Right-of-way is an area of land over which people and goods have the right to pass or travel. A public right-of-way grants passage to all and provides the right to park registered vehicles in accordance with local parking restrictions. Public right-of-way is a form of easement typically dedicated to the public during subdivision for public use.
Belmont is responsible for the maintenance of only those portions of the right-of-way it has formally accepted into the City street system. The area outside of the roadway, but within the right-of-way is “managed” by the City and is done through the issuing of permits to encroach within this area. The Belmont City Code details out what is allowed or not allowed within this remaining right-of-way along with required maintenance of the right-of-way.
The City has the responsibility for maintaining roads accepted as City streets. However, the City does not become the owner of the land on which the road is built, or of any land adjacent to the road, unless it has title in the property.
The property owner whose parcel is adjacent to the roadway or pathway is responsible for the property within the right-of-way. Each adjacent property owner is responsible for the land adjacent to his or her parcel to the edge of street improvements (i.e., the roadway). In the case of pathways and alleys, the abutting property owners are responsible to the center line of the path or alley. The property owner retains the right to use this area in a manner that is consistent with its dedicated public use, which is governed by the Belmont City Code and requires a permit for any work to be performed within the right-of-way.
