(a) Any Class 7 or 8 municipality in this state may adopt a rural scenic right-of-way plan for the development, improvement, and use of right-of-way along municipal roads and streets and county roads within the corporate limits and police jurisdiction of the municipality except right-of-way, highways, streets, or roads that are under exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction of the Alabama Department of Transportation. Pursuant to the plan, the municipality may designate right-of-way adjacent to a municipal road or street or a county road to be developed, improved, and used for recreational or beautification purposes. Any portion of a road designated shall continue for at least three miles in length and may not at the time of designation have an average density of two or more commercial enterprises that have an entrance or exit on the road per mile. The path of the right-of-way along a street or road included in the plan may cross another street, road, or state highway. The establishment of a rural scenic right-of-way plan and the inclusion of any right-of-way of a county road shall be subject to approval of the county commission where any road included in the plan is located. In addition, any development and improvement within the rights-of-way along any county road shall be approved by the county commission. Any municipality establishing a rural scenic right-of-way plan shall be solely responsible for the development, maintenance, and use of the right-of-way included in the plan. The county shall not be responsible for the development, maintenance, access, or use of any right-of-way included in the plan, and shall not be liable for any damages to property or persons utilizing the right-of-way. A county may contribute financially to the implementation and development of the plan. No municipality or county shall be liable for any damages to any person using any right-of-way that is a part of the plan.
(b) Nothing in this section shall in any way limit, restrict, or otherwise impact the ability of any electric supplier to maintain, repair, expand, construct, reconstruct, or relocate any facility or equipment used in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electric power or any communication service provider to maintain, repair, expand, construct, reconstruct, or relocate facilities or equipment for telecommunications, commercial mobile radio services, broadband services, or other wireless services within the public rights-of-way along, adjacent to, or surrounding any road, street, or highway included within this section; nor shall the placement of any such facilities or equipment be subject to approval by a county commission. No electric supplier or communication services provider shall be subject to increased liability resulting from the adoption by any county or municipality of a rural scenic right-of-way plan.
Last modified: May 3, 2021