Highways, streets, or roads once established continue until abandoned -- Temporary closure -- Notice.
Utah Code § 72-5-105
in effect72-5-105. Highways, streets, or roads once established continue until abandoned -- Temporary closure -- Notice.
(1)
(a) Except as provided in Subsections (1)(b), (3), and (7), all public highways, streets, or roads once established shall continue to be highways, streets, or roads until formally abandoned or vacated by written order, resolution, or ordinance resolution of a highway authority having jurisdiction or by court decree, and the written order, resolution, ordinance, or court decree has been duly recorded in the office of the recorder of the county or counties where the highway, street, or road is located.
(b) If public use of a highway, street, or road across private land has been discontinued for more than 50 years:
(i) the highway, street, or road is not required to be formally abandoned as described in Subsection (1)(a); and
(ii) ownership of the highway, street, or road is vested in the adjoining record owner or owners, with one-half of the width of the highway, street, or road vesting to the adjoining owners.
(c) Subsection (1)(b) does not apply to a public highway, street, or road:
(i) claimed by the state or county under R.S. 2477 or across federal lands; or
(ii) on lands owned by a public entity or state institution of higher education.
(2)
(a) Except as provided in Subsections (2)(b) and (c), for purposes of assessment, upon the recordation of an order executed by the proper authority with the county recorder's office, title to the vacated or abandoned highway, street, or road shall vest to the adjoining record owners, with one-half of the width of the highway, street, or road assessed to each of the adjoining owners.
(b) If the property description of an owner of record extends into the vacated or abandoned highway, street, or road, that portion of the vacated or abandoned highway, street, or road shall vest in the record owner, with the remainder of the highway, street, or road vested as otherwise provided in Subsection (2)(a).
(c) Title to a highway, street, or road that a local highway authority closes to vehicular traffic under Subsection (3) or (7) remains vested in the city.
(3)
(a) In accordance with this section, a state or local highway authority may temporarily close a class B, C, or D road, an R.S. 2477 right-of-way, or a portion of a class B, C, or D road or R.S. 2477 right-of-way.
(b)
(i) A temporary closure authorized under this section is not an abandonment.
(ii) The erection of a barrier or sign on a highway, street, or road once established is not an abandonment.
(iii) An interruption of the public's continuous use of a highway, street, or road once established is not an abandonment even if the interruption is allowed to continue unabated.
(c) A temporary closure under Subsection (3)(a) may be authorized only under the following circumstances:
(i) when a federal authority, or other person, provides an alternate route to an R.S. 2477 right-of-way or portion of an R.S. 2477 right-of-way if the alternate route is:
(A) accepted by the highway authority; and
(B) formalized by a federal permit or a written agreement between the federal authority or other person and the highway authority;
(ii) when a state or local highway authority determines that correction or mitigation of injury to private or public land resources is necessary on or near a class B or D road or portion of a class B or D road; or
(iii) when a local highway authority makes a finding that temporary closure of all or part of a class C road is necessary to mitigate unsafe conditions.
(d)
(i) If a local highway authority temporarily closes all or part of a class C road under Subsection (3)(c)(iii), the local highway authority may convert the closed portion of the road to another public use or purpose related to the mitigation of the unsafe condition.
(ii) If a local highway authority temporarily closes all or part of a class C road under Subsection (3)(c)(iii), and the closed portion of road is the subject of a lease agreement between the local highway authority and another entity, the local highway authority may not reopen the closed portion of the road until the lease agreement terminates.
(e) A highway authority shall reopen an R.S. 2477 right-of-way or portion of an R.S. 2477 right-of-way temporarily closed under this section if the alternate route is closed for any reason.
(f) A temporary closure authorized under Subsection (3)(c)(ii):
(i) shall be authorized annually; and
(ii) may not exceed two years from the date the highway authority first closes the highway, or the time it takes to complete the correction or mitigation, whichever is less.
(4) To authorize a closure of a road under Subsection (3) or (7), a local highway authority shall pass an ordinance to temporarily or indefinitely close the road.
(5) Before authorizing a temporary or indefinite closure as described in Subsection (4), a highway authority shall:
(a) hold a hearing on the proposed temporary or indefinite closure;
(b) provide notice of the hearing by mailing a notice to the Department of Transportation; and
(c) except for a closure under Subsection (3)(c)(iii), provide notice to the owners of the properties abutting the highway, as a class B notice under Section 63G-30-102, at least four weeks before the day of the hearing.
(6) The right-of-way and easements, if any, of a property owner and the franchise rights of any public utility may not be impaired by a temporary or indefinite closure authorized under this section.
(7)
(a) A local highway authority may close to vehicular travel and convert to another public use or purpose a highway, road, or street over which the local highway authority has jurisdiction, for an indefinite period of time, if the local highway authority makes a finding that:
(i) the closed highway, road, or street is not necessary for vehicular travel;
(ii) the closure of the highway, road, or street is necessary to correct or mitigate injury to private or public land resources on or near the highway, road, or street; or
(iii) the closure of the highway, road, or street is necessary to mitigate unsafe conditions.
(b) If a local highway authority indefinitely closes all or part of a highway, road, or street under Subsection (7)(a)(iii), and the closed portion of road is the subject of a lease agreement between the local highway authority and another entity, the local highway authority may not reopen the closed portion of the road until the lease agreement terminates.
(c) An indefinite closure authorized under this Subsection (7) is not an abandonment.
Amended by Chapter 200, 2026 General Session
Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title72/Chapter5/72-5-S105.html?v=C72-5-S105_2026050620260506Fetched: 10/26/2026