North Carolina HOAs Face Complex Process for State Takeover of Private Roads
Homeowners associations (HOAs) in North Carolina often inquire about transferring the maintenance responsibility of their private roads to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). While this is possible, the process is not straightforward and can be costly. Many subdivision roads are private, either by design or because NCDOT has not formally accepted them into the state-maintained system. Even if a road is publicly used or dedicated for public use on a plat, NCDOT is not automatically responsible for its maintenance. To be considered for state maintenance, HOAs must contact their local NCDOT office, which evaluates factors like road location, number of homes served, rights-of-way, construction standards, and current road condition. NCDOT will inspect the roads and may require significant repairs or improvements, such as fixing deteriorated pavement, addressing drainage issues, or providing sufficient rights-of-way, before acceptance. The costs for these improvements typically fall to the H...
