Commissioners adopt tighter right-of-way rules; ban signs in roadways

Wilson County Commissioners on April 27 approved revisions to county private-improvement-in-public-right-of-way (PIPRO) regulations that add technical definitions, set minimum material standards, and prohibit signage in the roadway.

Commissioner King, who presented the changes, said the update adds definitions for items such as corrugated metal pipe and reinforced concrete pipe and explicitly forbids permitting signs within public right-of-way because roadside signs have hindered county crews and created safety problems. "So no more signage in the rideways is one of the big big things as well," King said.

The update also specifies a minimum 18-inch corrugated metal pipe for driveway crossings, requires contractors to contact the county planning office for a free inspection before pouring concrete or placing asphalt, and clarifies that these procedural checks are intended to prevent improper construction that could later impose costs on the county.

Commissioners said the changes draw on other counties' forms and possibly state forms to avoid recreating existing policies. The court approved the amendment by voice vote; no subsequent changes or conditions were recorded. The revisions will be incorporated into the county's subdivision and permit review process.