Council hears proposed right-of-way permitting code changes to address fiber buildout and restoration problems

City staff presented a package of proposed updates to Bloomington’s right-of-way permitting rules Monday aimed at improving permit review efficiency, strengthening restoration enforcement and reducing resident impacts during a multiyear fiber buildout.

Brian Hanson, the city’s development coordinator, told the council the recommendations were built from lessons learned during a surge of utility work in 2024—most notably fiber installation tied to federal infrastructure funding—and from staff reflection after managing a fourfold increase in permit activity compared with 2021.

Hanson said the administration is proposing multiple changes: switch to a base fee plus per-foot charge for underground permits (example proposed: $150 base up to 100 feet, then $0.40 per foot beyond that), a lower aerial permitting rate ($120 base up to 100 feet, then $0.20 per foot), and removal of a $36 separate processing fee. Staff also proposed allowing applicants to apply for larger service-area permits (to reduce duplicate plan review) while capping the amount of active permitted underground footage per applicant at 50,000 feet unless the city engineer authorizes more.

To reduce late-season and winter pavement problems, Hanson recommended adopting a formal winter moratorium, November 15 through April 15, unless authorized by the city engineer; the moratorium would allow…