How Salem Handles Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: A Practical Guide

Salem maintains 123 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with sidewalk & pedestrian rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Salem falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Encroachment Permits

Salem lets the Director issue a revocable permit to encroach into the public right-of-way at the owner's risk, subject to structural, traffic, and adjoining-property review, a City-approved permit form, and a Council-set fee.

Key details: Governing section: SRC 76.160, Encroachments into public right-of-way. Permit type: Revocable, at owner's risk. Plan submission: To the Public Works Department. Fee: Set by Council resolution. Related use: Below-sidewalk space permits (SRC 78.250) use same permit.

Violation of SRC 76.160, including maintaining an encroachment without the required permit or after the permit has been revoked, is an infraction under SRC 76.990. An owner who fails to remove an encroachment when the Council or another authority with jurisdiction demands removal remains liable for the removal cost.

Sidewalk Repair

Salem generally makes the abutting property owner responsible for keeping sidewalks in good repair, but the City covers sidewalks built before September 1, 1992 until the Director certifies they meet current standards, and always covers tree-damage and curb ramp repairs.

Key details: Governing section: SRC 78.154, Sidewalk repairs. General duty holder: Abutting property owner. Pre-1992 sidewalk exception: City repairs until Director certification. Always City responsibility: Tree-root damage and curb ramps. Compliance deadline: Permit in 30 days, repair within 120 days.

Violating the repair duty in SRC 78.154(a) can trigger enforcement under SRC 78.300, including a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate violation; the City may also perform the repair itself and place the cost, plus a 10 percent administrative surcharge, as a lien on the property. Violation of SRC 78.154(a) is also an infraction under SRC 78.310.

Obstruction Rules

Salem bars placing structures, barricades, building material, or merchandise on arterial and collector streets, travel lanes, or sidewalks without first notifying the Director and getting written permission, and a violation is an infraction.

Key details: Governing section: SRC 76.010, Obstructions. Approval required: Written permission from the Director. No-permit exception limit: Material within 8 feet of curbline, parking lanes only. Penalty class: Infraction under SRC 76.990. Covers: Arterial/collector streets, travel lanes, sidewalks.

Violation of SRC 76.010 through 76.160, including the obstruction rule, is an infraction under SRC 76.990. Placing material in violation of the eight-foot curbline limit or without required Director notification and permission triggers that infraction exposure.

The Bottom Line

Salem'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 Salem is broadly strict or permissive.

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