When the first big snow hits Livingston County, do you know who is supposed to plow your road? If you are buying, selling, or living along a country lane, the answer affects your day-to-day access, mailbox, drainage, and even permit needs. You want clear, reliable information so you can plan ahead, avoid headaches, and protect your property.
This guide breaks down who maintains which roads, how culverts and ditches are handled, what the right of way allows, and how to get fast help when there is a problem. You will also get practical checklists you can use while touring homes or arranging driveway work. Let’s dive in.
Who maintains which roads
Understanding the road owner is the key to answering almost every maintenance question you will face.
State highways: IDOT
If you live along a state route, the Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for plowing, major pavement repairs, and state-level drainage along that route. State routes are marked with numbered “IL” shields. For significant safety concerns on a state highway, contact the appropriate IDOT district office.
County highways: Livingston County Highway Department
Livingston County maintains about 257 miles of county highways across the county. The Highway Department handles winter operations on those roads, maintains public-road culverts and ditches along county highways, and enforces rules inside the county right of way.
Township roads: Township highway commissioners
Most unincorporated local roads are township roads. The township highway commissioner or road district takes care of plowing, local surface repairs, and routine drainage work on those routes. Permit rules often apply to any work within the roadside ditches or right of way.
Municipal streets: Cities and villages
Inside city or village limits, the municipality maintains its own streets. Public works departments or contracted providers handle plowing, street repairs, and stormwater maintenance within municipal rights of way.
Private roads and driveways
Private lanes, easements, and driveways are the property owner’s responsibility. Public agencies do not maintain private driveways unless they have formally accepted them into the public system.
Winter operations: What to expect
Snow plans vary by agency, but a few rules of thumb apply across the county in most storms.
Plowing priorities and timing
Agencies prioritize major and emergency routes first. State and county arterials usually receive earliest attention, then secondary roads, and finally local streets. Response times depend on the storm’s intensity, staffing, and budget. Ask the road authority for its current winter operations policy or priority map.
Reporting snow and ice issues
Report hazardous conditions to the agency that owns the road. Provide the exact location, direction of travel, and a short description. For urgent safety risks, call right away rather than waiting for business hours.
Private contractors and snow placement
Do not hire a private contractor to plow a public road, and do not push snow from your driveway into the traveled portion of the roadway. Piles that obstruct traffic or sight lines can create liability and may violate local rules. Keep snow on your property or in approved areas.
Culverts, ditches, and drainage
Good drainage protects both the road and your property. Here is how responsibilities usually break down.
Who owns which culvert
- Culverts that are part of the drainage system along a county highway are typically maintained by the Livingston County Highway Department.
- Culverts along township roads are generally the township’s responsibility.
- Driveway culverts, which let your driveway cross a roadside ditch, are commonly your responsibility to install and maintain. The road authority usually decides the size, placement, and installation standards.
Driveway culverts and permits
Before you install, replace, or modify a driveway culvert, get a permit from the agency that controls the road. Permits set the culvert diameter, invert elevations, and materials so your project does not block drainage or weaken the road. Some agencies will install or repair driveway culverts and bill the property owner; others require you to hire a contractor that meets their standards.
Emergency drainage issues
If a plugged culvert or washout threatens the road or a structure, call the responsible road authority immediately. Agencies often address obvious hazards promptly, even if long-term fixes must wait for funding or better weather.
Right of way basics
The roadside strip you see next to the pavement is not always private yard space. It is often public right of way controlled by a road authority.
What is the right of way
The right of way is the corridor a road authority owns or controls for roadway and drainage. Width varies by road and is shown on county right of way maps or your property’s plat. The state, county, township, or municipality sets the rules for what can go in this space.
Common restrictions and encroachments
- Avoid building permanent structures like sheds, fences, or retaining walls in the right of way without permission.
- Do not place fill, landscaping, or debris that blocks drainage or sight lines.
- Utilities may have separate easements. Coordinate with utility companies and the road authority before digging or installing anything across ditches or within the right of way.
Violations can be removed by the road authority at the owner’s expense. Get written approval before you place anything in the right of way.
Mailbox placement and damage
Most agencies allow mailboxes in the right of way if they follow placement and post standards. If a plow blade directly hits a properly placed mailbox, the road agency may be liable to repair or replace it. If snow thrown from the plow damages the box, agencies are commonly not liable. Document the damage, take photos, and contact both the road authority and your local post office for guidance.
How to find the responsible authority
Use these quick steps to confirm who maintains a road before you call or submit a request.
- Look at the signs
- State routes use numbered “IL” shields. Those are IDOT routes.
- County highway signs or county maps indicate county responsibility.
- Streets inside city or village limits are municipal.
- Unnumbered local roads outside city limits are often township roads.
- Check county maps
- Use county GIS or plat maps to check township boundaries, municipal limits, and right of way widths.
- Call to confirm
- Livingston County Highway Department can confirm whether a road is part of the county system and advise on permits or hazards along county highways.
- The County Clerk can tell you which township a property is in, so you can reach the correct township highway commissioner.
- Municipal clerks or public works offices can verify city or village street ownership.
- For state routes, confirm with the appropriate IDOT district office.
Have the property address, closest intersection, or mile marker ready, plus a short description of the issue.
Practical checklists for buyers and sellers
Use these quick lists to save time and avoid costly surprises.
When touring a property
- Identify the road type: state, county, township, municipal, or private.
- Ask the seller or agent who maintains the road and how reliable winter access has been in recent seasons.
- Look for driveway culverts. Ask when they were installed or replaced and whether permits were issued.
- Note drainage patterns after rain or melt. Watch for standing water near the driveway or foundation.
If you plan driveway or ditch work
- Contact the road authority first to confirm permit requirements.
- Get written approval for culvert size, materials, and invert elevations.
- Hire a contractor that follows the agency’s standards and understands compaction and grading.
- Keep all paperwork. You may need it for future sales or repairs.
If a storm creates a hazard
- Photograph the issue with date and time.
- Record the exact location and direction of travel if the road is affected.
- Report the hazard to the responsible agency right away. If water is threatening structures or traffic, call emergency services as needed.
Local contacts and next steps
Here is who you should reach out to depending on the road type and issue.
- Livingston County Highway Department: County highway maintenance, snow removal on county roads, public-road culverts and ditches along county highways, and right of way questions. Ask about the county’s snow priority routes and culvert permitting.
- Township highway commissioner or road district: Township road plowing and maintenance, driveway culvert permits on township roads, and local ditch grading.
- Municipal public works or city hall: Street maintenance inside city or village limits, including winter operations and stormwater within the municipal right of way.
- IDOT district office: State route issues, including safety hazards, plowing on state highways, and drainage along state routes.
- County GIS or County Clerk: Township identification, municipal boundaries, and right of way widths on plats.
- Local post office or postmaster: Mailbox placement standards and how to document damage after a storm.
Policies can change. For current rules, permit forms, and phone numbers, visit official county, township, municipal, or IDOT pages and verify details before you start any work.
Move forward with confidence
Understanding who maintains what helps you plan for winter access, budget for driveway culverts, and avoid right of way mistakes. If you are comparing properties, this can be the difference between smooth daily travel and stressful snow days.
If you would like help matching homes to your daily needs and seasonal realities, connect with Unknown Company to get your free home valuation and local market plan. Our local team can help you confirm road authorities, coordinate answers from the right offices, and keep your transaction moving.
FAQs
Who plows the road to my house in Livingston County?
- The road owner does. IDOT plows state routes, Livingston County plows county highways, the township plows township roads, and cities or villages plow municipal streets. Private roads are the owner’s responsibility.
Who fixes or replaces the culvert under my driveway?
- Driveway culverts are typically your responsibility, but you usually need a permit from the road authority. Culverts that are part of the public road drainage are maintained by the road authority.
Can I put a fence or landscaping in the roadside right of way?
- Not without permission. The road authority controls the right of way and generally prohibits permanent encroachments that interfere with maintenance, sight lines, or drainage.
My mailbox was damaged during plowing. Who pays for it?
- If a plow directly strikes the mailbox, the road agency may be liable. If snow thrown by the plow causes the damage, agencies commonly are not liable. Document the damage and contact both the road authority and your local post office.
How fast will a culvert or flooding problem be fixed?
- Emergency hazards get priority. Routine repairs depend on budgets and schedules. Report the issue to the responsible agency and provide clear details for faster response.
