Converting Private Roads into Public Roads

Adjoining property owners of privately maintained roadways can request roadway maintenance to be transferred to the County by improving the roadway to County Road Construction Standards. 

If the property owners choose to assume responsibility for the road improvements, they will need to retain a licensed Engineer to assure the roadway is in a platted Right-of-Way and contains adequate drainage run off capacity. If the adjoining property owners request roadway drainage to be maintained as well, there must be at least 60 feet of Right-of-Way (county standard) for drainage conveyance facilities (swales, drains, etc.). 

Alternatively, the adjoining property owners can request the county to perform the improvements by a 50%+1 majority petition. The executed majority petition allows the county to proceed with Right-of-Way verification, preparation of preliminary cost estimate, and submission of balloting, which requires a 50%+1 majority in favor to proceed. 

Should the ballot vote be favorable, the county will propose a voluntary Assessment Resolution process in which the Board of County Commissioners may approve the project to be built by the county and funded through a Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) to be paid by lump sum or evenly financed 10-year assessment on the property owner tax bill.

The proposed project must be approved by the Board of County Commissioners as adopted on the annual Notice of Intent Resolution required by Section 197.362, Florida Statues for Special Assessments before proceeding with the Initial Assessment Resolution.