Edmonds's Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sidewalk & pedestrian rules a little differently. In Edmonds, Washington, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Encroachment Permits

Edmonds requires an encroachment permit before any permanent structure, such as a fence, retaining wall, building extension, marquee or artwork, occupies public right-of-way, sidewalk, parking strip or easement space. Temporary items like cafe tables, planters, sandwich boards and stanchions need a separate street use permit instead. Both run through the planning and development director or city engineer under ECDC Chapter 18.70.

Key details: Encroachment permit: Required for permanent structures in ROW. Street use permit: Required for temporary objects in ROW. Clear zone: 7 ft high by 5 ft wide on sidewalks. Revocation notice: 30 days, or immediate if dangerous. Appeal route: Type II to hearing examiner, ECDC 20.06.

Permits under Chapter 18.70 are temporary and vest no permanent right: the city may revoke one on 30 days' notice, or immediately without notice if the encroachment becomes dangerous, insecure, unsafe or a public nuisance. A lapsed insurance certificate or unpaid annual fee under ECDC 18.70.050(B) also triggers revocation. If a permittee does not remove a revoked structure when ordered, the city engineer may remove it or make it safe at the permittee's expense, recording the cost as a lien against the property.

Sidewalk Repair

In Edmonds, the owner of property directly abutting a sidewalk must maintain, repair and reconstruct it under ECC 9.20.050. The city takes over that duty only for double-fronted lots along higher-classified arterials listed in the code's Schedule I. ECC 9.20.040(B) extends the same owner duty to sidewalks built by a developer, a local improvement district, or already in place at purchase.

Key details: Governing section: ECC 9.20.050. Duty holder: Abutting property owner. City exception: Double-fronted lots on arterials, Schedule I. Also covers: Developer-built or pre-purchase sidewalks, ECC 9.20.040(B). Nonperformance remedy: City repairs and assesses cost as lien.

Chapter 9.20 does not attach a stand-alone criminal fine to a failure to repair a sidewalk. Instead, the city can proceed under the assessment procedure in ECC 9.20.030: after a council resolution, published notice and a public hearing, an owner who has not completed required repairs within the stated deadline sees the city perform the work itself and place the cost on a special assessment lien against the property. ECC 9.20.080 also lets the city undertake the improvement directly and assess the abutting owner for all or a portion of the cost.

Obstruction Rules

Edmonds bars abutting property owners from erecting or maintaining signs, structures or vegetation that block sight lines or intrude on a sidewalk or roadway under ECC 9.25.010. An encroachment onto a sidewalk, or within five feet of a roadway and rising ten feet high, is a specific violation. Unremoved obstructions can be removed by the city and billed to the owner.

Key details: Governing chapter: ECC 9.25, Street Obstruction. Sidewalk clearance rule: No encroachment within 5 ft of roadway, 10 ft high. Also barred: Obstructions blocking traffic signs or intersection sightlines. Notice before removal: 5 days' written notice from public works. Cost recovery: Owner billed for city's removal cost.

A violation of Chapter 9.25 is punishable upon conviction by a fine, by jail time, or by both, under the penalty terms set out in ECC 5.50.020. Short of a criminal citation, the public works director can force the issue directly: after five days' written notice to the owner or possessor that goes unheeded, the director may remove the obstructing sign, structure or vegetation and charge the property owner for the cost of that removal.

Compared to other cities, Edmonds takes a harder line on obstruction rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Edmonds's sidewalk & pedestrian rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Edmonds is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Edmonds's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.