I saw a new survey creating a parcel next to my brother-in-law and sister's acreage. It shows a 40-ft half ROW along the gravel road. I always thought the ROW was a 66 ft (33 ft half) easement unless road construction acquired some width in fee.
Is there some rule taking a wider ROW in general? Not being a PLS, I don't keep up with such things.
In these parts, 40' was the minimum (and default width) for standard roads in the horse-and-buggy days. Major roads would be 80' to allow for a team to turn around between fences.
The full chain width would be used in towns.
Hi Bill
Most rural Iowa roads are 66 feet wide by easement. 80 ft row is fairly common particularly when paved. Counties acquire row by easement not fee many times but not always. Check with the county engineer or if you like research you can go run the grantor- grantee index at the auditors office. If it was established 66 there are probably recorded 7 ft easements. A lot depends on the age of the road. 80 years ago there were takings without compensation sometimes.
