MN HF124

Road authorities may not mow or till highway rights-of-way outside cities except to maintain the first eight feet from the road surface at any time, or for safety reasons with a 12-inch minimum height restriction.

An entire right-of-way may be mowed only from August 1 to August 31, except when necessary to maintain sight distance or for other safety reasons, which may occur at other times under commissioner rules or local ordinance.

The commissioner is prohibited from requiring permits for or establishing limitations on mowing or haying of trunk highway rights-of-way.

Adjacent landowners or occupants may mow or hay trunk highway rights-of-way without notice to the commissioner, but the commissioner may restrict mowing within freeway rights-of-way, construction project areas, or areas with prohibited noxious weeds.

Road authorities are encouraged to use low-maintenance native vegetation in rights-of-way to reduce mowing needs while providing wildlife habitat and maintaining public safety.