PERMITS AND REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK IN ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY

Any work performed within the right-of-way must be permitted by the Board of Public Works after review by the City Engineer's Office.  The City Engineer's Office may request drawings, details, or other information regarding the proposed work. 

The Board of Public Works meets every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Room 301 of the Civic Center Complex.* In order to be considered for approval, all Permit Applications must be submitted to the City Engineer's Office no later than 5:00 p.m. each Tuesday to be reviewed at that Thursday's meeting.

*The BPW meeting schedule is subject to change due to holidays, weather, or unforeseen circumstances. Please account for this possibility when submitting your Application.

Permit Web Application

• Please Click here to open the Right-Of-Way dashboard.

The link for the form is at the top of the dashboard. A guide for how the permitting system operates can be found here. 

Please note that an approved permit will not be emailed back to the applicant. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to check the Right-Of-Way dashboard to see the status of the permit.

Evansville Municipal Code 12.05.070 Disturbing Sod, Earth, or Pavement  states that no person shall disturb sod or earth in a public way without permission of the Board of Public Works. 

Evansville Municipal Code 12.05.140 Obstructing Public Ways states that no person shall cause the obstruction of partial obstruction of a public way without the permission of or without a permit issued by the Board of Public Works.  

What is City Right of Way (ROW) 

City Right of Way is the area of ground dedicated and controlled by the City for constructing and maintaining roads, roadway drainage, utilities, etc.  The width of City Right of way varies from road to road and is often times several feet behind the back of sidewalk or edge of pavement.  The front parcel/property line (as well as the side parcel/property line for corner lots) and the City Right of Way line are one in the same.  In many, if not most, instances the City Right of way includes property within a property owner's property lines. 

The City's Rights of Way have been established and are to be maintained and preserved strictly for the existing and future use of public ways and public utilities and facilities.  

It is the responsibility of the property owner and/or the property owner's hired contractor to locate property pins, survey, research recorded plats and deeds, etc. as necessary to determine the property lines and the location of the City's Right of Way.  Property dimensions can be found by contacting the Assessor's Office, https://engage.xsoftinc.com/vanderburgh , or by using Area Plan Commissions GIS Maps and Apps website, https://dev.evansvilleapc.com/gis.html

If there is any question as to the nature, extent or location of the City's Right of way line, property owners or their contractors may also contact the City Engineer's Office by calling 812-436-4984.  

DIAGRAM SHOWING ROAD RIGHT OF WAY BELOW. 

CITY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT'S POLICY ON FENCES WITHIN CITY RIGHT OF WAY

The City Engineering Department serves as a technical advisor to the Board of Public Works.  As a result of the EMC provisions, the City Engineering Department cannot unilaterally permit the installation of fences for private use within City Right of Way.  

CITY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS POLICY ON FENCES OBSTRUCTING A DRIVER'S VIEW 

Evansville Municipal Code 12.05.150 Obstructing Driver's View 

Based upon the EMC stated above, no fence over 3 feet shall be erected within the 15' x 25' site distance triangle within the right of way or on private property.  

The City Engineering Department shall enforce the sight distance guidelines per the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), A policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets. 

The sight distance guidelines of this section shall be strictly adhered to and are not subject to an appeal to the Board of Public Works. 

Failure to comply with this policy may result in issuance of fines/penalties to the property owner.  

Questions: 812-436-4984