New Bedford's Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sidewalk & pedestrian rules a little differently. In New Bedford, Massachusetts, 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.

Obstruction Rules

New Bedford bans willfully or negligently blocking the free passage of pedestrians on any sidewalk. Sec. 17-9 of the city code applies citywide and is enforced by police, who can cite anyone whose body, goods, or gathering stops foot traffic.

Key details: Governing section: Code of Ordinances § 17-9. Standard: Willful or negligent obstruction of sidewalk. Enforcing agency: New Bedford Police Department. Origin: Code 1963 § 14-131; amended 4-10-1980. Related state law: M.G.L.A. c. 272, § 59.

Violating Sec. 17-9 is a citable offense enforced by New Bedford police on sight or by complaint. Because the ordinance itself sets no unique fine, penalties fall under the Code's general default penalty provision, Section 1-9, and each day an obstruction continues can be treated as a separate offense under the city's noncriminal disposition procedure (Sec. 17-18), which lets an officer issue a ticket payable to the clerk of the district court rather than filing a criminal complaint.

Sidewalk Repair

New Bedford puts sidewalk repair costs on the city, not the abutting owner. Code of Ordinances § 22-35(8) caps the city engineer's fee-assessment authority to installing brand-new sidewalks and bars any department from billing a resident for fixing an existing one without City Council sign-off.

Key details: Who repairs existing sidewalks: City, at city expense. Fee authority limit: New installs only, § 22-35(8). Owner charge requires: City Council approval. Upgrade cost owed: Material cost difference only. Governing office: City engineer, Dept. of Public Infrastructure.

There is no owner penalty here because the ordinance restricts the city, not the resident: a department that tries to charge a resident for repairing a pre-existing sidewalk without City Council approval is acting outside its § 22-35 authority. An owner who requests a material upgrade owes only the cost difference for materials after giving informed consent; the city bears installation labor and the base repair cost in all other cases.

The rules around sidewalk repair in New Bedford lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Encroachment Permits

Anyone wanting to place signs, awnings, marquees, phone booths, or vending machines that project onto a New Bedford street or sidewalk needs a City Council permit under § 22-70. The permit runs through a written petition to the council and expires after five years.

Key details: Permit required for: Signs, awnings, marquees, phone booths, vending machines. Petition filed with: City clerk, addressed to city council. Sign permits also need: Inspector of buildings approval. Permit term: 5 years, then renewal. Required insurance: $100k/$300k liability, city co-insured.

The ordinance text does not print a stand-alone dollar penalty for placing a projecting structure without the § 22-70 permit; the operative consequence is that an unpermitted sign, awning, marquee, phone booth, or vending machine encroaching on a public street or sidewalk lacks the city's authorization to remain, and the city clerk's permit, insurance, and indemnity conditions under §§ 22-71 through 22-73 must all be satisfied before any structure can lawfully project over the right-of-way.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. New Bedford actively enforces its encroachment permits requirements.

The Bottom Line

New Bedford'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 New Bedford is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from New Bedford's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.