Dearborn County, IN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Section 150.46 of the Dearborn County Code establishes two permit types for work in the county right-of-way. A road and driveway permit covers connecting a private driveway or new roadway to a public road, and the county adopted the same standards as the Indiana Department of Transportation Driveway Permit Handbook. Plans must be submitted on all commercial and subdivision roadways. A permit bond applies to all commercial drives and to new roadways into subdivisions with more than 12 lots, at a minimum of $5000, and it stays in effect until the County Engineer releases it after inspection.

A utility installation/right-of-way permit covers all other construction in the right-of-way. The organization responsible for the work must obtain it, and a private individual must have the contractor obtain it. Subcontractors and installation representatives under contract with the owner are bound by the permit. The bond minimum is $2500 per road cut, a yearly renewable bond can be obtained for an aggregate amount of $25,000, and a yearly bond renews on January 1. Bonds on major road cuts stay in effect for not less than one year after final inspection. A major cut has a surface width of 24 inches or greater, or runs parallel to the road below a 45 degree line from the edge of pavement; cuts outside the edge of pavement six inches wide or less are not major. Plans or drawings must accompany every permit request.

Open or trench cuts across a paved roadway are not allowed unless special permission is granted on a per cut basis, because the Board of Commissioners intends to limit open cuts. Permits are issued at the County Engineer's office, 215-B W. High St., Lawrenceburg, IN. Under § 91.30 the County Highway Department collects $25 for each driveway permit application. A utility permit for a minor cut (residential services, pole replacement and the like) has no charge, and a major cut (main extension, road cuts and the like) costs $150 each.