VEHICLE WEIGHT, SIZE AND LOAD

Kansas City Code ch. 70, art. XI

in effect

Kansas City Code § 70-901 Exemptions from article.

Sec. 70-901. - Exemptions from article. The provisions of this article governing size, weight and load shall not apply to vehicles moved solely by human power, fire apparatus or road machinery, or to implements of husbandry, including farm tractors, temporarily moved upon a street or highway, or to a vehicle operated under the terms of a special permit issued as provided in this article. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.242; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-902 Operation of trucks on roadways under control of board of parks and recreation commissioners.

Sec. 70-902. - Operation of trucks on roadways under control of board of parks and recreation commissioners. (a) No trucks, except a truck engaged in the repairing or construction of a park, street, highway or park road under the authority of the board of parks and recreation commissioners, shall be allowed to enter upon any park, street, highway or park road under the control and management of the board of park and recreation commissioners posted with signs indicating that trucks are prohibited. (b) Trucks used in providing services or in carrying goods, merchandise or other articles to or from any location abutting upon any of such streets or highways, or within any park, shall be permitted to enter thereon at the nearest point to the location and provide such services or deliver or receive such goods, merchandise or other articles, but shall not proceed thereon farther than the nearest point of exit. (c) As used in this section, the term "truck" shall include every motor vehicle which is designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property or which displays a truck registration plate, except those which are rated by the vehicle's manufacturer for a gross vehicle weight of 7,000 pounds or less and which do not display any advertisement of any trade, profession, business office, store or occupation. For purposes of this section, the name of the vehicle or its manufacturer or seller which may be attached or displayed on the vehicle shall not be considered advertisement. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.243; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84; Ord. No. 59417, 5-1-86)

Kansas City Code § 70-903 Width of vehicles.

Sec. 70-903. - Width of vehicles. The total outside width of any vehicle or the load thereon shall not exceed 102 inches, except as otherwise provided in this article. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.244; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-904 Loads projecting on sides of passenger vehicles.

Sec. 70-904. - Loads projecting on sides of passenger vehicles. No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on any street or highway with any load carried thereon extending beyond the left side of such vehicle or extending more than six inches beyond the right side thereof. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.245; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-905 Height and overall length of vehicles and loads.

Sec. 70-905. - Height and overall length of vehicles and loads. (a) No vehicle, including any load thereon, shall exceed a height of 13 feet six inches. (b) No motor vehicle operating exclusively within the city, or within two miles of the corporate limits of the city, or within the commercial zone as defined by RSMo 304.190.3, shall exceed 15 feet in height. (c) No motor vehicle, except combinations coupled together, including any load thereon, shall exceed a length of 40 feet extreme overall dimension, inclusive of front and rear bumpers. (d) No combination of truck-tractor, semitrailer or trailer coupled together shall consist of more than two towed units; and no such combination of vehicles, including any load thereon, shall have an overall length, inclusive of front and rear bumpers, in excess of 65 feet except as otherwise provided in this article. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.246; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-906 Maximum projection of load from front or back of vehicle.

Sec. 70-906. - Maximum projection of load from front or back of vehicle. Subject to any other provisions of this article limiting the length of vehicles and loads, the load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles, shall not extend more than three feet beyond the foremost part of the vehicle, and the load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the load upon the rear vehicle of a combination of vehicles, shall not extend more than six feet beyond the rear of the bed or body of such vehicle, other than poles, pipes or structural material which cannot be dismembered when transported upon a pole trailer. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.247; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-907 Vehicles spilling load; covering of load.

Sec. 70-907. - Vehicles spilling load; covering of load. (a) No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any street or highway unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom, provided that this section shall not prohibit the necessary spreading of any substance in street or highway maintenance or construction operations. (b) No person shall operate on any street or highway any vehicle with any load unless the load and any covering thereon is securely fastened so as to prevent the covering or load from becoming loose, detached or in any manner a hazard to other users of the street or highway. (c) Any vehicle operating on a street or highway with a load of dirt, sand, gravel, garbage or any other material susceptible to being blown, dropped, spilled, leaked, or which otherwise may escape therefrom, shall be covered so as to prevent spillage; except that this subsection shall not prohibit the necessary spreading of any substance connected with street or highway maintenance, construction or snow removal. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.248; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-908 Towed vehicles.

Sec. 70-908. - Towed vehicles. (a) When one vehicle is towing another, the drawbar or other connection shall be of sufficient strength to pull all weight towed thereby. The drawbar or other connection shall not exceed 15 feet from one vehicle to the other, except for the connection between any two vehicles transporting poles, pipes, machinery or other objects of structural nature which cannot be readily dismembered. (b) When one vehicle is towing another and the connection consists of a chain, rope or cable, there shall be displayed upon such connection a white flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.249; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-909 Single-axle load limit.

Sec. 70-909. - Single-axle load limit. (a) The gross weight imposed on a bridge maintained by the city by the wheels of any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 18,000 pounds. (b) The gross weight imposed on a street or highway by the wheels of any one axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 20,000 pounds. (c) The gross weight imposed on a street or highway by the wheels of any one axle of a motor vehicle operating exclusively within the city or within two miles of the corporate limits of the city or within the commercial zone as defined by RSMo 304.190.3 shall not exceed 22,400 pounds. (d) For the purposes of this article, an axle load shall be defined as the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers are included between two parallel transverse vertical planes 40 inches apart, extending across the full width of the vehicle. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.250; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-910 Tandem-axle load limit.

Sec. 70-910. - Tandem-axle load limit. (a) The gross weight imposed on a bridge maintained by the city by the wheels of any tandem axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 32,000 pounds. (b) The gross weight imposed on a street or highway by the wheels of any tandem axle of a vehicle shall not exceed 34,000 pounds. (c) For the purposes of this article, a tandem axle shall be any two or more consecutive axles whose centers are more than 40 and not more than 96 inches apart, individually attached to or articulated from a common attachment to the vehicle, including a connecting mechanism designed to equalize the load between axles. A tandem-axle load shall be the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers are included between two parallel transverse vertical planes more than 40 inches and not more than 96 inches apart extending across the full width of the vehicle. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.251; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-911 Gross weight of vehicles and loads.

Sec. 70-911. - Gross weight of vehicles and loads. (a) Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon the street or highway through single and tandem axles as set forth in sections 70-909 and 70-910, the total gross weight with load imposed upon a street or highway by any group of two or more consecutive axles of a vehicle or combination of vehicles shall not exceed the gross weight given for the respective distance between the first and last axle of the group of axles measured longitudinally to the nearest foot as set forth in the following table: _____ Distance in Feet Between the Extremes of Any Group of Two or More Consecutive Axles | Maximum Load in Pounds Feet | 2 Axles | 3 Axles | 4 Axles | 5 Axles | 6 Axles 4 | 34,000 5 | 34,000 6 | 34,000 7 | 34,000 8 | 34,000 | 34,000 9 | 39,000 | 42,500 10 | 40,000 | 43,500 11 | 40,000 | 44,000 12 | 40,000 | 45,000 | 50,000 13 | 40,000 | 45,500 | 50,500 14 | 40,000 | 46,500 | 51,500 15 | 40,000 | 47,000 | 52,000 16 | 40,000 | 48,000 | 52,500 | 58,000 17 | 40,000 | 48,500 | 53,500 | 58,500 18 | 40,000 | 49,500 | 54,000 | 59,000 19 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 54,500 | 60,000 20 | 40,000 | 51,000 | 55,500 | 60,500 | 66,000 21 | 40,000 | 51,500 | 56,000 | 61,000 | 66,500 22 | 40,000 | 52,500 | 56,500 | 61,500 | 67,000 23 | 40,000 | 53,000 | 57,500 | 62,500 | 68,000 24 | 40,000 | 54,000 | 58,000 | 63,000 | 68,500 25 | 40,000 | 54,500 | 58,500 | 63,500 | 69,000 26 | 40,000 | 55,500 | 59,500 | 64,000 | 69,500 27 | 40,000 | 56,000 | 60,000 | 65,000 | 70,000 28 | 40,000 | 57,000 | 60,500 | 65,500 | 71,000 29 | 40,000 | 57,500 | 61,500 | 66,000 | 71,500 30 | 40,000 | 58,500 | 62,000 | 66,500 | 72,000 31 | 40,000 | 59,000 | 62,500 | 67,500 | 72,500 32 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 63,500 | 68,000 | 73,000 33 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 64,000 | 68,500 | 74,000 34 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 64,500 | 69,000 | 74,500 35 | 40,000 | 60,000 | 65,500 | 70,000 | 75,000 36 | 60,000 | 66,000 | 70,500 | 75,500 37 | 60,000 | 66,500 | 71,000 | 76,000 38 | 60,000 | 67,500 | 72,000 | 77,000 39 | 60,000 | 68,000 | 72,500 | 77,500 40 | 60,000 | 68,500 | 73,000 | 78,000 41 | 60,000 | 69,500 | 73,500 | 78,500 42 | 60,000 | 70,000 | 74,000 | 79,000 43 | 60,000 | 70,500 | 75,000 | 80,000 44 | 60,000 | 71,500 | 75,500 | 80,000 45 | 60,000 | 72,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 46 | 60,000 | 72,500 | 76,500 | 80,000 47 | 60,000 | 73,500 | 77,500 | 80,000 48 | 60,000 | 74,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 49 | 60,000 | 74,500 | 78,500 | 80,000 50 | 60,000 | 75,500 | 79,000 | 80,000 51 | 60,000 | 76,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 52 | 60,000 | 76,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 53 | 60,000 | 77,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 54 | 60,000 | 78,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 55 | 60,000 | 78,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 56 | 60,000 | 79,500 | 80,000 | 80,000 57 | 60,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 _____ (b) Subject to the limit upon the weight imposed through any one axle or through any tandem axle as provided in sections 70-909 and 70-910, the total gross weight with load imposed upon any bridges generally considered by the state highways and transportation commission to be on the supplementary system or upon any bridges which are under the jurisdiction of and maintained by the city shall not exceed the gross weight given for the respective distance between the first and last axle of the total group of axles measured longitudinally to the nearest foot as set forth in the following table: Distance in Feet Between the Extreme Axles | Maximum Load in Pounds 4 | 32,000 5 | 32,000 6 | 32,000 7 | 32,000 8 | 32,610 9 | 33,580 10 | 34,550 11 | 35,510 12 | 36,470 13 | 37,420 14 | 38,360 15 | 39,300 16 | 40,230 17 | 41,160 18 | 42,080 19 | 42,990 20 | 43,900 21 | 44,800 22 | 45,700 23 | 46,590 24 | 47,470 25 | 48,350 26 | 49,220 27 | 50,090 28 | 50,950 29 | 51,800 30 | 52,650 31 | 53,490 32 | 54,330 33 | 55,160 34 | 55,980 35 | 56,800 36 | 57,610 37 | 58,420 38 | 59,220 39 | 60,010 40 | 60,800 41 | 61,580 42 | 62,360 43 | 63,130 44 | 63,890 45 or over | 64,650 (c) The state highways and transportation commission with respect to bridges on the supplementary system, or the director with respect to bridges on city streets and highways, may determine and declare that certain designated bridges may legally be subjected to the higher limits described in subsection (a) of this section. Such bridges shall be designated by special signs indicating the single-axle load limit, tandem-axle load limit and gross weight limit. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.252; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-912 Authority to weigh vehicles and require removal of excess loads.

Sec. 70-912. - Authority to weigh vehicles and require removal of excess loads. (a) Any police officer having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful is authorized to require the driver to stop and submit to a weighing of the vehicle and load by means of either portable or stationary scales and may require that such vehicle be driven to the nearest public scales if such scales are within two miles. (b) Whenever an officer, upon weighing a vehicle and load, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, determines that the weight is unlawful, such officer may require the driver to stop the vehicle in a suitable place and remain standing until such portion of the load is removed as may be necessary to reduce the gross weight of such vehicle to such limit as permitted in this article. All material so unloaded shall be cared for by the owner or operator of such vehicle at the risk of such owner or operator. (c) It shall be unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to fail or refuse to stop and submit the vehicle and load to a weighing or to fail or refuse when directed by an officer upon a weighing of the vehicle to stop the vehicle and otherwise comply with the provisions of this article. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.253; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-913 Permits for excess size and weight.

Sec. 70-913. - Permits for excess size and weight. (a) The director, and the state highways and transportation commission, with respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction, may, in their discretion, upon application in writing and good cause being shown therefor, issue a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in this article or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of this article, upon any street or highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting such permit and for the maintenance of which such party is responsible. (b) The application for any such permit shall specifically describe the vehicle or vehicles and load to be operated or moved and the particular street or highway for which permit to operate is requested, and whether such permit is requested for a single trip or for continuous operation. (c) The director and the state highways and transportation commission are authorized to issue or withhold such permit at their discretion, or, if such permit is issued, to limit the number of trips, or to establish seasonal or other time limitations within which the vehicles described may be operated on the streets or highways indicated, or otherwise to limit or prescribe conditions of operation of such vehicles when necessary to protect the safety of street and highway users, or to protect the efficient movement of traffic from unreasonable interference, or to protect the street or highway from undue damage to the road foundations, surfaces or structures. They may require such undertaking or other security as may be deemed necessary to compensate for any injury to any street, highway or street or highway structure. (d) Every such permit shall be carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer or authorized agent of any authority granting such permit, and no person shall violate any of the terms or conditions of such special permit. (e) No person shall move any vehicle, equipment or load which is greater in height, width, length or weight than is provided for in this chapter over any street without approval of the route and the time of movement by the director. The director shall not approve the movement of such vehicle, equipment or load unless the owner or operator of the vehicle, equipment or load makes application for a permit. The director, upon granting of a permit of approval for the route and time of movement of such vehicle, equipment or load, shall collect from the applicant and deposit in the city treasury a service fee as established from time to time. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.254; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84; Ord. No. 58035, 6-20-85; Ord. No. 64308, 7-6-89)

Kansas City Code § 70-914 Liability for damage to street or damage to highway structure.

Sec. 70-914. - Liability for damage to street or damage to highway structure. (a) Any person driving any vehicle upon any street or highway or highway structure shall be liable for all damage which the street, highway or structure may sustain as a result of any illegal operation, driving or moving of such vehicle or as a result of operating, driving or moving any vehicle weighing in excess of the maximum weight in this article but authorized by a special permit issued as provided in this article. (b) Whenever such driver is not the owner of such vehicle, but is so operating, driving or moving the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the owner, then the owner and driver shall be jointly and severally liable for any such damage. (c) Such damage may be recovered in a civil action brought by the city counselor in behalf of the city or by authorities in control of such streets or highways or highway structures. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.255; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84)

Kansas City Code § 70-915 Load restrictions on specific streets and bridges.

Sec. 70-915. - Load restrictions on specific streets and bridges. When the director makes regulations placing load restrictions upon vehicles using certain highways, streets, bridges or viaducts, and when signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall operate any vehicle with a gross weight in excess of the amounts specified at any time upon any of the streets or parts of streets described in the regulations. A schedule of streets or parts of streets with load restrictions shall be maintained in the office of the director of records and the director. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.256; Ord. No. 41525, 10-20-72; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84; Ord. No. 64308, 7-6-89)

Kansas City Code § 70-916 Trucks prohibited on certain streets.

Sec. 70-916. - Trucks prohibited on certain streets. When the director makes regulations prohibiting trucks from using certain streets or parts of streets, and when signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall operate any truck upon any of the streets or parts of streets described in the regulations; except that such vehicles may be operated thereon for the purpose of delivering or picking up materials or merchandise or for providing services and then only by entering such street at the intersection nearest the destination of the vehicle and proceeding thereon no farther than the nearest intersection thereafter. A schedule of streets or parts of streets where trucks are prohibited shall be maintained in the offices of the director of records and the director. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.257; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84; Ord. No. 64308, 7-6-89)

Kansas City Code § 70-917 Size restrictions on specific streets.

Sec. 70-917. - Size restrictions on specific streets. The director is hereby authorized, on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, to erect and maintain official traffic control devices on any streets or parts of streets to impose vehicle size restrictions. When such official traffic control devices are so erected, no person shall disobey the restrictions on the devices. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.258; Ord. No. 56381, 8-16-84; Ord. No. 64308, 7-6-89)

Kansas City Code § 70-918 Penalty for violation of article.

Sec. 70-918. - Penalty for violation of article. Every person who is convicted under the provisions of this article, except sections 70-902 and 70-916, shall be punished by imprisonment in the place designated by law for not less than 30 days and not more than six months, or by a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $500.00, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Any person convicted under section 70-902 or 70-916 shall be penalized as set forth in section 70-101. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 34.259; Ord. No. 920463, 5-14-92)

Source: City of Kansas City, Missouri, Code of Ordinances, Charter and Zoning and Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mo/kansas_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORKAMIVOII_CH70TRVE_ARTXIVEWESILOFetched: 10/28/2026