Blog · September 27, 2026
What Is an Unopened Alley
An unopened alley is a dedicated alley on a plat that the city never paved or accepted for maintenance.
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Rear garages in older towns were planned off these alleys. Some remain useful. Some exist only as a line between fences.
On the recorded sheet
The plat shows the width. Use of the strip for a garden does not transfer the fee.
The mix-up to avoid
Closing an alley takes a vacation under local law, not a new fence.
Find the county map
The county GIS map is the practical place to start. Find it from the Platbookmapper directory, then treat the recorded plat and deed as the documents behind the picture.
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey.