Chapter 5553 | County Roads - Establishment; Alteration; Vacation

Section
Section 5553.01 \| Improvement defined. Effective: January 1, 1966 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF As used in sections 5553.02 to 5553.16, inclusive, of the Revised Code, "improvement" means any location, establishment, alteration, widening, straightening, vacation, or change in the direction of a public road, or part thereof, as determined upon by a board of county commissioners or joint board of county commissioners by resolution.
Section 5553.02 \| Authority of board of county commissioners to locate, alter, or vacate roads. Effective: September 28, 1973 Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The board of county commissioners may locate, establish, alter, widen, straighten, vacate, or change the direction of roads as provided in sections 5553.03 to 5553.16 of the Revised Code. This power extends to all roads within the county, except that as to roads on the state highway system the approval of the director of transportation shall be had. However, no public road shall be located or established, by the board of county commissioners, unless the location or establishment begins on a public road and terminates on a public road, or begins on a public road and services a public park, a state supported educational institution, public school, public aviation area, or a public recreation area, or begins on a public road and services at least three private residences or businesses in the first five hundred feet and one private residence or business in each two hundred feet thereafter.
Section 5553.03 \| Width of county roads. Effective: February 24, 1986 Latest Legislation: House Bill 221 - 116th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, all public roads located and established by the board of county commissioners subsequent to September 6, 1915, shall be of such width, not less than thirty feet, as is determined by the board. If a public road is established upon a county or state line, the board may determine the width of the strip of land in the county to be used for such purposes, but such width shall not be less than fifteen feet. (B) The board of county commissioners may locate and establish public roads that are less than thirty but not less than twenty feet in width, when all of the following conditions are met: (1) The roads have been in continuous existence and use as private roads since at least 1952, and are located in land platted as a subdivision outside of the limits of a municipal corporation; (2) It is proved to the satisfaction of the board that the acquisition of additional land necessary to meet the width otherwise applying under division (A) of this section will involve or result in damage to structures or dwellings adjacent to the roads; (3) The county engineer submits to the board a detailed report on the kinds and amount of traffic using the roads, and showing that the lesser width is adequate to serve anticipated traffic volumes without endagering persons using the roads.
Section 5553.04 \| Procedure for establishing, altering, or vacating road - petition. Effective: March 22, 2019 Latest Legislation: House Bill 500 - 132nd General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) Subject to division (B) of this section, w hen the board of county commissioners is of the opinion that it will be for the public convenience or welfare to locate, establish, alter, widen, straighten, vacate, or change the direction of a public road, it shall so declare by resolution, which resolution shall set forth the general route and termini of the road, or part of the road, to be located, established, or vacated, or the general manner in which the road is to be altered, widened, or straightened, or the direction of the road is to be changed. Subject to division (B) of this section, when a petition, signed by at least twelve freeholders of the county residing in the vicinity of the proposed improvement, or signed by the owner of the right to mine coal lying under or adjacent to the proposed improvement, is presented to the board requesting the board to locate, establish, alter, widen, straighten, vacate, or change the direction of a public road, the board shall view the location of the proposed improvement, and, if it is of the opinion that it will be for the public convenience or welfare to make the improvement, it may proceed to make the improvement as provided in sections 5553.04 to 5553.16 of the Revised Code. The petition shall set forth the general route and termini of the road, or part of the road, to be located, established, or vacated, or the general manner in which the road is to be altered, widened, or straightened, or the direction of the road is to be changed. When the board declares by resolution its intention to proceed with the improvement, it also may provide in the resolution for the establishment of an appropriate detour route or for the temporary closing of the road to be improved. When the petition presented to the board for a proposed improvement as provided in this section is a petition signed by the owner of the right to mine coal lying under or adjacent to the proposed improvement, that petitioner shall pay the costs and expenses incurred by the board in connection with the proceedings initiated by the petition, and the costs and expenses of making the improvement including compensation and damages, and including the cost of relocation of any conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles, or other equipment or appliances of any public utility or electric cooperative as defined in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code, located on, over, or under the portion of the road affected by the improvement, and, on demand by the board, shall give bond to the satisfaction of the board in the amount the board determines to secure the payment of all of those costs and expenses. (B ) A board of county commissioners shall not adopt a resolution to vacate a public road that is a township road under division (A) of this section unless the applicable board of township trustees has adopted a resolution approving the vacation.
Section 5553.041 \| Procedure for establishing, altering, or vacating road - petition by director of transportation. Effective: September 28, 1973 Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF When in the construction or improvement of a state highway, in the opinion of the director of transportation, it is in the public interest to vacate or close a public highway or any portion thereof under the jurisdiction of the county commissioners, said director may petition the county commissioners to vacate or close such highway in the same manner the freeholders may petition under sections 5553.04 to 5553.11 of the Revised Code. The county commissioners shall act upon said petition within thirty days and in the event they refuse to vacate or close said highways as requested shall show such action by a proper resolution. The director or an owner of property abutting on the portion of the highway to be vacated or closed may within thirty days appeal to the court of common pleas of the county in which such highway is located upon the reasonableness of the action of the commissioners and the court may affirm or revoke the action of the commissioners and may direct the commissioners to proceed with said vacation or closing as petitioned for. At said hearing before said common pleas court evidence may be introduced for or against the reasonableness and necessity for said requested vacation or closing. The decision of the common pleas court may be appealed to the court of appeals and the supreme court as in other cases. When the vacation or closing is approved in accordance with the above procedure, the compensation and damages, if any, due any property owners abutting the portion of the highway to be vacated or closed shall be paid by the director as part of the costs of acquiring the right-of-way for the state highway improvement and pursuant to procedures provided by law relating to the director. Such payment by the director shall be in lieu of any payment required to be paid by the county under sections 5553.10 and 5553.11 of the Revised Code.
Section 5553.042 \| Losing right to abandoned, unused township road. Effective: June 10, 2004 Latest Legislation: House Bill 299 - 125th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section: (1) "Electric cooperative" has the same meaning as in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code. (2) "Service facilities" includes any conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, or other equipment or appliance of a public utility or electric cooperative. (B) A township shall lose all rights in and to any public road, highway, street, or alley which has been abandoned and not used for a period of twenty-one years, after formal proceedings for vacation as provided in sections 5553.04 to 5553.11 of the Revised Code have been taken. Upon petition for vacation of such a public road, highway, street, or alley filed with the board of county commissioners by any abutting landowner, if the board finds that the public road, highway, street, or alley has been abandoned and not used for a period of twenty-one years as alleged in the petition, the board, by resolution, may order the road, highway, street, or alley vacated, and the road, highway, street, or alley shall pass, in fee, to the abutting landowners, as provided by law, and subject to all of the following: (1) Any existing right of way in, over, or under the road, highway, street, or alley for the service facilities of any public utility or electric cooperative for as long as the public utility or electric cooperative continues to render service to the public; (2) The right of ingress and egress for a public utility or electric cooperative to service and maintain its service facilities as provided under section 5553.043 of the Revised Code; (3) The right to trim or remove any trees, shrubs, brush, or other obstacles growing in or encroaching onto the right of way that may affect the operation, use, or access to service facilities; (4) Any right of way for public nonmotorized vehicular recreational use as provided under section 5553.044 of the Revised Code.
Section 5553.043 \| Railroad or public utility company deemed to have permanent easement in vacated portion of road. Effective: June 10, 2004 Latest Legislation: House Bill 299 - 125th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF When any street, highway, or road, or a portion of any street, highway, or road, is vacated pursuant to any section of this chapter or Chapter 5571. of the Revised Code, and the relocation of any conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles, sewer lines, steam lines, pipelines, gas and water lines, tracks, or other equipment or appliances of any electric cooperative, railroad, or public utility, whether owned privately or by any governmental authority, located on, over, or under the portion of the street, highway, or road affected by the vacation, are not required for purposes of the vacating authority, any affected electric cooperative, railroad, or public utility company shall be deemed to have a permanent easement in the vacated portion of the street, highway, or road for the purpose of accessing, maintaining, operating, renewing, reconstructing, and removing those utility facilities. The permanent easement also confers a right of ingress and egress to service and maintain those utility facilities and a right to trim or remove any trees, shrubs, brush, or other obstacles growing in or encroaching onto the permanent easement that may affect the operation, use, or access to those utility facilities. Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve an owner of the right to mine coal who petitions for a proposed improvement from the obligation to pay the relocation costs and expenses of public utility or electric cooperative facilities as provided in this chapter or Chapter 5571. of the Revised Code. As used in this section, "electric cooperative" has the same meaning as in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code.
Section 5553.044 \| Roads for public nonmotorized vehicular recreational use. Effective: October 20, 1972 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 247 - 109th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF In any proceeding on a petition or resolution to vacate a road which begins on a public road and ends on a public road, the board of county commissioners may determine the suitability of the road for public nonmotorized vehicular recreational use. Such uses include, but are not limited to, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and ski touring. They do not include use by motorcycles, snowmobiles, all purpose vehicles, or any other form of motorized vehicle. If the board finds that such uses will not unreasonably interfere with current land uses along the road, it may vacate the road subject to the preservation of a public right of way at least thirty feet wide within such roadway for such uses.
Section 5553.045 \| Petition by township trustees to vacate township road - title to pass to abutting landowners. Effective: June 10, 2004 Latest Legislation: House Bill 299 - 125th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) As used in this section, "road" means a road, or portion of a road, which is not used to calculate distributions of the auto registration distribution fund under division (E) of section 4501.04 of the Revised Code and, thus, is not a road or portion of a road certified by the board of township trustees to the director of transportation in accordance with that division as mileage in the township used by and maintained for the public. (B) A board of township trustees may petition the board of county commissioners to vacate a township road or a portion of a township road by passing a resolution that requests the vacation of the road or portion and includes a description of the general route and termini of the road or portion. The township clerk shall file a copy of the resolution with the board of county commissioners and certify another copy to the county engineer. Within thirty days after receipt of that copy of the resolution, the engineer shall issue to the board of county commissioners a written report similar in content to reports required under section 5553.06 of the Revised Code. The failure of the engineer to provide this report does not affect the actions required under this section and does not invalidate the vacation of a road or portion of a road under this section. (C) Upon receipt of the copy of the township's resolution, the board of county commissioners shall set a date for a public hearing on the vacation of the road or portion of the road that is not more than forty-five days after the date that the resolution is filed with the board. The clerk of the board shall notify by regular mail the landowners abutting the road or portion of the road proposed to be vacated. That notice shall be sent at least twenty days before the board's public hearing, shall state that the board of township trustees has filed a resolution requesting the vacation of the specified road or portion of the road under this section, and shall inform the landowners of the time and place of the public hearing on this issue. The notice shall be mailed to the addresses of the abutting landowners as they appear on the county auditor's current tax list or the county treasurer's mailing list. Failure of the delivery of this notice to any abutting landowner does not invalidate the vacation of a road or a portion of a road under this section. (D) After the public hearing, if the board of county commissioners determines that the vacation of the road or portion of the road would be for the public convenience or welfare, it shall adopt a resolution by a majority vote declaring the road or portion to be vacated and file a certified copy of the resolution with the petitioner board of township trustees, the county recorder, and the county engineer. If the board of county commissioners fails to vote on the issue of vacating the road or portion of the board within sixty days after the township's resolution is filed with it, the road or portion of the road specified in the resolution shall be deemed to be vacated, and the petitioner board of township trustees shall adopt another resolution describing the road or portion of the road that has been vacated and explaining this vacation is by action of this section. The board of township trustees shall file a certified copy of that resolution with the board of county commissioners, the county recorder, and the county engineer. (E) Once the certified copies of the resolution declaring a road or portion of a road vacated are filed as provided in division (D) of this section, the board of township trustees, by resolution, shall order the road or portion of the road vacated. The vacated road or portion of the road shall pass, in fee, to the abutting landowners subject to all of the following: (1) A permanent easement as provided in section 5553.043 of the Revised Code in, over, or under the road for the service facilities, as defined in section 5553.042 of the Revised Code, of a public utility or electric cooperative as defined in section 4928.01 of the Revised Code; (2) The right of ingress or egress to service and maintain those service facilities; (3) The right to trim or remove any trees, shrubs, brush, or other obstacles growing in or encroaching onto the permanent easement that may affect the operation, use, or access to those service facilities.
Section 5553.05 \| Hearing on petition for vacation of road. Effective: September 29, 2011 Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A) In the resolution required by section 5553.04 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners shall fix a date when it will view the proposed improvement, and also a date for a final hearing thereon. The board shall give notice of the time and place for both such view and hearing by publication once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where such improvement is located or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code. Such notice, in addition to the date and place of such view and place and time of the final hearing, shall state briefly the character of such improvement. (B) If the board adopts a resolution to vacate a public road as provided in section 5553.04 of the Revised Code, or if a petition to vacate a public road is filed, the board shall, in addition to the notice of the time and place for hearing prescribed in division (A) of this section, send written notice of the hearing by first class mail at least twenty days before the date of the public hearing to owners of property abutting upon that portion of the road to be vacated, and to the director of natural resources. Such notice shall be mailed to the addresses of such owners appearing on the county auditor's current tax list or the treasurer's mailing list, and such other list or lists that may be specified by the board. The failure of the delivery of such notice does not invalidate any such vacating of the road authorized in the resolution.
Section 5553.051 \| Fees to cover costs of notice. Effective: July 1, 2013 Latest Legislation: House Bill 51 - 130th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The board of county commissioners may establish a fee to cover the actual costs the county incurs in providing published notice and mailed notice as required by section 5553.05 of the Revised Code. The board may require an initial deposit to be paid at the time a petition for vacation of a road is filed under section 5553.04 of the Revised Code or promptly thereafter. The clerk of the board shall maintain an accurate and detailed accounting of all funds received under this section and expended in providing the required published and mailed notice.
Section 5553.06 \| Plat and survey - report of county engineer. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF If the board of county commissioners, after viewing the proposed improvement, considers such improvement of sufficient public importance, it shall instruct the county engineer to make an accurate survey and plat of such improvement and furnish an accurate and detailed description describing therein the center line and right of way lines. The engineer shall also furnish an accurate and detailed description of each tract of land which he believes it is necessary to take in the event such improvement is made, together with the name of each owner. The engineer shall, at the time of making such survey, set stakes at the termini of each right of way line, at all angles between such termini, and at sufficient other points on the right of way lines so that the bounds of such improvement are discernible to property owners and other interested persons. The engineer shall make a report in writing to the board on or before the date fixed for the final hearing. Such report shall set forth the opinion of the engineer for or against such improvement. In case it is proposed to locate or establish a road, such report shall state the width to which the improvement shall be opened, shall be accompanied by said plat and detailed and accurate descriptions, and shall be filed with the board.
Section 5553.07 \| Report of engineer read at final hearing - testimony - resolution to proceed. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The board of county commissioners shall at the date of the final hearing on the proposed improvement read the report of the county engineer, and it shall hear any testimony bearing upon the necessity of the improvement for the public convenience or welfare and offered either for or against proceeding with the improvement by any interested persons. If the board finds such improvement will serve the public convenience and welfare, it shall by resolution enter such finding on its journal and determine to proceed with the improvement. If it finds such improvement will not serve the public convenience and welfare, it shall refuse to proceed with the improvement.
Section 5553.08 \| Determination to proceed with improvement after modification of plan. Effective: January 9, 1961 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 104th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The board of county commissioners, acting in accordance with sections 5553.04 to 5553.07, inclusive, of the Revised Code, may determine to proceed with the proposed improvement with such modifications and changes in the route and termini as in its judgment the public convenience and welfare require. In making such modifications or changes, the board shall cause an accurate and detailed description thereof to be entered on its journal.
Section 5553.09 \| Payment of compensation and damages. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF If the board of county commissioners is of the opinion that the proposed improvement is of sufficient importance to the public to cause the compensation and damages on account thereof to be paid to the persons entitled thereto out of the county treasury, it may so order If the board is of the opinion that such improvement is not of sufficient importance to cause the compensation and damages to be paid from the treasury, it may determine to proceed with the improvement only upon the condition that the compensation and damages, or such part thereof as it deems reasonable and just, be paid by the landowners of lands within the vicinity who will be benefited by the improvement, and the balance shall be paid out of the treasury. In such event the board shall include in its order a schedule setting forth the names of such landowners, a pertinent description of such lands, and a statement of the amount of compensation and damages to be paid by the owner of each parcel of such lands. When a portion of the compensation and damages is ordered to be paid by the landowners who will be benefited by the improvement, the board may abandon the improvement on the failure of such benefited landowners to pay the compensation and damages adjudged against them by the time fixed therefor.
Section 5553.10 \| Record of proceedings - board shall make improvement and furnish map - unopened road shall be vacated. Effective: October 20, 1972 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 247 - 109th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF When, on the final hearing on the proposed improvement, the board of county commissioners finds in favor of such improvement, and determines to proceed therewith, it shall cause a record of the proceedings, including the survey, plat, and accurate and detailed description of such improvement, to be entered forthwith in the proper road records of the county by the county engineer. If the proceeding is for the location or establishment of a road, the board shall open up the road as established and such road shall be a public road, and shall be kept open, maintained, and improved as provided by law. If the proceeding is for the vacation of a road, the board shall order the road vacated and it shall cease to be a public road. The board shall furnish the director of natural resources with a full and accurate description or map of any right of way retained for public nonmotorized vehicular recreational use. If the proceeding is for the alteration, widening, straightening, or change in the direction of a road, the board shall make the necessary order to accomplish such purpose. Any part of the road made unnecessary by any change or alteration shall be ordered vacated. No road shall be opened or property taken until all compensation and damages allowed are paid, or the amount thereof, as allowed in accordance with sections 163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code. A road, or part thereof, which remains unopened for seven years after the order establishing it was made or authority granted for opening it shall be vacated, and the right to build it pursuant to the establishment in the original proceedings therefor shall be barred.
Section 5553.11 \| Proceedings after improvement ordered. Effective: April 7, 2009 Latest Legislation: House Bill 318 - 127th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF If the proceeding is for an improvement other than the vacation of a road and the board of county commissioners, at its final hearing on the proposed improvement, orders the improvement established, it shall proceed in accordance with sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code.
Section 5553.13 \| Improvement on county line. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF When the proposed improvement is along or upon a county line or crosses such county line or extends as a continuous road from one county into or through one or more adjoining counties, the boards of county commissioners of the counties interested shall sit as a joint board.
Section 5553.14 \| View and hearing by joint board - resolution. Effective: January 1, 1966 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF If the joint board of county commissioners is of the opinion that it is for the public convenience or welfare to make the proposed improvement, it shall declare the necessity therefor by resolution at the meeting provided for in section 5553.13 of the Revised Code. Such resolution shall set forth generally the route and termini of the road, or part thereof, to be located, established, or vacated, or the general manner in which such road is to be altered, widened, straightened, or the direction thereof changed. Such resolution shall fix a date when the joint board will view the proposed improvement and the date of the final hearing thereon. The joint board shall give notice of the time and place for both such view and hearing by publication in each county interested in like manner as though such project were a single county improvement. The joint board shall appoint the county engineer of one of the interested counties to act in the matter. Such proceedings shall be conducted thereafter by the joint board as though the proceedings were before a single board as provided in sections 5553.04 to 5553.11, inclusive, of the Revised Code. A portion of a road upon a county line may be located wholly within one county when it is necessary to avoid some place on the county line where the construction thereof would be unusually expensive or difficult.
Section 5553.15 \| Record of proceedings of joint board - copies sent to other counties. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The board of county commissioners of the county having the greatest population of any of the interested counties participating in the proposed improvement shall keep a full and accurate record of the proceedings. At the conclusion of the proceedings, it shall certify a copy thereof to each county interested, to be placed upon the proper road record of such county.
Section 5553.16 \| Cost of joint improvement divided among interested counties. Effective: September 28, 1973 Latest Legislation: House Bill 200 - 110th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The compensation and damages awarded in case of a joint improvement, together with the expenses thereof, shall be divided among the counties interested, as the joint board of county commissioners agrees and determines. In case of failure to agree on the proportion which each county is to pay, the joint board shall certify that fact to the director of transportation who shall thereupon make such apportionment.
Section 5553.18 \| Determining true line of road - petition. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF When the place of beginning the true course or boundaries of a road is uncertain by reason of the removal of any monument or witness by which such road was originally designated, or the destruction of any record, or from any other cause, the board of county commissioners of the county in which such road is located, upon the filing of a petition signed by at least twelve freeholders of the county residing in the vicinity of such road, shall cause the county engineer to view and find the true line of such road.
Section 5553.19 \| Notice of hearing upon report of county engineer - objections. Effective: September 29, 2011 Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The county engineer shall view and survey the road as provided in section 5553.18 of the Revised Code, and shall make a return of the survey and plat of the road to the board of county commissioners. Upon the filing of the report of the engineer, the board shall give notice of the filing of such report by publication as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code or once each week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which such road is situated. Such notice shall state the date and time of the hearing upon the report of the engineer. If exceptions or objections are made, the board shall hear them, and it may approve or reject said report. If the report of the engineer is approved, the board shall cause such report to be recorded together with the survey and plat of such road.
Section 5553.20 \| Civil action to establish true line of road. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF When the county engineer is unable to ascertain with certainty the true course and boundary line of a road, the board of county commissioners may prosecute a civil action against the owners of the land abutting upon such road to ascertain and have the boundaries of such road judicially established in one action. Any road, the true course of which is surveyed and fixed as provided in this section and sections 5553.18 and 5553.19 of the Revised Code, shall to the limits of such boundaries be a public highway. The engineer and board may not change the line of any road under sections 5553.18 and 5553.19 of the Revised Code from that which has been opened and used by the public for a period of seven years immediately preceding the application provided for in section 5553.18 of the Revised Code; but this section does not authorize any encroachment by abutting property owners on said road as opened and used.
Section 5553.21 \| Establishing true line of road by agreement. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Whenever the place of beginning, true course, or boundaries of a road are uncertain by reason of the removal of any monument or witness by which such road was originally designated, or the destruction of any record, or from any other cause, and the adjacent landowners are able to agree on the true course and boundaries of such road, they may call upon the county engineer to make a true plat and description thereof. Such plat and description shall be signed and acknowledged by such adjacent landowners, and placed upon the proper road records of the county. Thereafter the plat and description contained in the road records shall constitute the true course and boundaries of such road. Such plat and description shall first be approved by the engineer and the board of county commissioners. If the road is located in two or more counties, the plat and description shall be approved by the board of each county.
Section 5553.22 \| Determining boundaries of road located in two or more counties - joint meeting. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF When any road, the true course of which it is sought to fix, establish, and determine, is located in two or more counties, the petition provided for in section 5553.18 of the Revised Code shall be filed with the board of county commissioners of either county interested. The board of such county shall file within ten days a certified copy of said petition with the boards of the other counties interested, and the board of the county where the original petition is filed shall call a joint meeting of the boards of the counties interested, to be held within thirty days from the filing of such petition. Such proceedings shall be had by a joint board as are provided for in the case of a petition filed with a single board.
Section 5553.23 \| Petition by landowner to relocate road or trail - vacation of unimproved public roads. Effective: September 29, 2011 Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF If a person through whose land a public road has been established, which is under the jurisdiction of the board of county commissioners, desires to turn or change or relocate such road or any part thereof through any part of the person's land, the person may file a petition with the board of county commissioners setting forth briefly the particular change desired. Upon the receipt of such petition, the board shall give notice by publication once not later than two weeks prior to the date for the hearing on such petition in a newspaper of general circulation in said county, stating that such petition has been filed and setting forth the change desired in such road and the date and place for the hearing on said petition. If a public road was once established for public convenience through private lands, but has not been improved by public funds and for more than twenty-one years has not been used, the owner of such land may petition the board to vacate the road in accordance with proceedings under sections 5553.04 to 5553.11 of the Revised Code. A person through whose land a trail right of way has been preserved under section 5553.044 of the Revised Code may file a petition to turn or change the route of the trail right of way in the manner provided in this section, and such petition shall be acted upon in the manner set forth in sections 5553.23 to 5553.31 of the Revised Code. Notice of the hearing in such case shall also be made by first class mail to the director of natural resources. If the board turns or changes the route of the trail right of way, it shall furnish the director with a full and accurate description or map of the change.
Section 5553.24 \| Survey and report of county engineer on desired change in road. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Upon the receipt of the petition provided for in section 5553.23 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners shall order the county engineer to make a survey of the ground over which the road is proposed to be changed and to make a report in writing, together with a plat and survey of the proposed change and his opinion as to its advantage or disadvantage. The report of such engineer shall be filed with the board prior to the hearing on such petition.
Section 5553.25 \| Hearing upon petition to change road - finding of board. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF At the hearing had upon the petition provided for in section 5553.23 of the Revised Code, the board of county commissioners may hear evidence for or against changing the road, and if it is satisfied that the proposed change will not cause serious injury or disadvantage to the public, it may make a finding of such fact in its journal and authorize the petitioner to change such road in conformity with the prayer of the petition. The board may grant the change as prayed for in the petition, or it may order such change of the route of such road as will, in its judgment, be for the best interest of the public.
Section 5553.26 \| Petitioner shall pay cost of changing road - bond. Effective: August 1, 1955 Latest Legislation: House Bill 109 - 101st General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Upon receiving satisfactory evidence that the road has been changed as authorized by it under section 5553.25 of the Revised Code, and opened to the legal width and improved as required by it, the board of county commissioners shall declare such new road a public highway and cause a record thereof to be made and at the same time vacate so much of the old road as is rendered unnecessary by the new road. The person petitioning for such change shall in all cases pay all costs and expenses in connection with the proceedings, as found and determined by the board, and the expense of making such change including the cost of relocation of any conduits, cables, wires, towers, poles or other equipment or appliances of any public utility, located on, over or under such road. The petitioner shall, on the filing of the petition for such change, give bond to the satisfaction of the board in such amount as it determines to secure payment of the costs of the proceeding and to cover the expense of making the change called for by the proposed improvement.
Section 5553.27 \| Procedure to change road located in two or more counties - proceedings by joint board. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF If the road which a landowner proposes to turn or change as provided in section 5553.23 of the Revised Code is located in two or more counties, he may file his petition with the board of county commissioners of either county. Such board shall within ten days thereafter cause a copy of said petition to be certified to the boards of the other counties interested and shall at the same time fix a time not later than thirty days for a hearing upon such petition. Such proceedings shall be had before the joint board of county commissioners as are provided for in proceedings had before a single board. The joint board at its first meeting shall require the petitioner to file a bond to cover the costs of the proceeding and the expense of the proposed change in such road.
Section 5553.28 \| Majority vote of joint board required. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF In all hearings before a joint board of county commissioners under sections 5553.01 to 5553.27, inclusive, of the Revised Code, a majority vote of the board of each county shall be necessary to establish any improvement.
Section 5553.29 \| Adjournment of hearing - proceedings of joint board certified to other counties. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The board of county commissioners or the joint board of county commissioners may adjourn any hearings under sections 5553.01 to 5553.27, inclusive, of the Revised Code, as the necessities of the case require. Such adjournment shall be taken to a day certain to be fixed by the board or joint board at the time of such adjournment. The proceedings of the joint board shall be certified to each of the counties interested in the proceedings.
Section 5553.30 \| Appeal from order dismissing or refusing to grant petition for improvement. Effective: January 1, 1966 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Any petitioner may appeal from the order of the board of county commissioners, or joint board of county commissioners, dismissing or refusing to grant the prayer of the petition for an improvement. Any person interested may appeal from an order granting such improvement. Such appeal may be perfected in the manner provided in sections 5563.01 to 5563.17, inclusive, of the Revised Code, and if the order appealed from is that of a joint board, an appeal may be taken to the probate court of any county in which said improvement or any part thereof is situated.
Section 5553.31 \| Dedication of land for road purposes - proceedings. Effective: September 26, 1978 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1099 - 112th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Any person may, with the approval of the board of county commissioners, dedicate lands for road purposes. A definite description of the lands to be dedicated with a plat of such lands thereto attached and signed by the party dedicating such lands, with the approval and acceptance of the board indorsed thereon, shall be placed upon the proper road records of the county in which such road is situated. The board shall not approve and accept the dedication of any land for road purposes until any lien attached to such land under division (A) of section 505.82 of the Revised Code is satisfied. If the lands so dedicated contemplate a change in an existing road, the same proceedings shall be had thereon, after the board by proper resolution approves and accepts the lands for such purpose, as are provided in cases where the board by unanimous vote declares its intention to locate, establish, widen, straighten, vacate, or change the direction of a road without a petition therefor, but otherwise the proposal to dedicate lands for road purposes, together with the acceptance of the grant by the board, constitutes the lands so dedicated a public road without any further proceedings thereon.
Section 5553.41 \| Petition to obtain road through lands of another. Effective: October 1, 1953 Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF Any person, firm, or corporation desiring to secure for the use of the public a road leading from any land owned by said person, firm, or corporation through the land of another person to a public highway may file a petition with the board of county commissioners describing the road so desired and giving the respective names and places of residence of the owners of all the land through which the proposed road will pass.
Section 5553.42 \| Notice of filing petition to obtain road through lands of another - service. Effective: September 29, 2011 Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF The board of county commissioners shall give notice to the owners of lands through which the proposed road will pass of the filing of the petition provided for in section 5553.41 of the Revised Code and the date and place of the hearing thereon. Such notice shall be served on such owners personally, or by leaving a copy of such notice at the usual place of residence of such owners at least five days before the date of the hearing on said petition. Proof of service of such notice shall be made by affidavit of the person serving such notice. If any of such owners are nonresidents of the county, the board shall give notice to such nonresidents by publication once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code. A copy of the newspaper containing such notice shall be mailed by the county auditor to each nonresident whose post-office address is known to such auditor. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing on claims for compensation and damages.
Section 5553.43 \| Establishing road - right of entry. Effective: January 1, 1966 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF If the board of county commissioners finds the road petitioned for will serve the public convenience or welfare, it shall establish such road; or it may establish a road for the use of the public, with such changes or alterations in the route or course thereof as it deems necessary for the protection of the rights of other owners. The amounts of compensation due the owner shall be determined in accordance with sections 163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code. When the petitioner for said road has paid to the owners of lands through which said road will pass the amount found due them for compensation or damages, he may enter upon the premises and open up the road.