State Law Link

State laws will apply to any project in your state.  If a project is funded by a federal agency or with federal money, the State’s laws must follow the URA and cannot diminish the URA regulations. State laws generally mirror the URA for federally funded projects. However, there may or may not be some enhancements.

Note: State laws will always apply to a project, regardless of its funding sources.

Tip: For federally funded state-managed projects, you will want to follow the state laws, the DOT Right of Way Manual, and the URA regulations.

State Department of Transportation Right of Way Manual

The ROM will apply the State laws to state-managed or funded projects and some local area projects.  The ROM should reference the URA and its applicability to various types of projects within the state and describe how any regulations differ due to federal or state-only funding on a project.  If a federal agency funds a project, the State’s regulations cannot diminish the URA regulations. However, they may enhance them.

Note: The State DOT Right of Way Manual is an excellent resource for guidance on how the state laws and often the federal regulations are implemented by the state and sometimes by the local area authority.

Tip: The ROM will apply to any state-managed project.  Check its applicability to local area authorities before relying on it for those projects.

Sate Abbreviated Regulations

For your use and convenience, ROW-C has prepared an abbreviated list of business relocation benefits for this state, where the project is following the URA.

Note:  This is designed as a cheat sheet for quick recall or discussions, rather than details of the regulations.

Tip:  Have a copy handy for a discussion or a reminder to yourself of where an item fits into the regulations.

Local Area Authority Regulations

Local area authorities such as municipalities, light rail, bus transportation, utilities, etc., may have their regulations. These regulations must follow state laws and may or may not follow the DOT’s Right of Way Manual. If a federal agency funds a project, the local area authority regulations cannot diminish the URA regulations. However, they may enhance them.

Note: For local area authority projects, you will need to follow their regulations if they have their regulations.  If applicable, you will want to follow the State DOT Right of Way Manual, and finally, if the project is federally funded, you will want to follow the URA regulations.