HB148 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Ron Johnson
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Public roads, vacation of certain public roads or streets further provided for, Sec. 23-4-20 am'd.
Summary: HB148 amends Alabama law to clarify and expand how abutting landowners may seek vacation of public roads or streets, with protections for access and utility rights.
What This Bill Does
It lets owners next to a street or alley petition to vacate all or part of it, and requires the governing body to hold a public hearing within 100 days with proper notice. If approved, the vacation must not deprive others of reasonable ingress/egress, and if needed, another street or alley must be dedicated to maintain access. There is a special county rule for single-member districts allowing certain petitions to be moved onto the county commission agenda if all petitioners are from the same immediate family. For unpaved streets fully surrounded by owners, all owners may sue in circuit court after a 100-day period if the county denies action, and the court must find that the vacation won’t hurt others’ access; signs must be posted to show privately owned status. Utilities and other facilities in the right-of-way retain rights to access and maintain their lines after vacation.

Who It Affects
Property owners who abut streets or alleys and may petition to vacate or be affected by the vacation.
Local governments (cities/counties) handling the petition process and utility providers or other entities with facilities in the right-of-way, who must be notified and retain access rights after vacation.

Key Provisions
Abutting landowners may petition to vacate a street or alley in whole or part by following a defined process with the governing body.
A public hearing must be scheduled within 100 days, with notice to abutting owners and utility facilities via mail at least 30 days before the meeting.
If vacation is approved, it must preserve reasonable ingress/egress for other property owners; if not provided by remaining streets, a dedication of another street or alley may be required.
A special county provision allows the issue to be placed on the county commission agenda in certain single-member district counties if all petitioners are within the same immediate family and action is delayed beyond 100 days.
For unpaved streets fully surrounded by owners, all owners may sue in circuit court to vacate if the county denies action within 100 days; all owners must join, and the court must find no harm to others' access.
If the unpaved street or alley is vacated by court order, the county is divested of public rights and liabilities, and owners must post signs indicating private ownership and lack of county maintenance before the vacation takes effect.
Entities with utility lines or facilities in place may continue to access and maintain them after vacation, and may cross the vacated road to reach their lines and facilities.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Highways, Roads, and Bridges