Entrance Access Permit

A permit is needed for any changes within a county right-of-way

The Lake County Highway Department reminds citizens that a permit is required before changes of any kind are made to highway right of way property.

Road or highway right of way is defined as the road bed itself, shoulders, ditches, clear zone, and sight corners. The average distance for this area from the centerline on county highways is usually 50 feet, but this can sometimes be less and substantially more depending on the specific highway.

Lake County Highway Department needs to be informed of what people would like to do on county property.  Safety is our number one consideration, as well as a multitude of other factors that most residents aren’t aware of or never even think about.

Any person or entity impacting highway right of way either temporarily or permanently or changing the use, must apply for a permit in advance. Permitees may be private individuals, developers, contractors, utility companies, municipalities, and realty companies to name a few.

Some of the more common types of work allowed include: installation of culverts for new driveway entrances, placement of utility lines either underground or overhead and certain types of safety enhancements. There are numerous things that are not allowed on highway right of way. They range from tree cutting, to fencing, to disposal of debris such as brush and dirt.  

There is no charge for the majority of the permits issued. Some permits may require a returnable deposit, which is treated as a bond for a specific time period.

Minimum violations of state statutes to highway right of way are considered a misdemeanor punishable by a fine and/or jail time. For more serious infractions, such as tree removal, damages will also be assessed and this can amount to thousands of dollars.

To help determine the boundaries of highway right of way, persons may call the Lake County Highway Department at 218-834-8380.

All new, revised or changed use accesses onto county roads shall be subject to the access and corridor protection guidelines of Lake County.  The Highway Engineer, or his designated representative, shall determine the appropriate location, size and design of such accesses and may limit the number of accesses in the interest of public safety and efficient traffic flow.  Accesses on any county highway shall require a driveway access permit from the Lake County Highway Department.  Issuance of a driveway access permit shall be precedent to the issuance of any construction site or use permit.

The Applicant will be required to pay the full cost of the culvert if required, an entrance deposit of $200.00, $50.00 permit fee and will be responsible for transport and installation of said culvert.  After determining its acceptability, the $200.00 entrance deposit will be returned to the applicant. Print, complete, and return with separate checks to

Lake County Highway Department
1513 Hwy 2
Two Harbors, MN 55616