Road adoption is a term used to describe the council taking ownership of a private street.

A private street is a road that is not maintained at public expense. This means that the council does not have to carry out repairs or cleansing to the street.

Find out more about private streets by downloading the most frequently asked questions - as shown opposite

Existing private streets will not normally be adopted unless they are brought up to current standards by the owners of the road. 

Who is responsible for maintaining my road?

If your road has been adopted then we (the council) will be responsible for maintaining your road. Most roads in the York area are adopted.

If your road is private the maintenance and the cost of maintenance will be the responsibility of the people who live in that road.

You can find out if your road is adopted or private by one of the following methods:

• Viewing the highway plans - to arrange and appointment to view, please telephone (01904) 551367.  You will have to come to 9 St Leonard's Place to view -  this is a service we provide free of charge.
• Request a printed copy of a plan to be posted out.  Unfortunately a charge will be made for this service - Please write or telephone to the contact details opposite.

How do I go about getting my road adopted?

If you want to get your private road adopted you should: -

1. Find out the wishes of the other property owners on the street.
2. If the majority are in favour of having the street adopted then download the application form shown. It is often best for one resident to act as a co-ordinator to work with other residents. Each property owner should sign the form.

Cost

The owners of buildings or land adjoining the street are responsible for the cost of bringing the road up to an adopteable standard and any legal costs involved.  Individual calculations are calculated by dividing the total cost of the scheme by the total length and the result is then multiplied by the length of each separate frontage.

In certain circumstances the Council may decide to make a contribution to the cost.

Full guidance on road adoption

You can download the pdf shown opposite for further guidance, or you can contact us at the address shown.