How can I have my road accepted as a town owned road?

The process for acceptance of a private road as a town owned road involves multiple steps and takes several years as two affirmative Town Meeting votes are needed. In addition, a betterment will be assessed to all property owners on a road if it is approved for acceptance, this betterment being the cost to bring the road up to Town standards, divided equally among the property owners.

The first step requires the submission of a petition signed by 50% of the property owners on a road requesting that the Town accept the road as a public way. This petition is brought to a Town Meeting at which engineering funds are requested for the preparation of acceptance plans. If approved, the plans are prepared. At the same time, the cost estimate described above is developed. Property owners are then notified of their share in the cost of the necessary road improvements; the cost is usually assessed through a 20-year betterment. The Board of Selectmen holds a public hearing after which 50% of the property owners must reaffirm their commitment to having the road accepted. The final step, if reached, is the approval at Town Meeting to accept the road as a public way and to appropriate the funds needed for the required road improvements (to be reimbursed through the betterments).

Click Here for information on the procedure for the conversion of Private Roads