Can I fill in the ditch and plant trees in front of my property?

If there is a ditch along the road in front of your property you should not fill it in even if it doesn’t drain water along the road. The purpose of roadside ditches is to prevent water from pooling on the roadway during or after a storm, to provide an area for snow plowing operations, and to lower the water table beneath the roadbed. Filling in even a fairly shallow roadside ditch can cause serious damage to the road and pavement from frost heave, and from the lack of positive drainage.

Please do not plant trees or shrubs that may become a vision obstruction or that may grow into a large fixed object that presents danger to motorists anywhere inside the road right of way. Trees and ornamental plantings should be set back at least 33 feet from the center of the road which in most cases will place them outside of the road right of way and protect them from traffic damage.

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1. How do I submit a service request?
2. Where does the Road Commission get its operating funds?
3. Does increased driving mean more gas tax revenue?
4. What causes potholes?
5. My vehicle was damaged due to the condition of a road - is the Road Commission going to pay for it?
6. How can I get my road paved?
7. Can I fill in the ditch and plant trees in front of my property?
8. Why do you spread all that tar and gravel on the paved roads? There was nothing wrong with the road and now it is a mess?
9. How can I get my gravel road graded?
10. How can I get chloride applied to my gravel road?
11. Why is my road always the last one plowed after a snowstorm?
12. Why do the snow plows push the snow back into my driveway after I shovel?
13. What should be kept in mind when shoveling/plowing driveways?
14. A road commission snow plow knocked down my mailbox, what now?
15. What are weight restrictions?
16. Is the Muskegon County Road Commission responsible for state highways?
17. The street light is out by my house, who do I call?