Right-of-Way Sign (OTC)
Otter Tail County, MN – With the upcoming elections, the Otter Tail County Highway Department reminds candidates and residents that state law prohibits the placement of private signs of any kind—including political, garage sale, and other advertising signage—on highway right-of-way in Minnesota for safety reasons.
Unauthorized signs can cause damage to vehicles that may run off the road or highway maintenance equipment maintaining ditches, and improperly placed signage can inhibit a driver’s field of vision.
Highway rights of way include driving lanes, inside and outside shoulders, ditches, sight corners at intersections, and boulevards in urban areas.
Highway workers are required to remove private signs located on the right-of-way.
Additionally, state law stipulates that signs may not be placed on private land without the landowner’s consent.
The Otter Tail County Highway Department will move illegally placed signs outside of rights of way or take them to the nearest highway department garage.
Cristi Field, Otter Tail County Highway Maintenance Supervisor, emphasizes the importance of safety, stating, “Anything on the right-of-way must be crash tested and approved. The highway signs have been crash-tested and have breakaway points. For public safety, we ask people to remove their signs and other private property from the right-of-way.”
To determine if the land is part of the highway right-of-way, look for black and white or orange triangular markers in ditches and near roadways.
A highway right-of-way is designed as a ‘clear zone’ to reduce the potential harm to motorists in the event of a crash. Otter Tail County has jurisdiction over both the roadway and the adjacent right-of-way.
Alternatively, approximate right-of-way may be looked up at ottertailcounty.gov/gis-maps/
The Otter Tail County Highway Department has observed private property stored too close to the highway.
While space limitations can make these areas convenient for storing property such as boat lifts and trailers or selling items, Otter Tail County urges voluntary compliance with State Statute 160.27, which prohibits the unauthorized use of public highway right of way.
The primary objective is to keep roads clear and safe for all drivers.
(Story by Otter Tail County)