MDOT's Adopt-A-Landscape program provides an avenue for individuals, organizations, or businesses to help maintain sections of roadside within Michigan's highway system. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of cleaner and more beautiful roadsides, participants help to prevent potential pollutants from entering our waterways and save countless Michigan taxpayer dollars every year.
Learn more about the Adopt-A-Landscape program.
Your time and effort, it’s that easy! Participants may choose to do perform one or more of the following activities:
If vegetation exists that would now or through normal growth in the future obstruct the face of a commercial billboard, the permit applicant and the adjacent property owner(s) must agree in writing that a commercial billboard will not be placed on property adjacent to or impacted by the Adopt-a-Landscape location for a period of 20 years. Specifically, the Adopt-a-Landscape program can not be used to create locations for or improve the visibility of commercial billboards.
Yes, there is a minimal permit fee based on the size and scale of the area being adopted. Volunteer groups/organizations may perform Adopt-a-Landscape activities and be charged a discounted permit fee or even have the fee waived in some cases. Participating groups generally provide for all costs, materials, labor, and equipment necessary for the project.
MDOT will supply the following items free of charge:
Just about any group, business or individual may perform the work with your own volunteers or hire a contractor to perform the work on your behalf. There are limitations to the types of work and locations where volunteers may work.
If volunteers are to be used, the application must include a list identifying sufficient numbers of volunteers to complete the scope of work within an acceptable time period.
Depending on the adoption site and subject to MDOT approval, minors aged 16 and older may participate. Groups including minors must have at least one adult supervisor aged 21 or older for every three minors aged 16 and above.
Note: Commercial sign owners are prohibited from participating in the Adopt-A-Landscape Program and must comply with Public Act 106 of 1972.
Adoptions for locations inside of rest areas require a one year commitment. However, adoptions for locations outside of rest areas require a five year commitment. You may extend the agreement provided that you (or your contractor) have satisfactorily met the terms of the permit and the site remains suitable for adoption. You may not transfer your permit to another organization.
Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. You may wish to contact your TSC construction permit agent or consider adopting another location.
Adopt-A-Landscape acknowledgement signs may be provided by MDOT to recognize an adopting group’s contributions.
The sign's wording, size, color, font style, placement, and any subsequent modifications shall be solely determined and approved by MDOT. All signs must adhere to Federal Highway Administration guidelines.
Signs may not be provided for various types of projects. Examples where signs will not be provided include, but are not limited to:
Although there is inherent advertising value in Adopt-A-Landscape signs, the sign is not intended to be an advertising medium. The purpose of the sign is to recognize who is providing the adoption service, not what sponsors do or where they are located. Product names, logos, slogans, phone or fax numbers, e-mail or URLs, or directions are not permitted on recognition panels.
An individual permit and special provisions is your contract with MDOT. The permit authorizes you to perform specific tasks on a designated section of the state's right of way for a one-year period. The permit also includes safety measures that must be followed.
Yes. Violation of any of the provisions of your permit could result in its cancellation. You, or MDOT, may cancel the permit anytime you are unable to meet the permit requirements. MDOT may cancel or temporarily suspend permits for safety reasons, such as construction in your adopted area or lack of maintenance.
Yes. However, permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. First-time permit applicants may be restricted in the number of permits issued. Once a permit applicant has an excellent performance history, there will be no restrictions on the number of permits issued.
Most roadside locations within Michigan’s highway system have potential for being adopted. MDOT personnel carefully review permit applications and requested locations in order to determine whether, or not, they are suitable.
Typical questions asked during a review are:
Once a site is reviewed, it shall be classified as either suitable or not suitable for adoption.
An important note about safety: Safety is our number-one concern at MDOT. Participants must attend a safety meeting and each group must have a safety leader. Unless otherwise notified, MDOT considers the person who signed the Adopt-A-Landscape permit application to be the group's designated safety leader.
For a full list of safety-related concerns, see the Adopt-a-Landscape Safety Requirement/Acknowledgement (Form 3735). Participants must realize that they will be working in a potentially hazardous environment and agree to follow all safety requirements. Copies of the safety requirements and safety handouts can be downloaded from our MDOT website.
Yes. A valid certificate of insurance shall be on file with MDOT for the duration of the permit and license agreement.
Depending on the scale of the project, a bond may be required.
In 2005, The Michigan State Transportation Commission formally adopted a Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) process as an integrated part of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) mission to provide the highest quality integrated transportation services for economic benefit and improved quality of life. Under CSS, MDOT solicits dialogue with local governments, road commissions, industry groups, land use advocates, and state agencies early in a project's planning phase. This dialogue helps to ensure that interchanges bridges, bike paths and other transportation projects “fit” into their communities. The CSS approach results in projects that respect a community's scenic, aesthetic, historic, economic, and environmental character.
It is necessary that Adopt-A-Landscape applicants notify, and if necessary engage property owners/stakeholders who are impacted by the proposed site adoption. The level of engagement and type of information required for each application will vary with the size, location, and level of adoption activity. The TSC construction permit staff can help determine the necessary level of engagement and documentation needed to permit the adoption of the landscape area.
Yes, we encourage you to use the same site plan documents - as approved by your city - along with the city’s approval letter, when applying for the MDOT permit. This will save you time and costs and will reduce MDOT’s review and approval time.
There are two options available for the applicant in this situation.
MDOT only issues Adopt-A-Landscape permits to municipalities when hardscape items or high maintenance items are included in the permit application. Rest areas are under the jurisdiction of MDOT, therefore MDOT acts as the municipality in this instance.
Volunteer groups may participate in this program just like any other agency or group. They also have the option of working directly with a Local governmental maintenance agency (under their contract/agreement) if they are undertaking a regular maintenance activity.
Examples of regular maintenance activities are flowers in a rest area or flowers behind the curb in a city along a state highway.
The following are the requirements when a Master Gardener’s club is the applicant:
To initiate the process, Master Gardener Clubs need to submit the following documents electronically with an Individual Permit application in the Construction Permit System (CPS) through the MDOT Permit Gateway (MPG):
Note: If a master gardener’s club proposes to Adopt-a-Landscape outside MDOT’s rest areas then the following forms will be required along with the documents mentioned above:
