The 55 MPH Rule No One Tells Homeowners About & How To Fix It - FAST

 Did You Know? County Subdivisions Default to 55 MPH Unless Posted

If you live in a residential subdivision outside of city limits, the statewide default speed limit is 55 mph when no posted speed limit sign is present. Yes—55 mph, even in neighborhoods where families walk, kids play, and people are out daily. 

To help protect your community, you can request a safer, reduced speed limit for your subdivision. Below you'll see me standing next to my neighborhood's freshly installed sign. Here’s how to get yours:

 How to Request a Speed Limit Review in Your County Subdivision

1. Locate your local NCDOT Division Office.
Visit the NCDOT website or call your county government office to confirm which DOT division serves your area.

2. Contact the Traffic Engineering or Maintenance Division.
Tell them you’d like to request a speed study for your subdivision because there are no posted signs and the default speed is unsafe for residential living.

3. Provide key details.
Be ready to share:

• The subdivision name
• Road names needing signage
• Your concerns (speeding, children present, walkers, blind curves, etc.)
• Any near-miss incidents you’ve observed

4. A field study will be scheduled.
DOT will review traffic patterns, road design, housing density, and other safety factors.

5. DOT makes a determination.
If your neighborhood qualifies, DOT will approve a reduced speed limit.

6. Signs will be installed.
Once approved, the county DOT installs official speed limit signs, and law enforcement can enforce the new speed.

Taking a few minutes to make that call can help improve safety for your entire neighborhood. Let’s work together to keep our county communities protected!

About the Author: Christina Rountree

Christina Rountree is a top-producing REALTOR® with Water Street Real Estate Group and a 2025 Director on the Board of the Albemarle Area REALTORS®. A Perquimans County native now residing in Pasquotank County, Christina brings a deep understanding of the Albemarle region and the unique qualities that make each community special. Outside of real estate, she and her husband own and operate a highly reputable power washing and home painting business, where she has built long-standing client relationships grounded in trust, consistency, and quality.

When she’s not serving clients, you’ll find Christina chasing after her three growing boys, staying creative, and contributing to a variety of community initiatives. She is dedicated to making the buying and selling process as smooth and stress-free as possible, and her clients consistently benefit from her knowledge, passion, and commitment to doing things the right way.