Your property ends where?

A visit this morning with a mapper in the McHenry County Office of Assessments clarified where the property owner's lot ends and also garnered some information about just who is responsible for sidewalks and the parkway.

Examination of some maps of local Woodstock addresses showed that the owner's lot generally(there are exceptions, of course, as to everything) extends to, but does not include, the sidewalk and the parkway (the grass between the sidewalk and the street).

But in "subdivisions" (and subdivisions are not just neatly categories as the new developments) and municipalities, you can expect rules that make it the homeowner's responsibility to keep the sidewalk in good repair and to keep the grass cut on the parkway. Sidewalk repairs might be eligible for a program similar to Woodstock's 50%-50% program that gets offered from time-to-time. I looked up one address of a house built 70 years ago, and it was in a "subdivision". All subdivision means is that a larger parcel was subdivided.

And there might be times when the City is on the hook for the entire cost. Don't give up too easily when you get told that you are going to pay for it.

The sidewalk and parkway get included in what the planner called a "road easement", which is the width of the street and the parkway/sidewalk. That "road easement" belongs to the City but does not excuse you from maintaining the portion in front of your property.

If you want to know your obligations regarding sidewalk and parkway, call the Community Development Department at Woodstock City Hall (or a similar department in your community).