Ohio Code § 5577.05

Ohio Code § 5577.05. Reproduced from the official Ohio Revised Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 5577.05.

(A) No vehicle shall be operated upon the public highways, streets, bridges, and culverts

within the state, whose dimensions exceed those specified in this section. (B) No such vehicle shall have a width in excess of: (1) One hundred four inches for passenger bus type vehicles operated exclusively within

municipal corporations; (2) One hundred two inches, excluding such safety devices as are required by law, for

passenger bus type vehicles operated over freeways, and such other state roads with

minimum pavement widths of twenty-two feet, except those roads or portions of roads

over which operation of one hundred two-inch buses is prohibited by order of the director

of transportation; (3) One hundred thirty-two inches for traction engines; (4) One hundred two inches for recreational vehicles, excluding safety devices and retracted

awnings and other appurtenances of six inches or less in width and except that the

director may prohibit the operation of one hundred two inch recreational vehicles

on designated state highways or portions of highways; (5) One hundred two inches, including load, for all other vehicles, except that the director

may prohibit the operation of one hundred two-inch vehicles on such state highways

or portions of state highways as the director designates. (C) No such vehicle shall have a length in excess of: (1) Sixty-six feet for passenger bus type vehicles and articulated passenger bus type

vehicles operated by a regional transit authority pursuant to sections 306.30 to 306.54 of the Revised Code ; (2) Forty-five feet for all other passenger bus type vehicles; (3) Fifty-three feet for any semitrailer when operated in a commercial tractor-semitrailer

combination, with or without load, except that the director may prohibit the operation

of any such commercial tractor-semitrailer combination on such state highways or portions

of state highways as the director designates. (4) Twenty-eight and one-half feet for any semitrailer or trailer when operated in a

commercial tractor-semitrailer-trailer or commercial tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer

combination, except that the director may prohibit the operation of any such commercial

tractor-semitrailer-trailer or commercial tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer combination

on such state highways or portions of state highways as the director designates; (5)(a) Ninety-seven feet for drive-away saddlemount vehicle transporter combinations and

drive-away saddlemount with fullmount vehicle transporter combinations when operated

on any interstate, United States route, or state route, including reasonable access

travel on all other roadways for a distance not to exceed one road mile from any interstate,

United States route, or state route, not to exceed three saddlemounted vehicles, but

which may include one fullmount; (b) Seventy-five feet for drive-away saddlemount vehicle transporter combinations and

drive-away saddlemount with fullmount vehicle transporter combinations, when operated

on any roadway not designated as an interstate, United States route, or state route,

not to exceed three saddlemounted vehicles, but which may include one fullmount; (6) Sixty-five feet for any other combination of vehicles coupled together, with or without

load, except as provided in divisions (C)(3) and (4), and in division (E) of this

section; (7) Forty-five feet for recreational vehicles; (8) Fifty feet for all other vehicles except trailers and semitrailers, with or without

load. (D) No such vehicle shall have a height in excess of thirteen feet six inches, with or

without load. (E) An automobile transporter or boat transporter shall be allowed a length of sixty-five

feet and a stinger-steered automobile transporter or stinger-steered boat transporter

shall be allowed a length of seventy-five feet, except that the load thereon may extend

no more than four feet beyond the rear of such vehicles and may extend no more than

three feet beyond the front of such vehicles, and except further that the director

may prohibit the operation of a stinger-steered automobile transporter, stinger-steered

boat transporter, or a B-train assembly on any state highway or portion of any state

highway that the director designates. (F) The widths prescribed in division (B) of this section shall not include side mirrors,

turn signal lamps, marker lamps, handholds for cab entry and egress, flexible fender

extensions, mud flaps, splash and spray suppressant devices, and load-induced tire

bulge. The width prescribed in division (B)(5) of this section shall not include automatic

covering devices, tarp and tarp hardware, and tiedown assemblies, provided these safety

devices do not extend more than three inches from each side of the vehicle. The lengths prescribed in divisions (C)(2) to (8) of this section shall not include

safety devices, bumpers attached to the front or rear of such bus or combination,

nonproperty carrying devices or components that do not extend more than twenty-four

inches beyond the rear of the vehicle and are needed for loading or unloading, B-train

assembly used between the first and second semitrailer of a commercial tractor-semitrailer-semitrailer

combination, energy conservation devices as provided in any regulations adopted by

the secretary of the United States department of transportation, or any noncargo-carrying

refrigeration equipment attached to the front of trailers and semitrailers.  In special cases, vehicles whose dimensions exceed those prescribed by this section

may operate in accordance with rules adopted by the director. (G) This section does not apply to fire engines, fire trucks, or other vehicles or apparatus

belonging to any municipal corporation or to the volunteer fire department of any

municipal corporation or used by such department in the discharge of its functions.  This section does not apply to vehicles and pole trailers used in the transportation

of wooden and metal poles, nor to the transportation of pipes or well-drilling equipment,

nor to farm machinery and equipment. The owner or operator of any vehicle, machinery, or equipment not specifically enumerated

in this section but the dimensions of which exceed the dimensions provided by this

section, when operating the same on the highways and streets of this state, shall

comply with the rules of the director governing such movement that the director may

adopt. Sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code apply to any rules the director adopts under this section, or the amendment or rescission

of the rules, and any person adversely affected shall have the same right of appeal

as provided in those sections. This section does not require the state, a municipal corporation, county, township,

or any railroad or other private corporation to provide sufficient vertical clearance

to permit the operation of such vehicle, or to make any changes in or about existing

structures now crossing streets, roads, and other public thoroughfares in this state. (H) As used in this section, “recreational vehicle” has the same meaning as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code .

Source: official Ohio text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

  • Citation: Ohio Revised Code § 5577.05
  • Jurisdiction: Ohio
  • Code: Ohio Revised Code
  • Text: transcribed from the official source (verify below)

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