Fort Wayne, IN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Approving body
- Board of Public Works
- Initial application fee
- $200
- Contract preparation fee
- $100
- Permanent encroachment permit fee
- $50
- Rental fee basis
- Size, facility type, street class
Summary
Placing private facilities, cables, pipes, structures, in Fort Wayne's public rights-of-way requires Board of Public Works approval, a $200 application fee, and an annual rental fee based on the encroachment's size and street classification.
Any individual, company, or organization not included under § 99.031 (J) may request permission from the Board of Public Works to place private facilities within the public rights-of-way, subject to the following fees: (a) Initial application fee of $200... (b) Contract preparation fee of $100... (c) An annual rental fee will be assessed that is dependant on the size of the encroachment, the type of facility to be placed, and the classification of the street right-of-way.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-60: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. G-19-26, passed 7-14-26, and Res. 83-19, passed 12-17-19 State legislation current through Legislative Service, 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).
Full Breakdown
Anyone placing private facilities, communication cable, underground pipe or duct, fiber optics, or a parking lot, within a Fort Wayne right-of-way must apply to the Board of Public Works under § 99.009(B). The process requires a nonrefundable $200 initial application fee and a $100 contract preparation fee, then review by the engineering departments, Community and Economic Development, and the Right-of-Way department before Legal drafts a rental/encroachment agreement for the Board's final approval. The annual rental fee scales with the encroachment's size, facility type, and whether the street is residential, collector, or arterial; a flat $50 permanent encroachment permit fee also applies under the same section's fee table.
Violations & Fines
Fort Wayne's general chapter penalty, § 99.999, applies to right-of-way violations without their own penalty clause: a fine of up to $2,500, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who approves an encroachment permit in Fort Wayne?
What does it cost to apply?
Can the city waive the annual fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Wayne
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