Do You Need a Permit to Use a Crane in Sherman, TX?

Short answer: it depends on where the crane sets up. A crane working entirely on private property often needs no street permit. A crane, its outriggers, or a lane or sidewalk closure in a public street, alley or sidewalk usually needs approval from the City of Sherman. Separately, federal OSHA rules on power line clearance and ground conditions apply to construction crane work no matter where the crane parks.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Sherman Crane Rental is a referral service, not a permitting agent or crane company. Confirm current rules with the City of Sherman and your contractor.

1. Street, sidewalk and right-of-way use

The "right-of-way" is the public land around a street: the travel lanes, parking lanes, curb, sidewalk and often a strip of grass beside it. Downtown Sherman, older neighborhoods and tight commercial lots often leave no room to set a crane on private property, so the crane ends up in the street or alley.

The City of Sherman's Engineering division (part of Development Services) handles right-of-way (ROW) permits. Since March 31, 2025, the city takes permit applications and contractor registration through its online Self Service Portal, linked from the city's Permits page. Requirements, lead times and any fees are set by the city and can change, so check there for current rules rather than relying on a third-party site, including this one.

Things the city or your contractor may ask about:

• Exactly where the crane and outriggers will sit, and how much of the lane or sidewalk will be blocked.
• Dates and hours of the closure.
• How traffic and pedestrians will be routed around the work (a traffic control plan).
• Whether the street is a city street or a state highway. US-75 and US-82, for example, are state-maintained, which can bring TxDOT into the picture.

2. Overhead power lines: OSHA clearance rules

Power line contact is one of the most serious crane hazards. OSHA's construction crane standard, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, sets specific rules in §1926.1408 for lines up to 350 kV:

• The 20-foot check. Before work starts, the employer must determine whether any part of the crane, load line or load could get closer than 20 feet to a power line anywhere in the crane's work zone.
• If it could, pick one of three options: have the utility de-energize and visibly ground the line; keep everything at least 20 feet away; or find out the line's voltage and stay outside OSHA's Table A minimum clearance.
• The 10-foot rule. Under Table A, the minimum clearance is 10 feet for lines up to 50 kV, 15 feet for over 50 to 200 kV, and 20 feet for over 200 to 350 kV. Larger distances apply to higher voltages.
• Extra precautions are required when using the 20-foot or Table A options, including a planning meeting, non-conductive tag lines, a highly visible warning line or barricade, and at least one measure such as a dedicated spotter, proximity alarm or range-limiting device.
• Assume lines are live. OSHA requires power lines to be treated as energized unless the utility confirms they are de-energized and visibly grounded at the site. If you use Table A, the utility must provide the line's voltage within two working days of the request.

In practice: if there are any overhead lines near your setup area, mention them in your quote request and send photos. The crane company may need to call the utility well before lift day.

3. Ground conditions

OSHA's §1926.1402 says a crane can't be used unless the ground is firm, drained and graded enough (with mats or cribbing if needed) to meet the manufacturer's requirements. The "controlling entity" on the job, usually the general contractor or property owner, must arrange the ground preparation and tell the crane operator about known hazards under the setup area, such as voids, tanks, septic systems or buried utilities.

4. Who usually handles permits?

There is no single rule, and it should be spelled out in your quote. Common patterns:

• The crane company usually handles anything about moving its own equipment, including oversize/overweight highway permits from the TxDMV, and plans the lift itself, including power line clearance.
• The general contractor often handles city right-of-way permits and traffic control, since they're part of the overall project.
• The property owner may need to handle it on small jobs with no contractor, or provide information and sign off.

5. Questions to ask before you book

• Will the crane or outriggers be in the street, alley or sidewalk? If so, who is applying for the city permit, and how much lead time do you need?
• Who provides traffic control (cones, signs, flaggers), and is it in the quote?
• Have you checked for overhead power lines, and will you need the utility to de-energize or cover them?
• What ground preparation do you need from me, and do you bring crane mats?
• Are road permit and escort costs included or billed separately? (See our crane rental cost guide.)
• Can you send proof of insurance and operator certification before lift day?

Not sure what size crane you need? See crane vs. boom truck, or read about operated crane service. When you send a request below, tell us about street access and power lines and we'll pass that to the crane companies quoting your job.