The Benton County Public Works Department requires permits for road approaches (driveways), oversized loads, and right-of-way encroachments.

An encroachment permit in Benton County is a legal authorization that allows an individual, organization, or entity to place something in the county's unused portion of right-of-way (ROW), without permission for active construction work. This type of permit is used when the applicant does not have a franchise agreement with the county that already grants them such permissions. Encroachment permits apply to both temporary and permanent or long-term placements of objects or structures in the ROW, but do not authorize any construction activities, which would require a separate ROW construction permit.

Encroachment Permits
Construction in Road ROW

A Road Approach Permit is required by Washington State law for anyone connecting private property to a county road. RCW 36.75.130 states that no person may build or modify an approach to a county road without first obtaining permission from the County Board of Commissioners.  

Road approach applications are submitted online through the Citizen Self Service (CSS) portal. 

If any of the following apply to your project, then a road approach permit is required: 

  • Construction of a new access; 
  • Modification of an existing access: 
  • Construction of any dwelling or accessory dwelling; 
  • Construction of an accessory building valued at $25,000 or more; 
  • Construction of any commercial, industrial, or agricultural structure; 
  • Placement or replacement of a manufactured home; 
  • Enlarging any dwelling or accessory structure with the value of the addition being thirty-three percent (33%) or more of the current structures value; 
  • Enlarging any dwelling or accessory structure’s gross floor area by more than fifty percent (50%), regardless of value; OR 
  • Ingress or egress to a County road for commercial, industrial, or agricultural purposes other than temporary approaches. 

No Building Permit Without Access Verification: 

  • No building permit required by the Benton County Zoning Ordinance shall be issued until the County Engineer has verified that permitted access exists or that an approach permit has been issued for the intended building and that the approach conforms to the requirements outlined herein.

Types of Road Approach Permit Application available in CSS: 
Road Approach - Driveway Connection
Other Road Approach - Private or Multi Use Access Easement to County Road
Modify Road Approach - Modification of existing permitted road approach

Per RCW 46.44.090, Benton County requires those moving oversized loads on county roads to complete an oversized load permit. A copy of the permit application is available for download below. This completed permit must be submitted a minimum of two (2) working days prior to the time during which you would like to move your oversized load. There is no fee associated with this permit. Please be aware that, by signing the permit, you are assuming liability for damages resulting from the transport of said oversized load.

Submissions can be made by:

  • Email PUBLICWORKS@co.benton.wa.us (fastest turnaround)
  • Mail to Benton County Public Works, c/o Permitting, PO Box 1001, Prosser, WA 99350

You can also bring it in person to the Public Services Building located at 102206 East Wiser Parkway, Kennewick, WA 99338. If you have further questions, please contact our office at (509) 786-5611.

Oversized Load Permit

Residents of Benton County can apply for the option to maintain the Right of Way adjacent to their property in lieu of having County personnel apply Herbicide. Please use the agreement form below to apply for this option.

Owner Will Maintain Agreement

The following application is for a franchise agreement with Benton County. If you are looking to enter into a franchise agreement with Benton County, please contact our office at (509) 786-5611.

Franchise Application