MAT Information Library:

Township Roads

Townships are proud to maintain more than 55,000 miles of safe roads across Minnesota.

See Township Road Maintenance in Action – Turtle Lake Township
Watch a short video highlighting road equipment and the road maintenance process in Turtle Lake Township in Cass County.

MAT Township Road Documents

TR 0050 – Overview of Township Roads and Statutory References
Overview of common township road terms and Minnesota statutes related to the regulation, administration and maintenance of township roads. (4 pages) (Revised: October 2024)

TR 1000 – Minimum Maintenance Roads
Explains minimum maintenance roads, how a township makes the designation and issues town boards should consider when determining the appropriate level of maintenance for these roads. (9 pages) (Revised: October 2024)

TR 2000 – Property Owner Obligations for Road Ditches
Discusses township authority under Minnesota Statutes § 366.015 to make property owners responsible for mowing and removing rocks from road ditches adjacent to their property. Includes sample forms. (7 pages with sample forms) (Revised: October 2024)

TR 2500 – Property Owner Obligation to Remove Snow or Ice
Discusses township authority under Minnesota Statutes § 366.016 to make property owners who place snow or ice onto a road or right-of-way responsible for removing it. Includes sample forms. (13 pages with sample forms) (Revised: October 2024)

TR 3000 – Recording Township Roads
Reviews the legal background and methods available for recording existing township roads, including the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods. (17 pages) (Revised: October 2024)

TR 4000 – Creation and Extinguishment of Township Roads
Explains the various legal methods used to create, alter, vacate or otherwise extinguish a township road. Includes worksheets outlining the procedures involved with each method. (14 pages) (Revised: June 2025)

Town officers who need only a particular procedure may use the individual TR 4000 worksheets and sample documents below:

TR 4000A – Checklist and Sample Documents for Establishing, Altering or Vacating Roads
Worksheet and sample documents outlining the procedures involved in establishing, altering or vacating township roads.

TR 4000B – Accepting Dedication of Land for a Township Road
Worksheet and supporting materials for a township considering acceptance of dedicated land for use as a township road.

TR 4000C – Accepting a Platted Road for Maintenance by the Township
Guidance and sample materials for formally accepting a platted road for maintenance by the township.

TR 4000D – Extinguishing a Township’s Interest in an Abandoned Road
Worksheet outlining the process for extinguishing a township’s interest in a road considered abandoned.

TR 4000E – Application to Dedicate Land for a Township Road
Application and supporting materials for dedicating land for use as a township road.

TR 5000 – Is This a Township Road?
Flowchart and accompanying descriptions that walk town officials through the considerations involved in determining whether a particular road was created as a township road or subsequently lost its status as a township road. (4 pages) (Revised: October 2024)

TR 6000 – Tree and Vegetation Control
Outlines Minnesota statutes and other considerations involving roadside mowing, weed control, tree trimming, tree removal and other vegetation management within township road rights-of-way. (10 pages) (Revised: May 2022)

TR 7000 – Resolution to Place 35 MPH Speed Limit Signs
Sample resolution for a town board choosing to post a 35 MPH speed limit on qualifying town roads located within a rural residential district. (1 page) (Revised: May 2020)

TR 7500 – Resolution to Place 25 MPH Speed Limit Signs
Sample resolution for a town board choosing to post a 25 MPH speed limit on qualifying town roads located within a rural residential district. (1 page) (Revised: October 2022)

TR 8000 – Resolution Reaffirming Minimum Maintenance Road Designations
Sample resolution used to reconfirm existing minimum maintenance road designations when the original resolutions establishing those designations are difficult to locate. (1 page) (Revised: May 2020)

TR 9000 – Ditches and Drainage
Reviews disputes that can arise over surface water and drainage and discusses statutes town boards should consider when resolving drainage issues or performing work in township road ditches. (4 pages) (Revised: August 2025)

TR 11000 – Resolution for a Town Line Road Agreement
Sample resolution townships can use to establish an agreement regarding the division of maintenance responsibilities for a town line road. (3 pages) (Revised: September 2025)

TR 12000 – Cartways Worksheet
Explains cartways, the circumstances under which they may be created and their relationship to the township road establishment process discussed in TR 4000. (13 pages) (Revised: November 2023)

TR 12500 – Cartway Proceedings
Detailed guide walking town officials through the typical steps of a cartway proceeding, beginning with the initial inquiry and continuing through the filing of final documents establishing the cartway. (43 pages) (Revised: October 2005)

TR 13000 – Culverts and Approaches
Brief overview of Minnesota law addressing responsibility for the cost of culverts and approaches associated with township roads. (2 pages) (Revised: September 2025)

TR 15000A – Sample Snow Removal Policy – Township Employees and Equipment
Sample resolution for townships that use their own personnel and equipment for snowplowing. Boards should customize the policy to fit local circumstances and should use it only if they intend to require consistent compliance with its provisions. (9 pages) (Revised: September 2025)

TR 15000B – Sample Snow Removal Policy – Contracted Snowplowing Services
Sample resolution for townships that contract for snowplowing services. Boards should customize the policy to fit local circumstances and should use it only if they intend to require the contractor to comply with its provisions. (8 pages) (Revised: September 2025)

TR 16000 – Resolution to Temporarily Close a Township Road
Sample resolution a town board can use to temporarily close certain township roads during the winter. (1 page) (Revised: September 2025)

TR 17000 – Voter Authorization for Manure Line Regulation
Explains the voters’ authority to authorize a town board to regulate the placement of pressurized flexible force mains, commonly called manure lines. Includes a sample resolution for use at the Annual Town Meeting. (2 pages) (Created: November 2020)

TR 18000 – Township Road History Form
Sample form designed to standardize and simplify recordkeeping regarding the history, status and maintenance of township roads. (1 page) (Revised: November 2023)

TR 19000 – Town Line Roads
Explains statutory obligations involving roads located along township boundaries or crossing from one township into another. (3 pages) (Created: May 2023)

TR 20000 – Sample Parking Ordinance
Sample ordinance designed to give townships a legal framework for regulating parking and towing vehicles or other obstructions from township roads. (4 pages) (Revised: January 2025)

TR 21000 – Sample Right-of-Way Violation Notice
Sample notice a township can use to inform a landowner of an obstruction or other violation of right-of-way protection requirements and identify the corrective action required by the township. (2 pages) (Created: September 2023)