Right of way

All public roads in Berrien County have a strip of land that runs on either side of the road called a "Right-of-way". This area along the roadway is where utilities are placed and construction/maintenance activities take place. On roads outside of platted sub-divisions this right-of-way is typically 66 feet wide (33 feet either side from center of road).

County road right-of-way complaint procedure

1. Resident calls in complaint about a right-of-way violation on a road under the jurisdiction of the Berrien County Road Commission.
2. Office instructs Complaintant to obtain form from the BCRC website or mails complaintant a copy of the form.
3. Once signed form is received, a Road Commission representative will investigate the complaint.
4. If property owner is in violation of the Road Commission's Right-of-Way policy, the property owner will receive a written WARNING notice indicating that they are in violation and that action must take place within 30 days of the warning notice.
5. Thirty days from the warning, the Road Commission representative will determine if the property owner has complied with the Road Commission's Right-of-Way policy.
6. If the property owner is not in compliance, a citation for the violation will be issued by the Road Commission with the pre-determined fines charged until the property owner is in compliance with the Berrien County Right-of-Way Ordinance No. 1 as adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Berrien County, Michigan on October 9, 2003.