Building Moving and Demolition (C-21) · Lesson 3 of 6

House Moves: Height, Width, and Route Clearance

"House Moves: Height, Width, and Route Clearance" is lesson 3 of 6 in the Building Moving and Demolition (C-21) Learning Hub. It opens with "Know the Legal Limits You Are Exceeding" and works through 5 short steps, then a worked example you can check yourself against.

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Steps in this lesson

  1. Know the Legal Limits You Are Exceeding
  2. A House Move Is a Variance Permit
  3. Permits Are Written for the Least Dimension
  4. Stack Up the Height from the Road Surface
  5. Apply the 3-Inch Rule, Then Check Signs and Weather

The worked example in the course applies this lesson to a realistic job in 5 steps, from "Roof rise at the ridge cut" through "Permit and conditions".

What you'll be able to do

  • Explain the main idea of "House Moves: Height, Width, and Route Clearance" in plain language you can use on the exam.
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Permits Are Written for the Least Dimension".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Stack Up the Height from the Road Surface".
  • Apply this step with confidence: "Apply the 3-Inch Rule, Then Check Signs and Weather".
  • Test yourself on the worked example and the quick-check quiz inside the classroom.
House Move: Height, Width, and Route ClearanceOVERPASS: lowest structure 17'-0"dolly + beamsWALL 8'-0"ROOFridgecut3'-0"0'-10"8'-0"4'-8"16'-6"total15'-6" overall = 14'-0" + 1'-6" eaveTHREE CHECKSHEIGHT (TPM 502.1)17'-0" structure - 3" = 16'-9" maxLoad 16'-6" fits, 3" to spare16'-6" structure: max 16'-3"Load 16'-6" FAILS - new routeWIDTH (CDH Ch. 1)Legal width 102 in = 8'-6"Load 15'-6": extra-legalTrim eave: 14'-0" (least width)PERMIT (TPM 201.25)House move = variance permitNo freeways or expresswaysDriver may not change routeLoad height 16'-6" clears a 17'-0" structure by 6" (3" required) - but not a 16'-6" oneMeasure height from the road surface to the highest point; maximum = lowest structure on the route - 3 in.Sources: Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual 201.25, 502.1; California Commercial Driver Handbook Ch. 1.CC
The diagram for this lesson, exactly as it appears in the Learning Hub.

The first steps of this lesson

Step 1: Know the Legal Limits You Are Exceeding

The California Commercial Driver Handbook (Chapter 1) states that the outside width of a vehicle or its load must not exceed 102 inches (8-1/2 feet), and that the height of a vehicle or load, measured from the surface of the roadway on which it stands, is limited to 14 feet. A house on dollies is wider and taller than both, so the move needs a transportation permit (from Caltrans for State highways; local streets are permitted by the city or county). The Caltrans Transportation Permits Manual (TPM) Section 100 says Caltrans may issue a special permit for a vehicle or load exceeding the maximum limits in the California Vehicle Code.

Step 2: A House Move Is a Variance Permit

TPM Section 201.25 says all house moves shall be treated as a variance permit (TPM Chapter 4). Permits for house moves are restricted to crossing the State highway, and to moving to or from the nearest intersecting road when the move starts or ends on the State highway. House moves on freeways and expressways are not permitted, enough flagmen must be used to safeguard traffic, and moving is confined to daylight hours and periods of least traffic except where only night moving is allowed on local streets. Chapter 4 itself is not in the study set used for this lesson, so confirm the application details with Caltrans.

The remaining 3 steps, the worked example and the quiz are in the course. This is a preview. The full lesson, with the step-by-step explanations, a worked example and a quick-check quiz, is inside the classroom.

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