Street Closings

Process Description:
This is a process by which streets or alleys are closed permanently.  If a street or alley in the city limits is determined to provide public benefits for residents, and closing the street will not deprive property owners in the vicinity of access, then the City Council can close a street or alley.  Most streets or alleys that are closed are dead-end unimproved rights of way that only provide access to the property owners that want the street closed.  If the street is on the State system, the State Transporation Department must also approve the closing.

This process is for permanent street closings. If you are interested in temporarily closing a street for construction purposes, contact the Public Works Department at (919) 996-3030 for more information.

This process should not be considered as a means of traffic control (volume, speeding, etc.) or for public nuisance control (littering, parking, etc.).  Contact the Police Department - Field Operations at (919) 996-3335 or the Inspections Department at (919) 516-2495 concerning nuisance abatement.  Also, contact the Public Works Department at (919) 996-3030 to explore other methods of traffic control.

How do I start the process?
Complete and submit a Street Closing Petition (.doc) or (.pdf) to the City of Raleigh Department of City Planning.   The following information is required: a description of the street or alley to be closed, City or County property map and recorded map outlining the area petitioned to be closed, a $257.00 filing fee, and signatures of all abutting property owners.

What do I need to submit to the City?

Where do I submit my application?
Office:               City of Raleigh
Department:    City Planning
Location:          Front Desk
Address:          One Exchange Plaza Suite 304, Raleigh, NC 27601
Adjacent to:     219 Fayetteville Street
Phone #:          (919) 516-2626
Hours:              8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

What are the keys to success?
Provide a complete submittal package. 

What fees are involved and when do I pay them?

• A $257 Filing fee is required at the start of the process plus an additional amount of approximately $18.00 assessed by the City Clerk, if the street is closed.  The applicant would also be responsible for costs associated with the preparation and recording of a recombination plat in the event the street or alley is closed by the Raleigh City Council
• See Fee Schedule

How long will this process take?
This process takes approximately eight (8) to ten (10) weeks.  After receiving the necessary documents, city staff will conduct a review to determine the effect of the closing on utility lines in the right of way, the need to keep the street open for general circulation, and if any person will be denied access to their property due to the closing. 

A staff recommendation is made to the City Manager to either hold a public hearing or not to close the street.  If the City Manager determines that the street should remain open, the applicant is informed, and may appear before City Council to request the Council authorize a hearing on the closing.  If the City Manager determines that the street closing warrants a hearing, he makes a request to City Council to hold a hearing. 

If City Council elects to hold a public hearing, they will adopt a resolution which authorizes the City Clerk to advertise in a newspaper of general circualtion once a week for four weeks and notify the abutting property owners of the date, time and place of the pubic hearing.  The City is also required by law to post two signs in the area of the closing serving notice of public hearing.  Following the public hearing, the City Council will make a decision or refer the item to a committee for further discussion before final action.

If the City Council adopts a resolution to close the street or alley, then the petitioner will be assesed by the City of the cost of advertisement - less the $257 filing fee - and be required to record a plat officially closing the street at the Wake County Register of Deeds Office within one year of the City Council action date.  The plat may include easements for utilities that are to be reserved.  Other conditions may be attached to the closing, such as building an appropriate turnaround on a dead-end street before the plat is recorded.  The petitioner will be responsible for the cost of surveying and recording fees.

All closed right of way is split evenly between property owners adjacent to the street or alley being closed resulting in a new property line down the center line of the closed roadway.

Guide Home Page

For More Information Contact:
Mike McDow
Planning Technician
Planning Department
One Exchange Plaza
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-516-2643

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