Surveying
Right-of-Way
A strip of land dedicated or reserved for a specific use such as a road, utility line, or public trail, within which property owners have limited rights.
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In the Field
ROW limits must be verified from the recorded plat before any work begins near a road. Encroachments into the ROW (retaining walls, fences, signs) require permits and often removal at the owner's expense. Utility lines within the ROW are typically the utility company's responsibility.
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Rule of Thumb
Never place permanent structures in the public right-of-way without a permit and encroachment agreement. What you build without permission can be ordered removed at your expense.