Landowners should consider the importance of roads. They’re not only important for accessing your property but also to facilitate the transportation of machinery and trucks. Many landowners also rely on private roads strategically placed for drainage and food sourcing.
You have several options for the type of road you want on your property, depending on what you need it for. If you are ready to do some land improvements that involve roads, it’s important to know the basics about road types, their purposes, as well as building and maintenance requirements.
Three types of roads on private land
You’ll see the following types of roads on land:
- Primary Roads
- Secondary Roads
- External Roads
Primary Roads
It is the main route for you to navigate around your property. It should be able to withstand all weather conditions and receive the majority of traffic.
The primary road is continuous. This means you can go from A to B without having to take a side street. You may only have one primary route, depending on the size and shape of your property. This serves as an entry point connecting your land with a public road. You may also have several primary routes that you use to allow year-round access around your main property areas.
Secondary Roads
Secondary roads are usually branches off primary roads and lead to places you need to access regularly but don’t. For example, timber stores or repair supplies. Secondary roads do not need to be as strong as primary roads and they don’t have to require as much maintenance. Plan secondary roads by considering the type of vehicle you will be using, as well as if the road is intended for humans or wildlife.
External Roads
External roads are public and serve as the link between your property and its surrounding town or city. You may have to extend an external road to reach your property when purchasing land or create a primary road from an existing external corridor. You want to make sure that your land won’t be divided by an external road in your area, as this could have a significant impact on privacy and land use.
Who maintains roads on private property?
In general, the municipality is responsible for maintaining external roads. The landowner is responsible for the maintenance of internal roads. In some unincorporated or rural townships, it is up to the landowner to maintain the external roads that lead to their property.
Roads may not be the most glamorous part of a property but they are essential to its value and use. When buying land, you should do your research to determine what type of roads exist, which types you might need to build yourself, and what you plan to do to maintain them.
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