Which of the following is true about permits beyond MDT permits for ROW work?

• A. Federal permits are always required
• B. County zoning approval is sufficient
• C. Local permits as required
• D. No additional permits are needed

Answer: (C)

Working in the state’s right-of-way means you’re under statewide oversight, but the authority to actually use and modify a roadway often rests with the local jurisdiction. Beyond MDT permits, you typically need the local permit(s) required by the city or county where the work is being done. These local permits ensure compliance with local codes, traffic control, and restoration requirements, and they coordinate with other utilities and stakeholders in that specific area. MDT handles state highway rights-of-way, but local streets and county roads fall under municipal or county oversight, so the local permits are the appropriate and necessary step.

Federal permits aren’t automatically required for every ROW project; they only apply in specific circumstances (such as work on federal lands or projects with federal environmental implications). County zoning approval alone doesn’t authorize ROW work, since zoning governs land use rather than the actual permission to occupy or alter a public road. And since MDT permits cover the state’s oversight, no additional local permits would not be accurate in most cases. Local permits as required best capture the general practice for coordinating and authorizing ROW work beyond MDT’s scope.