• ♦Manual Notice 2025-1
• ►1. Administrative Requirements Preliminary to Formal Authority for Right of Way Acquisition
  • ►1. Delineation between Right of Way Acquisition and Preliminary Engineering
    • ♦ROW CSJ (Project ID) Costs Versus Construction CSJ (Controlling Project ID) Costs
  • ►2. Requesting a ROW CSJ (Project ID)
    • ♦Procedures
  • ►3. Federal Project Authorization and Agreement (FPAA)
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Procedures
  • ►4. Schematic Layout for Transportation Project
    • ♦Process
  • ►5. Environmental Clearance
    • ♦Process
  • ►6. Public Involvement (Public Hearing)
    • ♦Process
  • ►7. ROW Program Office Formal Authority to Proceed for Right of Way Acquisition
    • ♦Determination of Eligibility
  • ►8. Federal Project Numbers on Records
    • ♦Requirement
• ►2. Types of Project Authorities
  • ►1. Authority Types
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Advanced Acquisition
    • ♦Limited Release for Preliminary Utility Activities
    • ♦Limited Authority to Proceed
    • ♦Partial Authority to Proceed
    • ♦Full Authority to Proceed
    • ♦Limited Release for Utility Work Only
  • ►2. Authority for Right of Way Acquisition
    • ♦Additional Requirements
  • ►3. Authority for Advanced Acquisition
    • ♦Procedures
• ►3. Advance Acquisition of Right of Way
  • ►1. Advance Acquisition (for State)
    • ♦Definition
  • ►2. Policy on Advance Acquisition (for State)
    • ♦Policy
  • ►3. General Requirements for Advance Acquisition (for State)
    • ♦Requirements
  • ►4. Additional Requirements for Submissions for Advance Acquisition through Donation (for State)
    • ♦Requirements
  • ►5. Approval of Advance Acquisition (for State)
    • ♦Process
    • ♦Reimbursement
  • ►6. Advance Acquisition of Right of Way (for LPA)
    • ♦Requirements
  • ►7. Disposition of Advance Acquired Properties
    • ♦Overview
• ►4. Administrative Requirements after Formal Authority for Right of Way Acquisition
  • ►1. State Cost Participation in Local Government Right of Way Acquisition
    • ♦Statutory Authority for State Cost Participation
    • ♦Commission Authorization for Right of Way Project Eligibility
    • ♦Rules and Regulations Governing State Cost Participation
    • ♦Local Government Option (for State) Right of Way Acquisition
  • ►2. Effect of Approved Values on Authorized Right of Way Funds
    • ♦Process
• ►5. Right of Way Property Acquisition
  • ►1. Right of Way Property Acquisition Policies and Procedures
    • ♦Basic Acquisition Responsibilities (for State)
    • ♦Basic Acquisition Responsibilities (for LPA)
  • ►2. TxDOT Monitoring of LPA Acquisitions
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►3. Informational Notice to Owners Required (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►4. Pre-Appraisal Contact
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►5. Establishment of Just Compensation Required (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►6. Policies on Appraisal and State Acquisition of Improvements (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Policy
  • ►7. Landowner’s Bill of Rights and Written Initial Offer to Purchase as Required Elements of a Bona Fide Offer (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Landowner’s Bill of Rights
    • ♦Methods of Providing the Landowner’s Bill of Rights
    • ♦Documenting Compliance with the Landowner’s Bill of Rights Statute
    • ♦Initial Written Offer to Purchase
    • ♦Elements of Required “Bona Fide Offer”
  • ►8. Owner Retention of Improvements (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►9. Negotiation Contacts and Reports (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►10. Negotiation Contacts and Reports (for LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►11. Updating Offer of Just Compensation (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►12. Control of Access Rights (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►13. Policy on “Uneconomic Remainders” (Excess Takings) (for State)
    • ♦Policy
    • ♦Discretionary Remainder Acquisitions
  • ►14. Policy on “Uneconomic Remainders” (Excess Takings) (for LPA)
    • ♦Policy
  • ►15. Overlooked Items in Property Valuation (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►16. Change in Property Status during Negotiations (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►17. Adverse Possession Involved in Acquisition (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►18. Encroachments (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►19. Acquisition of Undivided Interests in Property Acquired (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►20. Acquisition of Separate Easement Interests (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►21. Acquisition of Leasehold Interests (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►22. Information for Income Tax Purposes for Property Owners (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►23. Information for Income Tax Purposes for Property Owners (for LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►24. Rest Areas (or Roadside Parks) (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►25. Irrigation and Drainage Canals (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►26. Cemeteries (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
    • ♦Impact Categories
  • ►27. Acquisition of TxDOT Employee’s Property (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Procedures
  • ►28. Requesting Federal Assistance in Acquiring Private Property (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►29. Administrative Settlements (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
    • ♦Enhanced Negotiations
    • ♦Enhanced Negotiations Process
  • ►30. Administrative Settlements (for LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►31. Possession and Use Agreements (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
    • ♦For LPA
• ►6. Right of Way Donations and Exchanges
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦For State
  • ►2. Legal Requirements to Accept Donations (for State)
    • ♦Statutory Requirements
    • ♦Rules Requirements
  • ►3. Exchanges (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►4. Procedures for Receiving Donations (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►5. Donation Requests Not Associated With Projects (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►6. Procedures for Receiving Donations (for LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►7. Matching Fund Credits
    • ♦Matching Fund Credits to LPA (State-Funded Project; No Federal-Aid)
    • ♦Matching Fund Credits (Federal-aid Project)
• ►7. Procedures Regarding Commercial Sign Interests
  • ►1. Negotiation for Commercial Signs (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►2. Conveyance of Commercial Sign Interests (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►3. Payment for Negotiated Commercial Sign Interests (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►4. Acquisition of Commercial Sign Interests by Eminent Domain (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►5. Removal and Relocation of Certain Commercial Signs (for State)
    • ♦Overview
  • ►6. General Procedures (for LPA)
    • ♦Overview
  • ►7. Leasehold Signs (for LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
• ►8. Fencing Policies and Procedures
  • ►1. Fencing Policies (for State)
    • ♦Policy
  • ►2. Control of Access Fences (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►3. Jointly Owned Property Line Fences (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►4. Fencing Procedure (for LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
• ►9. Passes, Stock Passes, and Cattle Guards
  • ►1. Pass Policies (for State)
    • ♦Policy
  • ►2. Guidelines for Land Use Facilities (TxDOT) (for State)
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Passes
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►3. Inclusion of Pass Privileges in Instruments of Conveyance (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►4. Permits for Passes (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►5. Conveyance and Title Requirements for Passes (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►6. Negotiation for Passes (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►7. Submission for Payment When Pass Involved (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►8. Cost Charge for Passes (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►9. Pass Policies (for LPA)
    • ♦Commission Policy
  • ►10. Cost Charge for Passes (for LPA)
    • ♦Negotiation
    • ♦Deeds and Title Requirements
    • ♦Special Purchase Agreement
    • ♦Cost Charge
• ►10. Acquisition of State-Owned Lands for Right of Way
  • ►1. Appraising State-Owned Property
    • ♦Valuation
  • ►2. Property Adjustment Work on State-Owned Lands
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►3. General Submission Requirements for Formal Negotiations
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►4. Texas Departments of State Health Services and of Aging and Disability Services Lands
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►5. Parks and Wildlife Department Lands
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►6. University of Texas Lands
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►7. Permanent School Fund Lands and General Land Office Lands
    • ♦Procedure
    • ♦General Land Office Lands
  • ►8. Veterans Land Board Land Under Contract to a Veteran
    • ♦General
    • ♦TxDOT Appraisal Procedure
    • ♦Negotiations and Procedure for Fee Title
    • ♦Right of Way Deed
    • ♦Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
    • ♦Title Policy Commitment
    • ♦Billing Assembly/Submission to the ROW Program Office/Closing
    • ♦Negotiations for Right of Way Easements
    • ♦Billing Submission to the ROW Program Office
    • ♦Eminent Domain Proceedings
  • ►9. TxDOT Lands
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►10. LPA As Acquiring Agent
    • ♦Procedure
• ►11. ROW Acquisition of Federal Lands
  • ►1. Regulations Governing Acquisition of Federal Lands
    • ♦Overview
  • ►2. Acquisition Procedures for Federal Lands (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
    • ♦Functional Replacement of Real Property
    • ♦Federal Land Transfers
    • ♦Property Adjustment Work on Federal Lands (by State)
    • ♦Forest Service Lands
    • ♦Lands under Jurisdiction of Corps of Engineers
    • ♦Lands under Jurisdiction of Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
    • ♦Lands under Jurisdiction of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  • ►3. Acquisition Procedures for Federal Lands (for LPA)
    • ♦General
    • ♦Property Adjustment Work on Federal Lands (by LPA)
• ►12. ROW Acquisition of County or City Property
  • ►1. For State and LPA
    • ♦Authority
    • ♦General
  • ►2. Acquisition of Property for LPA Exchange
    • ♦Authority
  • ►3. Acquisition of Replacement Lands (Federally funded projects)
    • ♦For State and LPA
• ►13. Instruments of Conveyance for On-System Projects
  • ►1. General Requirements for Proper Conveyance
    • ♦Requirements
  • ►2. Standard Conveyance Forms
    • ♦Procedure
    • ♦Special Clause for Reserving Minerals
    • ♦Use of Correction Deeds
    • ♦Special Warranty Deeds
    • ♦Possession and Use Agreement
    • ♦Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
• ►14. Special Clauses for Conveyance Instruments
  • ►1. Overview
    • ♦Policy (for State and LPA)
  • ►2. Approved Special Clauses for Use in Conveyance Instruments
    • ♦Use of Clauses (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Retention of Improvements
    • ♦Appointment of Single Payee or Attorney-in-Fact
    • ♦Bisected Improvements
    • ♦Stock Pass and other Pass Privileges
    • ♦Special Mineral Clause
    • ♦Retention of Private Right
    • ♦Conflict of Title and Encroaching Improvements (for State)
    • ♦Conflict of Title and Encroaching Improvements (for LPA)
    • ♦Temporary Right of Occupancy
    • ♦Exceptions to Title
• ►15. Title Requirements and Title Insurance
  • ►1. Title Requirements: Policy Regarding Title to be Acquired (for State or LPA)
    • ♦Overview
  • ►2. Title Insurance Requirements (for State)
    • ♦General
  • ►3. Title Insurance Requirements (for LPA)
    • ♦General
  • ►4. Title Insurance Requirements: Donations, Taxes (for State and LPA)
    • ♦General Requirements for Lands Acquired
    • ♦Donated Parcels
    • ♦Past Due or Delinquent Taxes
    • ♦Current Taxes
    • ♦Hotel/Motel Occupancy Taxes
  • ►5. Curative Work and Acceptable Title Insurance Commitment and Title Insurance Policy Exceptions
    • ♦Curative Work
    • ♦Liens, Defects, and Encumbrances
    • ♦Restrictive Covenants
    • ♦Restrictions
    • ♦Survey Exceptions
    • ♦Tax Exceptions
    • ♦Easement Exceptions
    • ♦Public Utility Easements Exceptions
    • ♦Lease and Private Rights Exceptions
    • ♦Mineral Exceptions
    • ♦Retention of Improvements
    • ♦Other Property Interests
    • ♦Rights of Parties in Possession
  • ►6. Approved Title Insurance Companies
    • ♦General
  • ►7. Procuring Title Data
    • ♦General
  • ►8. Title Insurance Policy Commitments
    • ♦General
  • ►9. Title Insurance Policies
    • ♦For State
    • ♦For LPA
  • ►10. Fees for Title Services
    • ♦General
  • ►11. Certificates Required of Title Insurance Companies
    • ♦General
  • ►12. Closing by Title Insurance Company
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►13. Title Insurance Company’s Closing Statement
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►14. Recording of Legal Instruments
    • ♦Procedure (for State)
    • ♦Procedure (for LPA)
  • ►15. Escrow Services by Title Insurance Company
    • ♦Procedure
• ►16. Hazardous Materials
  • ►1. List of Terms Used in this Chapter
    • ♦CERCLA
  • ►2. TxDOT Objectives in Regard to Hazardous Materials
    • ♦Preventative or Corrective Action
    • ♦Cost Recovery
    • ♦Objectives
    • ♦Standard Operating Procedure
  • ►3. Procedure Overview
    • ♦Overview
  • ►4. Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Systems (PUSTS)
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Systems Treated as Personal Property
    • ♦Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Systems Treated as Real Property
  • ►5. Asbestos in Buildings
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Management
  • ►6. Hazardous Waste Contamination
    • ♦CERCLA Immunity
• ►17. Environmental Covenants for Contaminated Property
  • ►1. Background
    • ♦Background
    • ♦Definition of an Environmental Covenant
    • ♦Purpose of an Environmental Covenant
    • ♦Roles and Responsibilities for Coordinating an Environmental Covenant
    • ♦General Overview
  • ►2. Federal and State Corrective Action Standards
    • ♦Standards
  • ►3. TxDOT Standards
    • ♦Standards
  • ►4. TxDOT Documentation Requirements
    • ♦Requirements
  • ►5. Notice Requirements
    • ♦Notice Requirements
    • ♦Notice Language Requirements
    • ♦Notice Submission Requirements
    • ♦Review of Public Comments
  • ►6. Environmental Covenant Information
    • ♦Environmental Covenant Information
  • ►7. Texas Transportation Commission Review
    • ♦TTC Review
  • ►8. Entering the Environmental Covenant
    • ♦Entering the Environmental Covenant
  • ►9. Zoning or Land Use Controls by Local Governments
    • ♦Local Government Controls
  • ►10. Cost Recovery for Third Party Environmental Covenants
    • ♦Cost Recovery
  • ►11. Tracking the Environmental Covenant for Future Reference
    • ♦Tracking the Covenant
• ►18. General Payment Policies and Procedures for State and LPA
  • ►1. General Payment Policy
    • ♦Overview
  • ►2. Refund to State Based on Final Judgment
    • ♦Overview
  • ►3. Billings for Fee Appraisers, Technical Experts, and Expert Witnesses
    • ♦Payment for Appraisals for Negotiation Purposes (for State)
    • ♦Payment for Appraisers' Eminent Domain Services (for State)
    • ♦Payment for Appraisers' Eminent Domain Services (for LPA)
    • ♦Payment for Appraisals for Design Purposes
    • ♦Payment of Expert Witness
    • ♦Payment of Technical Expert
  • ►4. Payment Submissions for Negotiated Parcels (for State)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►5. Payment Procedures for Negotiated Parcels (for LPA)
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►6. Payment When Escrow Procedure is Used
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►7. Payment for Recording Instruments of Conveyance
    • ♦Procedure
  • ►8. Payments for Leasehold Interests (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Payment Procedure When Leasehold and Fee Interests Are Negotiated
  • ►9. Payment for Title Work
    • ♦Payment for Title Insurance Company Expenses (for State and LPA)
  • ►10. Payment and Pay Procedures for LPA Acquisition
    • ♦Overview
  • ►11. State Reimbursement for LPA Acquired Right of Way
    • ♦LPA's Requests for Reimbursement
    • ♦LPA Reimbursement Forms
  • ►12. Submission for Reimbursement of Right of Way Fencing
    • ♦Lump Sum
    • ♦Actual Cost
• ►19. Incidental Expenses on Transfer of Real Property
  • ►1. General Requirements (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Requirements for State and LPA
    • ♦Additional Requirements (for LPA)
    • ♦Recording and Transfer Fees (for State and LPA)
    • ♦Mortgage Prepayment Penalty (for State and LPA)
    • ♦State Responsibility for Making Payment
    • ♦Payment Requests
• ►20. Railroads
  • ►1. Terms Used in This Chapter
    • ♦Terms
  • ►2. Purpose
    • ♦Purpose of Chapter
  • ►3. Acquisition of Abandoned Railroad Interests
    • ♦Definition of Abandonment
    • ♦Basic Acquisition Procedures
    • ♦Acquisition by Eminent Domain
  • ►4. Acquisition of Operating Railroad Interests
    • ♦Competing Public Interests
    • ♦STB Requirements
    • ♦Limitations on Use of Eminent Domain
  • ►5. Railroad Agreements
    • ♦Overview
    • ♦Crossing Agreements
    • ♦Longitudinal Agreements
  • ►6. Railroad Relocation Procedures
    • ♦Overview

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Manual Notice: 2025-1

From: Kyle Madsen, Right of Way Division Director

Manual: ROW Acquisition Manual

Effective Date: January 24, 2025

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Purpose

This revision incorporates an address change by the Texas Department of Transportation’s Finance Division.

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Changes

Chapter 18 - Updated addressing information for checks submitted to the Finance Division in the case of a Refund to State Based on Final Judgment

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Disclaimer

Some hyperlinks will not work when a PDF version of this manual is downloaded and used offline.

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Contact

Lezlie Kirby, Right of Way Project Delivery Section Director, 512.416.2868

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Archives

Past manual notices are available in a pdf archive.