The vacation of a public way is the process of discontinuing public use and returning dedicated public right-of-way to private property.  Upon discontinuance, the right-of-way reverts to the owners of the adjoining land where the discontinued land originated or is equally divided between the owners on either side of the centerline of the discontinued public way, depending upon the origins, or original platting, of the land(s).

NOTE: the final determination of where the land(s) revert to is made by the County of La Crosse.  This is not subject to recommendation or influence by the City of La Crosse.

See statutory requirements (§66.1003, Wis. Stats) and the City’s process.

• Right-of-Way Vacation Application
• Fact Sheet

 
Send completed applications to:

Engineering Department
400 La Crosse St.
La Crosse, WI 54601
engineering@cityoflacrosse.org
Fax: (608) 789-8184

Fact Sheet

When is an application needed?

An application is required to begin the formal process of any vacation of any portion of a public way (street, alley, pedestrian mall, etc.).

This does not cover or include the declaration and/or sale of surplus lands, which is a different process.

Application Fees

A non-refundable fee is required for a private party or interest to initiate the vacation process.

• A partial (1/2 or less) vacation of a street or alley portion, is $750.
• A full vacation of a street or alley, $1,500.

Regulations

Municipal Code