Cranes on Chesterfield County jobs
South and west of the city, Chesterfield mixes older neighborhoods under big oaks with new subdivisions along Route 288. The roads here belong to VDOT, which changes who signs off when a crane needs the street.
Who issues the permit for a crane on a Chesterfield road?
VDOT. Chesterfield County roads are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, so work in the right-of-way goes through VDOT's online land use permit system. The state rule sets a $100 application fee for a single-use permit. Next door in Henrico, the county maintains its own local roads instead.
- Chesterfield roads belong to VDOT, not the county.
- VDOT takes land use permit applications online.
- A single-use land use permit application costs $100 under the state rule.
- Henrico is different: the county maintains its own local roads.
A county on state roads
In most of Virginia, the state maintains county roads, and Chesterfield follows that pattern. VDOT keeps everything from Route 288 down to the streets of most Midlothian subdivisions. Any work in the right-of-way, including a crane parked on the road or the shoulder, falls under a VDOT land use permit, applied for online.
The state rule sets the application fee for a single-use permit at $100. Ask the crane company whether they handle the application, since many do it often.
Henrico is the exception
Cross into Henrico and the rules change. Henrico is one of only two Virginia counties, with Arlington, that maintain their own local roads, so a crane on a Henrico street goes through Henrico Public Works. VDOT still keeps the interstates and primary routes there. Inside the City of Richmond, it is the city’s Work in Streets permit.
The usual Chesterfield jobs
- Trusses and framing. New homes and additions along the Route 288 and Hull Street corridors, where a boom truck or small crane sets a roof in a day.
- Trees. Old oaks in Bon Air and around Midlothian, often over a house with only one side open.
- HVAC and generators. Package units on strip centers and churches, and standby generators set on pads.
Distances
Straight-line from Capitol Square, the courthouse area and Midlothian are each about 12 miles, Chester about 13 and Bon Air about 7. Billing that runs from the yard counts that drive both ways.
Rough costs
A small crane with an operator lists at $180 an hour on one public sheet, so a 4-hour truss set is about $720 before any permit. Overhead lines along older Chesterfield roads still need the 10-foot clearance. See the rates page for the full set.
Other questions
Do I need a permit if the crane stays in my driveway?
Usually not for the road, since the crane is on private property. If any outrigger or the crane itself sits in the road or the shoulder, VDOT's land use permit rules come in.
Is Midlothian part of the city of Richmond?
No. Midlothian, Chester and Bon Air are communities in Chesterfield County, so their roads are VDOT roads and the Richmond city permit does not apply.
How far is Chesterfield from Richmond for travel time?
The courthouse area and Midlothian are each about 12 miles in a straight line from Capitol Square. With the meter starting at the yard, the drive shows up on the bill.
Richmond sources for this guide
- VDOT, land use permits
- 24VAC30-151-710, land use permit fees
- Henrico County, road maintenance
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408, power line safety
- Port of Toledo (Oregon), 2026 shipyard rate sheet
Have a Richmond crane crew price it
Rough guesses work.
Keep reading
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Public crane price lists, read for RichmondA Maryland county crane bid and a 2026 port yard rate, what they include, and the 4-hour bill they add up to.
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Taking a big tree off a Richmond house with a craneCrane-assisted tree removal in Richmond: when a crane is the safe way, city trees and Urban Forestry permits, street setups and what the lift may cost.
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HVAC lifts on Richmond rowhouse roofsSetting a condenser or rooftop unit in Richmond: alley or street setups, the Work in Streets crane fee, historic district HVAC rules and crane rates.