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Right-of-Way Permits
Right-of-Way (ROW) permit applications for construction work within public ROWs are processed online through e-TRAKiT as of January 1, 2022.
ROW permits are a crucial component in providing safe and effective use of streets and sidewalks during utility construction activities, allowing for:
- Conservation and fair apportionment of limited physical capacity of ROWs held in public trust by the city.
- Reduction of public inconvenience thru utility coordination, notice, and evaluation of Temporary Traffic Control for compliance with the Texas Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Improved excavation safety and damage prevention for the public and workers who maintain utility systems.
- Standardization and assessment of restoration to protect the quality of existing public transportation infrastructure.
- Registration
- ROW Permit Application
- Review Timeline
- ROW Inspections
- Permit Status & Construction
- Emergency Notification
Prior to conducting work in city ROW, all entities must register with the City of Denton, Public Works Inspections Division, and must remain in good standing with city registration requirements, standard specifications, policies, and laws to continue to apply for permits and work within the ROW.
Select the appropriate registration type below:
Utility provider registration:
Companies who own and operate a gas, telecom, wireless, electric, other utility service as defined by city ordinance 2019-2439, or whom own other infrastructure within City of Denton ROWs such as bus stops, traffic signage, signals, or similar amenities, must have an active Utility Provider Registration with Public Works Inspection prior to applying for a ROW permit.
- Complete the Utility Provider Registration Application (PDF) and prepare the required supporting documents and information. Registration must be completed and submitted by a utility company, and not a contractor.
- Submit completed Utility Provider Registration Application (PDF) and required supporting documentation through email.
- Receipt of a registration requests will be confirmed by email to the applicant, with a full review and written response to grant or deny the request within 30 business days. Contact Public Works Inspection if confirmation of submission is not sent within two business days, as no response will be considered a submission failure and/or denial of the request.
- Each utility company is responsible for updating registration information:
- Annually, prior to January 1
- Within 30 days of any change, and prior to applying for permit.
- For substantial revisions to a company name or contacts, submit a new Utility Provider Registration Application.
ROW contractor registration:
All contractors, engineers, drafting/permitting firms, and other representatives conducting work on behalf of a utility provider must be registered as a ROW Contractor, in advance of conducting any work. The ROW Utility Provider must authorize each contractor to conduct business on their behalf in writing, by submittal of the ROW Contractor Registration Form. The utility may also retract authorization with this form.
- Complete the ROW Contractor Registration Form (PDF) in conjunction with the utility provider whom will be authorizing the contractor to apply for permits and/or conduct work in the ROWs on their behalf.
- Submit completed ROW Contractor Registration Form (PDF) through email to Public Works Inspections.
- Receipt of a registration requests will be confirmed by email to the applicant, with a full review and written response to grant or deny the request within 30 business days. Contact Public Works Inspection if confirmation of submission is not sent within two business days, as no response will be considered a submission failure and/or denial of the request.
- Each utility company is responsible for updating registration information:
- Annually, prior to January 1
- Within 30 days of any change, and prior to applying for permit.
- For substantial revisions to a company name or contacts, submit a new ROW Contractor Registration Form.
Other registrations:
Land developers, property owners, and similar entities other than as described above will follow the process to register as a General Contractor with Development Services, here: https://www.cityofdenton.com/668/Contractor-Registration
Reference the ROW Application Checklist (PDF) for applicability of ROW Permits and required documentation.
Registered utility companies may apply by:
- Review the ROW Application Checklist (PDF) to select the appropriate sub-type of right of way permit application and prepare the required documents and information.
- Submit the required information and upload supporting documents online in e-TRAKiT.
For assistance with applying in e-TRAKiT or payment of fees, contact Development Services at (940) 349-8360.
Properly submitted applications will be reviewed and approved or denied within 10 business days. Status and response timeframes for each application are viewable in e-TRAKiT.
An expedited review of two business days may be requested for work that is substantially urgent but does not fully meet the criteria for an emergency repair, by submitting the Expedited Review Request Form with an application in e-TRAKiT. Expedited application fees may apply.
If an application under review escalates to an emergency, the applicant should follow the emergency notification process, and promptly contact Public Works Inspections at (940) 349-8910 to revise the pending application type to an emergency repair, and expedited review.
Application Status | Description |
---|---|
Applied/Pending Intake | A preliminary check of the application is being conducted to confirm that the minimum documentation is attached prior to distribution for review. The timeframe for completion of this step will be visible from the review tab of the application record in e-TRAKiT, and the applicant will be contacted if corrections are required. |
Submitted | The application has been distributed for review. The due date (for the city comment response) will be visible from the review tab of the application record in e-TRAKiT. |
Pending Revisions | Revisions or additional information/documents are required to process the application. |
Approved | The review step is complete. Fees may be due in e-TRAKiT prior to permit issuance. |
Issued | Permit is active, until the expiration date on the right of way permit attached to e-TRAKiT. Work may commence after required notifications and inspections are scheduled. |
Stop Work Order | The permit is on hold due to a violation of city standards. The permittee and their contractor(s) must comply with the conditions stated in the stop work order notice before the city will remove the hold and allow construction to resume. |
Cancelled/Denied | Application has been voided and is no longer valid. |
Closed | Permit is inactive for any use other than tracking the two-year warranty on restoration. |
48 hours’ notice of commencing work for an issued permit is required, which is submitted by requesting a ROW Safety Inspection in e-TRAKiT.
The utility provider and/or contractor will need to request additional inspections in e-TRAKiT as described in the ROW Inspection Process & FAQ (PDF) document to allow Public Works Inspection to evaluate work activities for compliance with the conditions of the permit, city code, and city standard specifications. View the ROW Inspection Process & FAQ (PDF) document for the timing and scope of all required inspections, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
All inspection requests for an issued ROW Permit should be sent through e-TRAKiT.
Public Works Inspections will respond to requests for inspection within 24 hours of submission. Once confirmed, the scheduled inspection time and Inspector will be viewable from the inspections tab of the permit record in e-TRAKiT.
Cancellations:
Notify of cancelling an inspection request by one of the following methods:
- Contact the Public Works Inspector by phone or email.
The Inspectors contact information is in the contacts tab of the permit record in e-TRAKiT, and on the issued permit which is available from the attachments in e-TRAKiT. - Send an email to this link, including the permit number, and call-back information.
- Contact Public Works Inspections main office for assistance at (940) 349-8910 or visit the Development Service Center at 401 N. Elm St., Denton, Texas, 76201 during regular business hours, M-F 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fees may apply for cancelled inspections if Public Works Inspections is not notified of the cancellation at least 30 minutes prior to the confirmed inspection time, or by 8:30 a.m. if a specific time was not requested and confirmed by the Inspector.
After permit issuance and prior to submittal of a locate ticket to TX811, the utility/contractor must notify the city inspector and all landowners and residents that are affected and directly adjacent to the construction at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to beginning construction, or as otherwise specified on the permit.
As the work progresses, the utility/contractor shall regularly remove all rubbish, excess dirt, rock, and other debris and keep clean all ROW and private property. All restoration work must be completed to city standards prior to permit expiration and within twenty (20) business days following the date of substantial completion of the permitted scope of work in the ROW, including backfill and proper compaction of all voids within (7) business days of excavation and removal of temporary traffic control devices from the ROW within (3) business days.
If the permitted scope of work will not be complete before the expiration date, the utility/contractor must request an extension by completing and attaching the Extension Request Form (PDF) to the permit in e-TRAKiT at least five (5) business days prior to permit expiration. Public Works Inspections is notified when attachments are successfully added to e-TRAKiT and will grant or deny extension requests in writing within (5) business days of receipt.
Permit Status | Description |
---|---|
Approved | The review step is complete. Fees may be due in e-TRAKiT prior to permit issuance. |
Issued | Permit is active, until the expiration date on the right of way permit attached to e-TRAKiT. Work may commence after required notifications and inspections are scheduled. |
Stop Work Order | The permit is on hold due to a violation of city standards. The permittee and their contractor(s) must comply with the conditions stated in the stop work order notice before the city will remove the hold and allow construction to resume. |
Cancelled/Denied | Application has been voided and is no longer valid. |
Closed | Permit is inactive for any use other than tracking the two-year warranty on restoration. |
A ROW Utility Provider with an existing, active registration may commence construction in the right-of-way prior to obtaining a permit if the City Engineer or Utility Provider determines a valid need to perform an emergency activity as defined by ordinance 2019-2439.
Construction exclusively to upgrade facilities, install new service connections, and other neighborhood improvement projects, expressly do not qualify as emergency operations.
Immediate verbal or written notice, including the reasons for the emergency activity, must be given to Public Works Inspections if the emergency activity requires excavation of any public street, impacts vehicular or pedestrian traffic on a non-residential street, or would otherwise require a permit to be issued in advance if a similar scope of work were performed under non-emergency circumstances. This notice may be given by smartsheet form with the link provided upon registration and in the disclaimer for applying for a permit in e-TRAKiT or by calling (940) 349-8910. The notifying representative should be prepared to provide basic information about the location and nature of the emergency, and actions being taken to address public safety including temporary traffic control and emergency response.
No later than the second business day following commencement of any emergency activity the right-of-way user shall apply for a Right of Way permit. This application shall include before/after photos of the repair area and/or a location map showing the repairs performed, and a Traffic Control Plan for any traffic control devices currently in use or that will be necessary for additional utility repairs or restoration of the ROW.
*** Call (940) 349-7000 to report a municipal utility incident in the ROW that requires immediate attention, such as a power outage, downed electrical poles or wires, a water main break, a clogged or overflowing sewer main, or a leaking water meter or hydrant. ***