Right-of-Way Permits

Right-of-way means the area on, below, or above any real property in which the city has an interest, including, but not limited to, any street, road, highway, alley, sidewalk, parkway, park, skyway, or any other place, area, or real property owned by or under the control of the City of Ramsey, including other dedicated right-of-way for travel purposes and utility easements. For work proposed in Anoka County right-of-way. Please contact the Anoka County Highway Department (763-324-3176 or HighwayPermits@anokacountymn.gov). 

Right-of-way permits refer to either the excavation permit, obstruction permit, or both, as required by this article, depending on the context. (Code of Ordinance/Sec. 50-19 Definitions)

A right-of-way permit is required for utility installations, excavation of or work that obstructs the right-of-way.

Obstruction Permits

An Obstruction Permit means the permit that, pursuant to this article, must be obtained before a person may obstruct a right-of-way, allowing the holder to hinder free and open passage over the specified portion of a right-of-way by placing equipment described therein on the right-of-way for a duration specified therein. (Code of Ordinance/Sec. 50-19 Definitions) 

The City of Ramsey requires an Obstruction Permit before blocking or obstructing any street parking, curb/gutter, sidewalk, or traffic lane.  

How to Apply

Use the Right-of-Way Permitting Button in the upper right-hand of this webpage.

Right-of-Way Permit Fees

• Utility Distribution: $125
• Non-Utility Excavation (no open cut of roadway): $125
• General Work in County Right of Way: Right-of-Way Permits | Anoka County, MN - Official Website (anokacountymn.gov) 
• General Work in State Highway Right of Way: Permit Information and Forms - Utility Agreements & Permits - MnDOT (state.mn.us) 
• Obstruction: $125
• Additional charges may apply for road crossing/driveway crossings

Application Policies and Ordinance

• Minnesota Temporary Traffic Control Field Manual 2018 (state.mn.us) 
• Sec. 50-20 Right of Way Findings and Purpose

Traffic signs are placed in the right-of-way to inform drivers of possible changes in speed limits, road alignment, pedestrians, and other hazards. Whenever feasible, signs are positioned along the property line dividing adjacent properties. 

Over time, vegetation can accumulate in the City's ditch system, leading to minor backups that require excavation to maintain the free flow of stormwater. Additionally, cleaning cross culverts—those running beneath the roadway—represents another essential aspect of stormwater maintenance. Homeowners are responsible for cleaning out their driveway culverts. Proper maintenance is crucial because an unmaintained culvert can cause drainage issues and damage roads and driveways. 

Utility companies, including gas, electric, and cable providers, have the right to operate in the right-of-way (ROW) to repair their infrastructure. However, they must first obtain a permit from the City before proceeding with any repairs. Note that when utility companies pull permits, they do not place door hangers or send out letters to inform residents.

Additionally, City services may need to be excavated and repaired in cases such as water main breaks, sanitary sewer backups, or stormwater infrastructure issues.

You may notice utility marker flags on your property when a contractor has requested markings from Gopher State One Call (GSOC). For information about the contractors working in easements or the right-of-way (ROW), call 811 or visit www.gopherstateonecall.org. The flags indicate where utilities are buried.

If flags appear, it means the City has permitted a utility provider to work in the ROW. The City issues permits for the work but does not control how it's done. Typically, seven to eight utility operators are notified for each request.

Which colors are used, and what do they mean?

The American Public Works Association (APWA) has developed a color code for marking underground utilities, making it easy to identify utilities immediately in the proposed excavation area.

• Red – electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cables
• Yellow – gas, oil, steam, petroleum or gaseous materials
• Orange – communication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduit
• Blue – water
• Green – sewers and drain lines
• Purple – reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines
• Pink – temporary survey markings
• White – proposed excavation

Removing a flag

Utility flags are usually left in place for a specific duration to indicate the location of underground utilities during construction. It's important to keep them until the work is finished or instructed otherwise. Removing them too early can lead to confusion and damage to infrastructure. Even if the paint fades, it may not be safe to remove the flags. If you're unsure, call 811 (800-252-1166) or your local utility company before taking action.

Private lines within a ROW

Facility operators do not mark private utility lines. If you have private lines on your property, like those for outbuildings, irrigation, hot tubs, or pools, it's your responsibility to locate them or hire someone to do so. Remember, GSOC (811) only applies to public facility operators.

Doing the digging yourself

Contact GSOC 48 hours before digging in your yard (excluding weekends and holidays) to avoid damage to underground utilities and ensure safety. For more information or to submit a request, visit Gopher State One Call.

Tree trimming is the most common right-of-way (ROW) activity for the City, typically taking place in late fall or winter. Public Works frequently receives calls about tree branches encroaching on the roadway, which can pose a danger to larger vehicles like school buses, garbage trucks, and RVs. It is also essential to remove vegetation and trees to maintain clear sight lines at intersections. When brush, tall grass, or trees obstruct a motorist's view of oncoming traffic, it can make it challenging to safely enter the road.

When trimming branches that overhang mailboxes, sidewalks, and streets, they will be cut from the ground up to a height of 10 feet. This ensures that pedestrians, bicyclists, and equipment can safely operate without coming into contact with tree limbs.

If any trees are identified as Ash and affected by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) disease, those infected trees will be removed. After removal, the stumps may be ground down in some cases, and all areas will be reseeded. The seeding will take place in the spring. More information on EAB.