The functions of the roads in the urban structure differ from each other and the roads are classified according to a certain hierarchical order. In this context, the differentiation of land use types and size foreseen in spatial plans of different scales requires designing different classified roads. In planning systems where road classifiying is not clearly defined, road applications will not have the expected functionality and performance. Spatial planning practices depend on legal framework rather than technical and academic studies. It is clear that road classification will be more successful with the spatial planning law created by using of technical and academic studies. In the study, law and regulation that are directly effective in the preparation of development plans and that contain decisions on roads in the historical process were scanned. The period from imperial edict of reorganization until the proclamation of the Republic and the period from the proclamation of the Republic to the present were examined and compared. The main point detected is the road classification is more comprehensive in qualitative and quantitative terms in the legal texts published before the proclamation of the Republic. Especially in recent years, in the regulations that are based on implementation and include technical criteria; it was observed that there were shallower explanations and poor information regarding the road classification. It is thought that it will be beneficial to understand the way in which road classification was handled in the past and present in order to avoid uncertainties and problems in the planning system in the following years.