Applications, Forms and Permits

A Leelanau County Road Commission snowplow clears the roads after a heavy snow.​

Whether you need to put in a driveway or move a building we can help with permits the Leelanau County Road Commission administers.

The Road Commission staff will work with taxpayers to develop solutions that: 1) fit the rural appeal of our County, 2) trust taxpayers to do the right thing, 3) support business growth by minimizing cost, and 4) protect roads and citizens while minimizing intrusive requirements.

Before filling out a permit request, you may find it helpful to review the Leelanau County Right-of-Way standards. 

Also, it is important to determine whether a road on which you are applying for a driveway permit for is a public road (maintained by the Road Commission) or a private road (not maintained by the Road Commission).  If you are not sure, the list of certified public roads can be found under the "Public Information - Road Mileage Certification Maps" tab on this website.

In addition, contractors applying for a driveway permit must provide a written letter of agent or authorization letter granting the contractor permission to act in their behalf when constructing the driveway requested.

An application to construct a driveway on an existing private road can be issued electronically (no fee for this) upon confirmation that the road in question is private not maintained by the Leelanau County Road Commission. Please use “Driveway Permit” PDF-fillable form when clicking the links below, and please reference “Private Driveway application” on your email when submitting.

For Driveway permits, Land Division applications, and Utility permit applications, please follow the links listed below:

Click Here to submit and pay online.

Click Here to submit and pay by mail.

Please be advised we do not accept permit applications or payments at our Maple City satellite garage. 

Please allow 7-10 business days for permit processing.   To avoid unnecessary delays, please be sure to include your fee payment along with your application.   When submitting your permit by mail, both sides of any permit application must be included.  Permits will not be processed until permit fees have been received.  To avoid unnecessary delays, we now offer a credit card/PayPal payment option.   Faxed permit applications will no longer be accepted.

Informational releases:

Schedule of Fees-as revised 6-18-19.
Right-of-way Standards-Revised July 2, 2019
Utility Policy as revised February 2019

Commercial Driveway - sample financial guarantee forms:

Miscellaneous Permits:
Permit applications for road closures and special events cannot be submitted online and must be applied for in person at our Suttons Bay office during regular business hours or by mail.  Please contact Manager Brendan Mullane at (231) 271-3993 extension 225 to discuss specific requirements not found on this website.

Transportation Permits:

Starting December 1, 2017 the Leelanau County Road Commission will be changing the way we process our transportation permits (Single move; Single move-mobile home move; Annual transport; Annual mobile home; Super Move permit applications and Seasonal Public Utility Transportation permit applications.)

We will be using an online-based permitting system via the web at http://www.oxcartpermits.com.  We will no longer process transportation related permits in person or via this website.

Any entity wanting to apply for an overweight/oversize permit for Leelanau County roads must use the Oxcart permitting software.  Registration is easy and can be completed on the Oxcart website under the Trucking login/sign-up link http://oxcartpermits.com/user/trucking.  Once registered, companies will then be able to reap the benefits of the following via Oxcart:

  • Access a simple to use online interface for requesting local permits.

  • Paperless permits downloadable to your computer or any mobile device.

  • Eliminate tedious paper processes, emailing and scanning.

  • Speed the process of permit approvals.

  • Feature an online, interactive mapping solution to assist in route selection.

  • Online permit approvals pushed to your email inbox.

  • Provide and easy, online payment system (Credit card only - see below)

How to pay for Transportation permits?

In addition to the Leelanau County Road Commission permitting fee, Oxcart will require a nominal processing fee for each transportation permit.  Oxcart will also assess a credit card fee for each permit processed.  These charges are as follows:

  • Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and Diner's Club - 2.9% of total permitting fee (permit & processing fee combined)

  • Plus a $0.30 transaction fee for ALL transportation permits.

Please feel free to contact the Road Commission if you have any questions.