Kansas Department Of Transportation
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KDOT Right of Way is responsible for acquiring the land necessary for transportation projects. This includes everything from property appraisal and negotiation to providing relocation assistance. The bureau is also responsible for disposing of property no longer needed for highway purposes and administering the Highway Beautification Program.
Here, you’ll find all the information you need about acquiring land for transportation projects. Whether you’re a property owner, developer, or simply curious about how KDOT manages land acquisition, resources are available.
KDOT Right of Way includes the following:
Surveys
The survey section provides design survey information for the development of highway projects. They also provide recorded information, support and guidance to the professional surveying and engineering companies working on behalf of the agency.
- Kansas Land Survey Records
- Kansas Regional Coordinate System
- Kansas Society of Land Surveyors
- Kansas State Board of Technical Professions
- National Geodetic Survey Datasheet
- Imaging & Geospatial Information Society
Engineering
Right of Way Engineering includes researching public records to gather information about the land, conducting land surveys to determine existing boundaries, determining what property is needed for a project based on the design, and then preparing the necessary legal descriptions for those properties.
KDOT land records are archived and available to the public upon request.
- Specify the types of records you are looking for (e.g. plans and deeds; plans only; deed only).
- Provide location information including the county, highway (route number), section, township, and range.
Fees are charged for providing this research and information. Requestors will be charged $40 per hour of labor required to fulfill the request. Additional charges for postage may apply.
Appraisal
When property is needed for a highway project, KDOT’s appraisal section is responsible for inspecting the property with the owner or their designee and determining the compensation to offer based on an appraisal process. The section also prepares appraisals for properties no longer needed for highway purposes.
KDOT contracts with agents to do appraisal work. If you are interested in becoming a contracted appraisal agent for the Bureau of Right of Way, please fill out an application form.
Acquisition
The acquisition section is responsible for presenting written offers of just compensation to property owners and negotiating the purchase of land needed for highway right of way. KDOT’s acquisition brochure provides an overview of the process while the manual provides more detailed information.
Relocation
The relocation section provides assistance and benefits to people and businesses displaced by highway projects.
Properties and Structures for Sale
Property Sales
KDOT’s Right of Way Inventory and Disposal (RID) section handles the disposal of land that the agency no longer needs.
Freestanding tracts are those that can be built on or used as separate parcels and are sold by auction or sealed bid. Non-freestanding tracts are sold to neighboring landowners.
KDOT has no properties currently for sale. When properties do become available, they will be listed here.
Structure Sales
When KDOT buys structures like houses or outbuildings for highway projects, the original landowner might have the option to keep and remove the structure. If they choose not to, KDOT’s Property Management Section can sell the structure to the public. These sales can happen through sealed bids, on-site auctions, or off-site auctions, with on-site auctions being the preferred method.
Auction notices are published in the Kansas Register and local newspapers.
KDOT has no structures currently available for auction. When structures do become available, they will be listed here.
If you want to be notified by mail about upcoming auctions, send your name, mailing address, daytime phone number, and the KDOT districts you're interested in to:
About a week before an auction, the structure(s) will be open for public inspection, with an agent available to answer questions. They will also be available for inspection about 30 minutes before the auction starts.
Full payment is due on the day of the sale by cashier's check. Arrangements will be made at the end of the sale for the successful bidder to get the cashier's check. Once received, KDOT will provide a bill of sale.
KDOT has general requirements for the removal of structures. Specific requirements are determined on a case-by-case basis and are usually available three weeks before the auction and will also be available during the inspection and auction.
Beautification
Information on applying for outdoor advertising or salvage yard permits along Kansas highways.
Environmental
Environmental Services conducts studies and investigations to address environmental concerns related to KDOT activities and manages acquiring necessary permits. This includes areas such as traffic noise, air quality, historical and archaeological sites, wildlife, water quality, farmland preservation, wetlands, and hazardous waste. This section is also responsible for landscape design and roadside vegetation for projects, as well as the design of roadside rest areas.