# Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20a: Declaration of road as public highway; consent; petition; action in circuit court; order; purchase or condemnation

> Michigan · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20a

## Section

- **Citation:** Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20a
- **Heading:** Declaration of road as public highway; consent; petition; action in circuit court; order; purchase or condemnation
- **Jurisdiction:** Michigan
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MI Code / Chapter 220 / Act Act-283-of-1909 / Section 221.20a

## Text

Sec. 20a.

A township with the prior written consent of the board of county road commissioners and upon petition to the township board by 51% of the property owners whose frontage abuts a road may commence an action in circuit court to have the road determined to be a public highway and to determine the length and boundaries of the road. If the court finds that there has been public use of the road for at least 10 years and that public authorities have expended public money on the road, it shall enter an order that the road has become a public highway setting forth the length and boundaries of that public highway. If the court finds that the road has not become a public highway, the township may in the same action acquire by purchase or condemnation in accordance with section 20h of this chapter the property rights of those owners who in the action claim that the road is not a public highway and the court shall enter its order that the road is a public highway and set forth the length and boundaries of that public highway.

History: Add. 1974, Act 336, Imd. Eff. Dec. 17, 1974; Am. 1978, Act 233, Eff. Mar. 30, 1979

## Nearby sections

- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 220.1 Highways and private roads; establishment and maintenance; authority of municipalities; highway officials, duties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S220.1.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20 Public highway; definition, width.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20a Declaration of road as public highway; consent; petition; action in circuit court; order; purchase or condemnation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20a.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20b Declaration of road as public highway; complaint; deposit.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20b.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20c Order fixing date for hearing; contents of order; service of complaint and order; notice of hearing; service and publication of complaint.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20c.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20d Determining sufficiency of petition; trial date; order.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20d.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20e Applicability of rules for civil actions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20e.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20f Notice of filing of complaint; contents; recordation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20f.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20g Improvement of road by township; standards; special assessment; petition; acceptance of public highway; maintenance.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20g.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.20h Acquisition of property by township by gift, purchase, or condemnation; petition; order of taking.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20h.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 221.22 Public highway; discontinuance.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.22.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 224.1 Adoption of county road system; referendum; form of resolution; special election; violation of MCL 168.1 to 168.992 applicable to petitions; penalties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S224.1.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 224.2 Election; time notice, form.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S224.2.md)
- [Mich. Comp. Laws § 224.3 Election; publication of notice, ballots.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S224.3.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MI_C220_AAct-283-of-1909_S221.20a. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.