Please choose between the following three options:

Skip to main menu Skip to site search Continue to current page menu and content

On-Street Construction & Maintenance Permit

Main page content begins here

OSCAM Permits

On-Street Construction and Maintenance (OSCAM) permits are required for all work on City road-right-of-ways, including roads, sidewalks and boulevards.

Average processing time for an OSCAM permit application is 6 business days. Unless it’s an emergency, allow time for processing and public notification, especially for major impacts.

OSCAM Permit Application

Restoration

Major utilities can request restoration by the City to complete an OSCAM permit. You must have an OSCAM number to complete this form.

Request Restoration

When is an OSCAM Permit Required?

On-Street Construction and Maintenance (OSCAM) permits are required for all work on City road-right-of-ways under any one of the following conditions:

  • All work that involves excavation of roadways, sidewalks, or boulevards
  • All work on freeways, river crossings, in the downtown core, or Whyte Avenue area
  • Non-excavation work that interferes with traffic flows on major roadways during the hours of 6-9am and/or 3:30-6:30pm, excluding weekends and holidays
  • Non-excavation work locations with a duration of more than 4 hours at any one location
  • Multiple non-excavation work locations, each less than 4 hours in duration, but closer than 250m apart are considered to be one location and require an OSCAM permit
  • Temporary crossing of a sidewalk and/or boulevard for the purpose of accessing private lands from a public roadway

If you’re unsure if you require an OSCAM Permit, phone at 780-442-6458 or email roaduse.permit@edmonton.ca.

OSCAM Procedure

Apply for OSCAM Permit

Pre-Planning Checklist Before Work Begins

Submitting an OSCAM Permit

The Customer ID Number auto-fills portions of the form. You can find it on the previously approved OSCAM permit. If you don’t have a Customer ID number request an OSCAM permit and you’ll receive it upon approval.

High Impact to Traffic
Minimum 10 working days prior to start of work, request an OSCAM permit.

Low Impact to Traffic
Minimum two working days prior to start of work, request an OSCAM permit.

Emergency Work
Report work immediately to the City at 780-944-7694 or after hours at 311.

Processing Time

Average processing time for an OSCAM permit application is 6 business days. Unless it’s an emergency, please allow time for processing and public notification, especially for major impacts.

You’ll receive notification by email with a reference number in the event you need to follow up with the OSCAM permit office.

A Traffic Accommodation Plan (TAP) is required for traffic lane, bike lane, sidewalk or road closures prior to set up.

Fee

OSCAM permit fee is $25/day.

Standards of Performance

The Prime Contractor is responsible for adhering to the City’s Standards of Performance for the span of the project.

Standards of Performance

Record Keeping

Records shall be kept by the job site supervisor for any work which is interfering with traffic.

Record Keeping

Traffic Accommodation Plans (TAP)

Protect the work area and maintain traffic flow around construction sites by placing various signs, barricades, mini barriers or traffic cones in strategic positions. It may be necessary to use flag persons. Contractors will determine the requirements for suitable site protection based on the situation.

What is a Traffic Accommodation Plan (TAP)?

A traffic accommodation plan (TAP) is a diagram sketch which demonstrates the traffic control devices and signage used during the temporary occupancy of road right-of-way.

What Traffic Control Devices and signage should I use in the TAP?

Review the City’s requirements for temporary traffic control devices and signage used in a set up. The following may be used depending on the situation:

Check out the following documents for situational example sketches:

The Alberta Construction Safety Association offers two training courses on temporary traffic control:

Alberta Temporary Traffic Control

Alberta Temporary Traffic Control Field Application

 
Fees

A $25 per day permit fee is now required for most On-Street Construction and Maintenance (OSCAM) permits.

The City engaged stakeholders from the development, utility and road construction industries prior to implementing daily permit fees. The City will continue to engage these stakeholders leading up to the implementation of occupant fees in 2020.

About the Fees

The daily permit fee is intended as an incentive for contractors to occupy road rights-of-way when necessary by ensuring the permit application aligns with the actual number of work days, as opposed to estimated work days. This will reduce obstruction and provide the public more opportunity to access and use these spaces.

The application of daily permit fees aligns with other Canadian municipalities such as Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg and Toronto.

Occupant fees for temporary daily use of public road right-of-way will be phased in starting in 2020, with initial implementation applied to Edmonton’s freeway and arterial road system. These fees will be based upon the size and location of the space occupied.

Permits That Will Receive The $25 Daily Fee

Fees will be applied for all construction, maintenance, or temporary use of road right-of-way including:

  • Work involving excavation of roadways, sidewalks and boulevards
  • Work on freeways, river crossings, downtown and on 82 Avenue
  • Non-excavation work that interferes with traffic flow on major roadways between 6-9am and between 3:30-6:30pm, excluding weekends and holidays
  • Non-excavation work that is more than four hours at one location

Please note that the permit fee does not apply to Temporary Crossing Permits or Tree Protection Permits.

Temporary Crossing Permit (TCP)

Temporary Crossing Permits (TCP) are issued as an OSCAM permit under the work reason: Temporary Crossing TCP.

A Temporary Crossing Permit (TCP) is required when motorized equipment will be crossing:

  • A boulevard or a sidewalk to temporarily access private property from the public road right-of-way, when there is no legal access to private property

A TCP may also require a Tree Protection Plan if the applicant must provide protection to boulevard trees and/or is within 5 metres of a City tree. The applicant shall also provide protection for the boulevard itself and ensure there is appropriate drainage.

There is no charge with either permit, and they can be applied for the duration of a project.

The City of Edmonton Residential Infill Construction Guide provides additional information about these requirements.

Considerations for Work Within Road Right-of-Way

All work within road-rights-of-way must be completed within City of Edmonton Design and Construction Standards. City lands must be restored to the same state and condition in which it existed prior to work commencement.
 
If you require restoration by the City to complete an OSCAM permit, please fill out a Restoration Request Form. You must have an OSCAM number to complete it.

The Guidelines for Excavation and Core Restoration (Section 2965) summarize the Design and Construction Standard key points. The construction standard has exact details for your work area.

FAQ

Why is an OSCAM Permit needed for infill projects?
Up to four OSCAM permits with the following work reasons may be expected for infill development projects:

  • Temporary Crossing Permit (TCP) - currently no charge and applied for the duration of a project
  • Tree Shrub Hoarding (City Tree Protection) - currently no charge and applied for the duration of a project
  • Storage of materials or extended use of City property to accommodate a work site - OSCAM permit fees will apply
  • Placement of Waste Bins or PODS on City Property - OSCAM permit fees will apply

Please see the City of Edmonton Residential Infill Construction Guide for more information about these requirements.

No Cut Exemption Request

A moratorium exists where a roadway or alley has been classified with a VCI (visual condition index) greater than 6, or where special restoration requirements are needed.

Utility Line Assignment

Authorization of utility and monitoring well installations within public road-right-of-way by external agencies and private utilities must first enter into an agreement with the City of Edmonton.

Related Documents

OSCAM Permit Reference Map

Procedures for On-Street Construction Safety

Related Links

Utility Line Assignment Permit

For More Information

OSCAM Permitting

Transportation Operations

Telephone

(780) 442-6458
Email roaduse.permit@edmonton.ca

End of page content. Please choose between the following five options:

Back to main menu Back to current page menu and content View current page breadcrumb Back to site search Continue to page footer content