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Streets, roads and pavements

Road adoption

Most roads in York are adopted. An 'adopted road' is public road which we're responsible for maintaining; find out about our responsibility for adopted and unadopted roads in York.

Map of adopted roads in York

Adopted roads are marked on the map in green.

You can expand the map to view in more detail, or search by street name or postcode:


View larger map

Our responsibility for adopted and unadopted roads

We're responsible for maintaining adopted roads in York.

As described by the Highways Act, 1980 (which details the wide range of unadopted roads), we're not responsible for maintaining 'unadopted roads' - these are privately owned, and the people who own property or land adjacent to them are responsible for maintenance. Read guidance on private streets for more information.

Apply for a road to be adopted

If you want us to adopt your private road, it's a good idea to nominate a resident to act as a coordinator and single point of contact.

Before submitting your application, you should:

  • find out if the majority of other property owners on the street want the road to become adopted
  • ask each property owner to sign the application form; you can add additional sheets to the application for this purpose

Costs for work on unadopted roads

We won't normally adopt private roads unless they meet current 'adoptable standards'. The owners of buildings or land adjoining it private roads are responsible for the cost of any maintenance or legal work involved to meet the standards.

See agenda item 5 within the Executive Member for Transport and Planning Decision Session, November 2016, regarding the policy on streets maintained at private expense.

Also see

Highway Regulation Team

West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA

Telephone: 01904 551550