Right-of-Way

The mission of the Right-of-Way Division is to deliver right-of-way services in a cost efficient, high quality manner essential for public transportation projects while ensuring that property owners are treated in a consistent, fair and equitable manner.

The County Right-of-Way Division:

• provides right-of-way cost estimates and develops and manages a right-of-way budget to support the acquisition activities associated with highway projects;
• acquires right-of-way and easements for highway and drainage projects;
• coordinates right-of-way acquisition and funding for Farm-to-Market and State Highway projects with the Texas Department of Transportation;
• works with other County departments to acquire real estate for public projects;
• assists other local public agencies with development of right-of-way acquisition plans and information;
• handles the disposal of surplus right-of-way and easements no longer needed for a public purpose;
• coordinates relocation of utilities displaced by right-of-way acquisition;
• communicates right-of-way matters to the Commissioners Court;
• coordinates acquisition and relocation activities with property owners;
• performs title research and coordinates property title matters with title companies;
• manages contracts with appraisers, demolition and title companies;
• conducts property inspections to determine potential environmental hazards that may be present and disseminates the information to the Environmental Division for further study;
• coordinates with the County legal staff to prepare and approve the necessary documentation needed to support the Division's right-of-way activities; and
• works extensively with engineers, surveyors, attorneys, appraisers, title companies and environmental staff to resolve a variety of complex acquisition issues that may occur during the acquisition process.

The Right-of-Way Division may assist you with any of the following matters:

• The guidelines and procedures followed by the Division to acquire right-of-way.
• Relocation Assistance procedures for those persons displaced from a home or place of business.
• Improvements that encroach on the right-of-way such as fences, mailboxes, signs, or other structures attached to the right-of-way.
• Requests for the County to abandon an easement or right-of-way across or adjacent to private property.