Permit application fees double for projects found to be without permits or out of compliance with active permits.
• Local traffic control contractors: 
  • Warning Lites of MN: 507-282-1105 
  • Safety Signs LLC: 952-469-6700

• Applicants should review Rochester Code of Ordinances Section 11-6-1 regarding parking regulations related to obstruction of meters and parking spaces. Permitted meter bag uses include (Council Resolution 430-03, dated 08/18/2003):
  • Dumpsters
  • Tool and material trucks
  • One foreman or employee vehicle (not a personal vehicle)
  • Construction Activities
  • City Construction Projects
  • Parades and Special Events
  • Charitable Events
  • Security/Emergencies
  • Dignitaries
  • Safety clearance zones
  • Traffic visibility zones
  • Construction trailers
• Rochester Code of Ordinances Section 11-6-35 details parking meter fees.
• Obstruction permits are not to be used to allow parking in “No Parking Zones.”
• Obstruction permits requiring next-day meter bagging must be emailed to Public Works by 2 p.m. to allow staff to make arrangements. There is a 12-hour advanced posting requirement.
• The following activities are exempt from parking charges:
  • City construction projects
  • Parades
  • City-sponsored events
  • Non-profit organization-sponsored events. All organizations seeking this exemption must produce documentation of their non-profit status.
  • Security/emergency dignitaries
  • Events involving dignitaries (with RPD)

Downtown Parking Public Web Map Application

This map application illustrates downtown Rochester metered parking spaces and parking restriction zones. Zoom into your area of interest to make the parking layer visible. Click on a parking space polygon to see the associated attributes (i.e. parking space ID, space type, location). Please note: parking information shown in this application is not a real-time representation. Spaces out of service temporarily (i.e. hours/days for maintenance) are not identified.

Dumpsters/trailers in Residential Neighborhoods

• If a dumpster/trailer fits in a driveway and does not obstruct the sidewalk, Public Works prefers the dumpster/trailer be placed in the driveway. No permit is required if the dumpster is in a driveway.
• Dumpsters/trailers are not allowed at T-intersections and must be offset when placed on a street. If the offset impacts a neighboring resident or business, the neighbor must approve the location.
• In general, dumpsters/trailers cannot be placed where they block hydrants, mailboxes, or driveways.

Special Events

• All events in the city such as road races, Peace Plaza events, and festivals, require a Special Event Permit issued by the City Clerk’s Office. If the event involves parking meters or road closures, they must also apply for an Obstruction Permit. The Obstruction Permit cannot be issued until the Special Event permit is approved.
• If an event requires electricity from our Third Street Ramp, there will be a $ 250-per-event charge collected by the parking vendor, Reef Parking.

Permit Application

• Tier 1 ROW Obstruction Permit ($25): Relatively small, often short-duration impacts to the ROW. Examples of Tier 1 applications include dumpsters and single-space meter bagging.
• Tier 2 ROW Obstruction Permit ($100): Larger, often long-duration impacts to the ROW. Tier 2 applications include building demolition projects and large construction projects.
• Revisions to and extensions of Tier 2 ROW Obstruction Permits are subject to the same permit fees as initial applications. Also, permit application fees double for projects found to be without permits or out of compliance with active permits.

Meter Bagging

• Projects are responsible for fees associated with metered parking bagged for, or as a result of, construction. Meter bagging fees are listed in the City Fee Schedule.
• Holidays are excluded from meter fees. See Rochester Code of Ordinances Section 11-6-34.
• If a meter bagging request is only for a Saturday or Sunday, there is a one-time per meter fee listed in the City Fee Schedule.
• No credit is given for rain days when a meter is bagged. 

Area-Based Fees

• ROW impacts in-place for 7 days or less are considered temporary and only pay fees associated with permit applications and parking meters. Longer-duration ROW impacts begin compiling area-based fees on the 8th consecutive calendar day.
• Area-based ROW usage fees are based on the square footage of ROW impacted, but portions of the ROW used to replace existing pedestrian/bike access are excluded from the area calculations. This exclusion also requires normal directional flow of traffic adjacent to a site.
• The area-based fee for projects impacting the ROW is $0.0025/ft2/day. Public Works staff calculate square footage based on measurements of proposed impacts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Prior to obtaining a permit, the proposed work must be reviewed and approved. Use the permit applications below to begin the process.

• Permit Regulations
• Fee Structure for Permits and Inspections 

Contractors/Homeowners can call, fax or email requests for obstruction permits.

Rochester Code of Ordinances 9-2 states, in part:

An obstruction permit is required by any person wishing to hinder free and open passage over the specified portion of public right-of-way for a period of 365 days or less by placing equipment described therein on the public right-of-way, to the extent and for the duration specified therein.

Rochester Code of Ordinances Section 11-6-1 details parking regulations.