09/03/2026
📢 WHAT IS A RIGHT-OF-WAY?
A Friendly Reminder from the Town of Lucama
Have you ever wondered why there is space between the road and your property—or who is responsible for that area?
You may be looking at a right-of-way (ROW).
A right-of-way is an area of land reserved for public transportation and infrastructure purposes. Depending on the road, a right-of-way may include the roadway, shoulders, drainage areas, sidewalks, utility lines, ditches, and other areas needed for the operation, maintenance, or improvement of the road.
đź“Ť WHERE ARE RIGHTS-OF-WAY IN LUCAMA?
Rights-of-way can be found along public streets and roads throughout the Town of Lucama. However, the width and exact location of a right-of-way can vary from one road or property to another.
Lucama has both State-maintained roads and streets that are part of the Town's municipal street system. North Carolina law provides that NCDOT is responsible for the State Highway System within municipal limits, while municipalities are responsible for streets accepted into their municipal street systems. ([North Carolina General Assembly][1])
Important: A right-of-way does not necessarily mean the Town or NCDOT owns all of the land beside the road. In many cases, property ownership and the public right-of-way overlap differently depending on recorded deeds, plats, easements, and other documents.
🌳 WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Right-of-way areas are important because they may be needed for:
• Road maintenance and repairs
• Drainage and ditches
• Water and sewer infrastructure
• Utility lines and poles
• Sidewalks and other public improvements
• Future road improvements or widening
• Safe access for maintenance and emergency work
Because of this, residents should be mindful before placing structures, landscaping, fences, signs, or other items near the roadway. What may appear to be part of a front yard may actually be within a public right-of-way or easement.
âť“ NOT SURE WHERE YOUR PROPERTY'S RIGHT-OF-WAY ENDS?
Please don't guess!
The exact location can vary by property and road. If you have questions about a right-of-way near your property, please contact Town Hall before making improvements or placing permanent items near the roadway.
The Town of Lucama wants our citizens to understand their property, our public infrastructure, and how our community works. We hope this information helps clear up something that isn't always well known!
Town of Lucama
Heart of To***co Country
Building What Comes Next đź’šđź’›
North Carolina law also gives municipalities authority over public streets within their corporate limits, subject to streets under the control of the Board of Transportation. ([North Carolina General Assembly][2])
https://lucamanc.com
[1]: https://www.ncleg.gov/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_136/gs_136-66.1.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "G.S. 136-66.1"
[2]: https://ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_160A/GS_160A-296.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "G.S. 160A-296"
