Sandy Springs's Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sidewalk & pedestrian rules a little differently. In Sandy Springs, Georgia, 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

Sandy Springs requires a right-of-way permit from the Department of Public Works before anyone builds a driveway, installs a permanent fixture, or performs construction work in a city street right-of-way. City Code Section 50-25 covers general construction, new driveway entrances onto public roads, and permanent features like signs, irrigation systems, or fences placed in the right-of-way.

Key details: Permit issuer: City of Sandy Springs Department of Public Works. Governs: Construction, driveways, permanent fixtures in right-of-way. Posting requirement: Permit must be posted at jobsite at all times. Restoration duty: Street and sidewalk restored to as-good-or-better condition. Penalty basis: General Code penalty under Section 1-10.

Working in the right-of-way without a Section 50-25 permit, or leaving a posted permit off the jobsite, is punished under Section 50-24 per the general penalty in Section 1-10, which sets fines for city code violations. Public Works can also order restoration work redone if its final inspection under Section 50-28 finds the street, sidewalk, or landscaping was not returned to as-good-or-better condition.

Sidewalk Repair

Sandy Springs puts sidewalk repair and upkeep on the abutting property owner. City Code Section 50-31 requires the owner to fix or rebuild a deficient sidewalk along the property's full street frontage whenever land or building development triggers an inspection, and separately requires the owner to maintain the grass strip between the sidewalk and the curb.

Key details: Who must repair: Abutting property owner. Trigger: Development-linked inspection under Sec. 50-30. Standard: Current city design specifications, materials included. Ongoing duty: Maintain grass/landscaping between sidewalk and curb. Drainage rule: No roof or gutter water shed onto sidewalk.

Failing to repair a deficient sidewalk after a Section 50-31(a) inspection, letting the curb-strip landscaping go unmaintained under subsection (b), or shedding roof or gutter water onto the sidewalk under subsection (c) is enforced by the Department of Public Works and punished under the Chapter 50, Article I general penalty in Section 50-1, which applies the citywide schedule in Section 1-10.

Obstruction Rules

Sandy Springs bans placing debris, rubbish, boxes, displays, signs, poles or merchandise in a street or sidewalk in a way that impedes or endangers traffic. City Code Sec. 50-2(a) covers pedestrians and vehicles alike, and violators face the citywide Code penalty under Sec. 1-10.

Key details: Banned items: Debris, boxes, signs, merchandise, irrigation water. Covers: Both streets and sidewalks citywide. Standard: Anything that impedes or endangers traffic. Penalty section: Sec. 50-1, citing Sec. 1-10. Governing section: City Code Sec. 50-2(a).

Obstructing a Sandy Springs street or sidewalk under Sec. 50-2(a) is punished under Sec. 50-1's cross-reference to the general Code penalty in Sec. 1-10: a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, up to 30 days of confinement at labor, or a combination. Because an ongoing obstruction is a continuing violation, each day it remains counts as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Sandy Springs'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 Sandy Springs is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Sandy Springs can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.