Code of Massachusetts Regulations
700 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Title 700 CMR 13.00 - Approval of Access to Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highways and Other Property
Section 13.06 - Permit Fees

Universal Citation: 700 MA Code of Regs 700.13

Current through Register 1518, March 29, 2024

(1) Fees and Costs. MassDOT may charge fees to cover costs typically incurred in processing, reviewing and accommodating requests to enter upon or use MassDOT property:

(a) Application Fee. An Applicant shall pay the fee as indicated on the Permit application.

(b) Maintenance and Equipment Fee. MassDOT may charge a fee based on the actual cost of maintenance and equipment costs incurred to review the application or provide oversight and site inspection during the post-issue and sign-off process.

(c) Engineering Costs. MassDOT may charge a fee based on the actual costs of the technical and engineering review of detailed drawings and specifications.

(d) State Police Details. The Applicant or their designee shall be responsible for the costs and fees associated with required State Police details and shall be responsible for the ordering of such police details.

(e) Event and Filming and Photography Fees. MassDOT may charge fees to cover the actual costs incurred in addition to those covered by other applicable fees to accommodate requests for events and requests to film, videotape or photograph on MassDOT property.

(f) BMP inspection Fee. MassDOT may charge a fee to cover the costs for the inspection of stormwater BMPs upstream of a Drainage Tie-in.

(g) Tree Removal/Trimming Mitigation. Where an applicant proposes to perform tree trimming or removal for an approved purpose, MassDOT may require the applicant to reimburse the Agency for the value of the vegetation removed.

(h) MassDOT will consider requests for expedited reviews when they have the capacity to accommodate such requests, and in accommodating such requests, existing applications are not unduly delayed at the expense of fulfilling the request. MassDOT may impose additional fees when an applicant requests an expedited review. The assessed fee will be commensurate with the original permit fee and the design stage being expedited - 25% Review (20% of original fee), 75/100% (15% of original fee), PS&E (15% of original fee). Expedited reviews will be completed in half the time provided under 700 CMR 13.03. The fee will be assessed upon MassDOT's completion of the review within the given time period. Advancement or issuance of the permit will not commence until payment has been submitted by the applicant.

(i) Other Fees and Costs. For unique requests or exceptional uses of MassDOT property, MassDOT may charge specialized fees and costs in addition to, or in lieu of, any or all of the above items based on specific circumstances or to recoup the anticipated costs to be incurred by MassDOT.

(2) In accordance with M.G.L. c. 21, §17C, no charges or fees shall be imposed by MassDOT for Recreational Use Permits as defined in 700 CMR 7.13(1)(c).

(3) Requests for discounts or waiver of fees and costs may be considered and reviewed by MassDOT for; nonprofit organizations, community groups, municipalities, students, or others similar entities deemed eligible, based on demonstrated need.

(4) Applicable fees and costs shall be estimated by MassDOT and paid by the Applicant prior to issuance of a Permit. Nonpayment of applicable fees and costs will be considered a basis for denial of the request.

(5) If an applicant requests an amendment to an issued permit and additional scope is proposed, the District may determine that a new application is required with a new assessed fee. The District may also determine that an amendment can be issued but an additional fee will be assessed based on the additional work requested. This would be a case where the original fee was based on the size of development, or length of trench, number of utility poles, as examples.

(6) All fees and costs referenced in 700 CMR 13.06 are subject to change.

Application Fees

Permit Amendments:

$200.00

Permit Extensions:

If requested prior to permit expiration

If requested after permit expiration

$75.00

$150.00

Accident Recovery Permits:

$150.00

Borings, Monitoring Wells, Exploratory Pits:

If all contained with the soft shoulder

If any portion within paved surfaces

$375.00

$500.00

Building Moves-oversized Loads:

Moves requiring MassDOT oversight may require a separate cost-recovery process.

$200.00

Drainage Tie-ins:

Includes direct system connections and sheet flow entering the State Highway Layout.

$1,500.00

Residential Drives/Curb-cuts (per unit):

$75.00

Commercial Drives-Curb Cuts (Includes Indirect Access Permits):

Building square footage less than 50,000 s.f.

Buildings greater than 50,000 s.f.

$750.00

$750.00

+ $0.020/s.f.

above 50,000 s.f.

Fuel Spills/Hazardous Releases:

This fee applies to the permit issued to perform clean-up activities and site remediation for a specific incident.

A separate permit and fee is required for annual "blanket" Emergency Access.

$750.00

Landscape Activities/Tree Trimming/Removal:

Any work performed under this category may require mitigation for vegetation loss, value set by a MassDOT Landscape Architect.

$750.00

Annual Emergency Response and Limited General Maintenance Permit (Municipal):

$1,000.00

Miscellaneous Access Permits:

This category includes unique, benign, requests for highway access not fitting other categories such as murals, small unmanned aircraft (Drone), filming activities, photography, etc. Provisions under 700 CMR 13.06(1) and 700 CMR 13.06(3) may be exercised.

$500.00

* Note that mix-use drives/streets fees will be assessed by the number of proposed residential units plus the square footage of commercial development.

Application Fees

Small Wireless Facilities and New Small Cell Structure Licensing:

(1) Nonrefundable Application Fees.

(a) License Application seeking to install five or fewer Small Wireless Facilities

(b) License Application seeking to install more than five Small Wireless Facilities

(c) License Application seeking to install a new Structure

(2) Annual Fees.

(a) Small Wireless Facility on MassDOT-owned Structures

(b) Small Wireless Facility on Structures owned by a third-party or the Licensee

$500.00

$500.00, plus

$100.00 for each additional Small Cell

$1000.00 per structure

$270.00 annually

$100.00 per annum

Staging of Equipment:

Staging of equipment or access to highway for non-MassDOT Construction/. Maintenance projects may require a separate lease Agreement with OREAD

$750.00

Survey Activities:

Not in connection with MassDOT design or maintenance activities.

$250/site

Traffic Control Devices:

This allows for the placement of traffic control devices on MassDOT roadways that are not in conjunction with a permit or MassDOT contracted work.

$375.00

Utility: Service Connections:

Residential

Commercial

$175.00

$375.00

Utility: Improvements/Upgrades to Underground Facilities:

Projects under 2000 feet in length

Projects over 2000 feet

Certain underground projects may require a separate lease/easement agreement with OREAD.

$1,500.00

$1,500

+ $0.50/lf above

2000 feet

Utility: Overhead Capital Improvements:

Complex overhead work and aerial crossings requiring MassDOT oversight may require a separate cost-recovery process.

$1,000.00

Utilities/Communication Equip. Attached to MassDOT Structures/Facilities other than Small Wireless Facilities:

Certain applications may require a separate lease agreement with OREAD. MassDOT may seek cost recovery under provision 700 CMR 13.06(1). For requests requiring unique or detailed reviews.

$1,500.00

Utility Pole Installations/Replacements, other than poles installed by Small Wireless Facility Permit holders solely to support Small Wireless Facilities:

Up to ten utility poles

In excess of ten poles

$750.00

$750.00

+ $50/pole

Utility Other:

Work not defined in another fee category. Provisions under 700 CMR 13.06(1) may be exercised.

$500.00

Way-finding Signs for Events of significance:

This category covers static signs requested to display parking and travel information to motorists about significant events.

$750 +

$0.25/s.f./day

Way-finding Signs for Annual Events with no significant changes from previous year's submission. This category includes the installation of supplemental service signs.

$375 +

$0.25/s.f./day

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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