Street Assessments

In 2015, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners established a policy for the improvement and assessment for publicly dedicated subdivision streets pursuant to Article 9 of Chapter 153A of the North Carolina General Statutes. The policy established the procedures by which property owners could petition the County to make street improvements and assess property owners the cost of improvements. Seventy-five percent of the owners who own at least 75% of the lineal feet in the subdivision must be included on the petition in order for the County to undertake the project. After construction concludes, the streets would be accepted into the NC Department of Transportation Secondary Road System and be maintained by the state. The costs of the project are divided equally among all lots and an assessment is placed on the property. The assessment can be paid in full within 30 days of the conclusion of the project without interest or paid over the course of 10 years with 5% interest as part of the property tax bill. The assessment applies to all properties regardless of whether the owner joined the initial petition.

View the General Statute on road improvements

View the Wayne County policy for road improvement and assessment

Eagle Ridge Subdivision


Residents of the Eagle Ridge Subdivision submitted a street improvement petition to the County in 2016. At that time, the petition contained the statutory required 75% of owners needed to qualify for a street improvement project. The petition was received behind the North Creek and Canterbury Subdivision making it the next subdivision eligible following completion of the North Creek project. On March 1, 2022, the Board of Commissioners received preliminary construction estimates for the Eagle Ridge Subdivision and voted to proceed with the street improvement project. The County needs to confirm that the petition still meets the 75% statutory threshold before moving forward with soliciting construction bids.

The preliminary project cost estimate for the 32 lots in the Eagle Ridge subdivision is $475,147.14. This equates to an approximate assessment of $14,848.35 per lot. This figure is only an estimate and will likely change once formal construction bids are received. It also does not include other costs associated with the project such as legal fees, mailing costs, and miscellaneous engineering fees. A final assessment will not be determined until the petition is recertified and construction bids are received. Owners may choose to pay the assessment in full with no interest or in ten annual installments with interest.

Information has been mailed to all applicable property owners inside Eagle Ridge Subdivision. If you wish to add or remove yourself from the petition, the mailer must be returned no later than April 1, 2022. All registered property owners must sign the mailer. If no response is made, the petition status of the property will remain unchanged from the 2016 petition. The Clerk to the Board will then determine if the petition still meets the 75% threshold to continue. A resident's decision to join the petition is not final and may be changed at any time prior to the Board of Commissioners confirming a preliminary assessment roll and approving construction contracts. The County will not move forward with street improvements if the petition drops below the 75% mark before approval of the preliminary assessment. The County will hold a community meeting and public hearings before any action is taken on a preliminary assessment roll.

Click here for a list of properties and petition responses for Eagle Ridge Subdivision (As of 4/11/22)

Click here for a copy of the letter sent to Eagle Ridge property owners

Lane Tree Subdivision


Residents of the Lane Tree Subdivision submitted a street improvement petition to the County in 2016. At that time, the petition contained the statutory required 75% of residents needed to qualify for a street improvement project. The petition was received second behind the North Creek and Canterbury Subdivision making it the next subdivision eligible following completion of the No1th Creek project. On March 1, 2022, the Board of Commissioners received preliminary construction estimates for the Lane Tree Subdivision and voted to proceed with the street improvement project. The County needs to confirm that the petition still meets the 75% statutory threshold before moving forward with soliciting construction bids. 

The preliminary project cost estimate for the 342 lots in the Lane Tree subdivision is $4,921,669.58. This equates to an approximate assessment of $14,390.85 per lot. This figure is only an estimate and will likely change once formal construction bids are received. It also does not include other costs associated with the project such as legal fees, mailing costs, and miscellaneous engineering fees. A final assessment will not be determined until the petition is recertified and construction bids are received. Owners may choose to pay the assessment in full with no interest or in ten annual installments with interest.

Information has been mailed to all applicable property owners inside Lane Tree Subdivision. If you wish to add or remove yourself from the petition, the mailer must be returned no later than April 1, 2022. All registered property owners must sign the mailer. If no response is made, the petition status of the property will remain unchanged from the 2016 petition. The Clerk to the Board will then determine if the petition still meets the 75% threshold to continue. A resident's decision to join the petition is not final and may be changed at any time prior to the Board of Commissioners confirming a preliminary assessment roll and approving construction contracts. The County will not move forward with street improvements if the petition drops below the 75% mark before approval of the preliminary assessment. The County will hold a community meeting and public hearings before any action is taken on a preliminary assessment roll.

Click here for a list of properties and petition responses for Lane Tree Subdivision (As of 4/11/22) 

Click here for a copy of the letter sent to Lane Tree property owners

  1. What is the Wayne County Street Assessment Program?
  2. Can the County repair roads without issuing assessments?
  3. What is the process for a subdivision to submit a petition for consideration?
  4. Who is required to sign the petition and how many signatures are required?
  5. How are projects decided upon?
  6. What is the process for a project?
  7. Can a resident remove or add their property to the petition after the initial petition has been submitted?
  8. Are properties which opted out of the petition still included in the assessment?
  9. How is the amount of the assessment determined?
  10. When do assessments have to be repaid?
  11. How are assessments paid if the resident chooses the 10-year repayment option?
  12. Can a resident pay an assessment early?
  13. Will my mortgage company collect the assessments into my escrow similar to property taxes?
  14. Who maintains the roads after improvements are completed?
  15. What happens to the assessment lien if I were to sale my house within the 10-year repayment period?
View All FAQs