Secondary Street Acceptance Requirements
Chapter 382
2011 SSAR Regulations
The Secondary Street Acceptance Requirements (SSAR) set out the rules that newly constructed streets must meet in order to be accepted for maintenance by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Current SSAR Regulation and Related Materials
- 2011 SSAR regulations
- 2011 SSAR summary of changes from the 2009 regulation
- 2011 SSAR regulations showing changes from the 2009 version
- 2018 SSAR guidance document
SSAR Related Documents
- Road Design Manual, Appendix B(1)
- Land Development Inspection Documentation Best Practices Manual
- Pavement Design Guide for Subdivision and Secondary Road in Virginia
The SSAR regulations are a result of legislation originally adopted by the General Assembly during the 2007 session. Chapter 382 of the 2007 Acts of Assembly (SB1181) added §33.2-334 (formerly §33.1-70.3) to the Code of Virginia.
The legislation required the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) to develop the SSAR to determine the conditions and standards that must be met before secondary streets constructed by developers, localities and entities other than VDOT, will be accepted into the state secondary system for maintenance by VDOT.
The first edition of the SSAR was effective from its original adoption, on March 9, 2009, through Dec. 30, 2011.
During the 2011 session, the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1462, which became Chapter 870 of the 2011 Acts of Assembly, directing the CTB and VDOT to solicit and consider public comment in the development of revisions to the SSAR regulation.
The differences between the 2009 and the 2011 versions of the regulation are highlighted above in the documents entitled “2011 SSAR summary of changes from the 2009 regulation” and “2011 SSAR regulations showing changes from the 2009 version.”
SSAR Information and Outreach
VDOT staff has prepared a number of documents to assist interested parties in the interpretation and application of SSAR regulation. Because many proposed projects will be grandfathered and may use the 2009 SSAR requirements.
2009 SSAR
- 2009 SSAR regulation
- 2009 SSAR guidance document
- 2009 SSAR area types map - Google Earth can also be used to view the area type map and zoom into specific locations. First, use this link and download the free version. It is available for Windows, Mac and Linux. After you have installed Google Earth, download the area types file (KMZ format in a zipped file). This KMZ file will act as a layer over the Google Earth map and will identify the area type boundaries for the state.
If you have questions or comments regarding the revised SSAR, submit them to landdevelopmentregs@vdot.virginia.gov.
Previous Standards – 2005 Subdivision Street Requirements
24 VAC 30-91 - Subdivision Street Requirements
The Subdivision Street Requirements (SSR) remained in effect until March 9, 2009.
On this date, the Chapter 382 Secondary Street Acceptance Requirements (SSAR) became effective and superseded the previous regulations.
The 2009 SSAR contained a transition period for which most complete plats and plans could have been submitted to the local governing body and VDOT prior to July 1, 2009, in compliance with the SSR.
All plats and plans initially submitted to the local government and VDOT between June 30, 2009 and Jan. 31, 2012, must comply with the standards of the 2009 SSAR. Between Jan. 1 and 31, 2012, developers submitting initial plans had a choice to comply with the 2009 or the 2011 version of the SSAR.