Private streets exist in many forms in the City of Bloomington. They include educational institutions, corporate headquarters, trailer courts, multi-family apartment complexes, and single-family neighborhoods. In general, these private streets do not meet the street design standards outlined by the City Code and the Manual of Practice.

Private streets in single-family neighborhoods are typically managed by a homeowners' association, which is a type of community association. Some of the private streets in single-family neighborhoods were built more than 30 years ago, and they're beginning to deteriorate. The Engineering Department is developing a list of resources and a set of tools in order to specifically assist those who manage private streets in single-family neighborhoods. However, the information could assist any residents, property owners, and/or businesses owners who wish to learn more about maintaining or repairing private streets. Additional tools and resources will be added as they become available.

Training Options

Multiple options exist that allow community association board members and managers to learn more about best practices for running a community association. Although not required for unpaid managers, Community Association Manager training and licensing can be invaluable for managing a community association. Training can include information about increasing revenue, financial management, maintaining streets and facilities, dispute resolution, analyzing risk, the roles of rules and regulations, and Illinois-specific laws. For more information about training programs offered in Illinois, please click here to visit the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) page for Community Association Management.

Private Street Dedication

The City of Bloomington has received some requests from private street owners for the City to take over maintenance and repair responsibilities for a private street, which would make it a public street. However, the City of Bloomington will not accept a private street as a public street unless it meets the street design standards outlined in the City Code and Manual of Practice.

In general, the short-term cost of meeting these standards would far exceed any short-term maintenance or repair costs, which is why the City has offered the above educational resources instead. To find out if the street meets design standards, please see the following documents:

• Street Design Standards from Bloomington City Code
• Street Design Standards from City of Bloomington Manual of Practice

If you would like to pursue offering your street to the City for maintenance, you will need to perform at least the following basic steps: 

1. Retain the services of a Professional Engineer (at your expense) to prepare a revised Preliminary Plan showing reconstructing the street to meet City standards (30-foot-wide from face of curb to face of curb), constructing a four-foot-wide side-walk on each side of the street and dedicating a public right-of-way (60 feet wide).
2. Petition for approval of the Preliminary Plan (usually petitioners retain the services of an attorney for this, at their expense) with a public hearing before the Planning Commission and approval by the City Council.
3. Retain the services of a Professional Engineer (at your expense) to prepare construction plans for the proposed public improvements. A 2% plan review and inspection fee will be charged you by the Engineering Department.
4. Retain the services of contractor (at your expense) to construct all necessary public improvements such as street widening, sidewalk. etc.
5. Retain the services of a Registered Land Surveyor (at your expense) to prepare a Final Plat dedicating the public right-of-way.
6. Petition the City Council for approval of the Final Plat (usually petitioners retain the services of an attorney for this, at their expense). Upon approval, submit a performance guarantee for 110% of the cost of any uncompleted public improvements (at your expense).
7. Submit a Final Development Plan for the revised PUD to the City for approval.

Upon recording of the Final Plat, acceptance of the Final Development Plan and acceptance of the completed improvements by the City, the street would become public and thereafter be maintained by the City.

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