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PRIVATE ROAD STANDARDS AND POLICIES <br />Policy Issues <br />Orange County currently may permit private roads within subdivisions under certain <br />conditions. This study examines current County policies and guidelines for private <br />roads and recommends changes. <br />North Carolina's highway system is somewhat unique in that counties have no road <br />responsibilities. All roads in the state are either state - maintained, maintained by <br />cities, or privately owned and maintained. In rural areas, all public roads are owned <br />and maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT). <br />Typically, subdivisions in rural areas are developed either along existing State roads or <br />use subdivision streets constructed to NCDOT standards and dedicated to NCDOT as <br />public streets. In order for a street to be accepted by NCDOT, it must meet certain <br />standards, including road width and cross - section, horizontal and vertical alignment, <br />pavement, and development density. <br />In some cases, it may be desirable to construct subdivision streets that may not comply <br />with one or more NCDOT standards. Typical reasons for such streets could be: <br />- reduced environmental impact in sensitive areas <br />- reduced cost to the developer and homeowners <br />- use of large lots that do not meet NCDOT density requirements <br />- desire for scenic or rural character in a development that could not be <br />accommodated by streets constructed to NCDOT standards <br />- desire for controllea access to a community <br />- landscaping features, such as planted medians, not compatible with NCDOT <br />standards. <br />Because there is no provision for county roads in North Carolina, all roads not meeting <br />NCDOT standards and outside municipal boundaries must be private. <br />20 <br />