Bloomington, IN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Any street/ROW closure, digging or excavation
- Base application fee
- $100
- Bond range
- $5,000 to $20,000 by permit type
- Insurance required
- $100k/$300k personal injury; $50k/$100k property
- Permit must be
- Kept on site, producible on request
- Fee-exempt entities
- CBU, IU, Monroe County, State of Indiana, 501(c)(3)s
Summary
In the City of Bloomington, closing, digging up, cutting into or excavating a street, sidewalk, alley or other right-of-way is unlawful without a right-of-way use permit from the city engineer. The permit, which must be kept on site, follows a $100 application fee, a project-specific bond, and liability insurance before work can begin.
It is unlawful for any person to do, cause or permit to be done any closure, impediment, digging, cutting or excavating to any street, right-of-way, alley or public place, or into or through any pavement thereon, in the city except in accordance with and as provided for in this chapter. ... Any person closing, prohibiting access to, digging, cutting or excavating on or causing the same to be made in pavements or adjacent to pavements shall apply for a right-of-way use permit as required by this chapter. A person shall not begin the aforementioned activities until a right-of-way use permit has been duly granted as provided in this chapter. The right-of-way use permit shall be kept on site in paper or digital form and be able to be produced as requested by city staff.
Full Breakdown
010 makes it 'unlawful for any person to do, cause or permit to be done any closure, impediment, digging, cutting or excavating to any street, right-of-way, alley or public place, or into or through any pavement thereon' except as the chapter provides. 020 requires anyone closing, blocking access to, digging, cutting or excavating pavement or ground adjacent to it to apply for and obtain a right-of-way use permit before starting, and to keep that permit on site in paper or digital form, producible on request by city staff.
Work the board of public works directs on existing infrastructure is exempt from the permit step but must still follow the chapter's traffic-control rules. 040 fee table, which runs from $100 for a right-of-way use/excavation application up to $200 per week for a full street closure; City of Bloomington Utilities, Indiana University, Monroe County, the State of Indiana, 501(c)(3) nonprofits and city-directed utility work are exempt from these fees. 080 requires liability insurance naming the city as co-insured. The city engineer issues the permit once the application, bond and insurance are on file and may deny it for incomplete filings or work not in the public interest.
Violations & Fines
Working without the required right-of-way use permit is itself the underlying violation of § 12.08.010 and § 12.08.020. Chapter 12.10 sets enforcement: the city engineer and designees are the enforcement officials, with full authority to investigate, issue notices of violation and secure remedies including injunctive relief; a permit issued in conflict with the title is null and void, and fines run per the schedule in § 12.10.040, with unrepaired excavation work chargeable against the responsible party's bond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to dig in the street or sidewalk in Bloomington?
How much does a right-of-way permit cost?
Is a bond required for excavation work?
Who is exempt from the right-of-way permit fees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
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