Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Taunton, MA

If you live in Taunton or are thinking about moving there, sidewalk & pedestrian rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Taunton has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of sidewalk & pedestrian rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Encroachment Permits

Taunton requires Municipal Council permission, and a $100 fee, before anyone hangs a sign, awning, marquee, clock or similar structure that projects over a street or sidewalk line. The petitioner must first file plans with the Building Commissioner showing the structure's size, type and how it attaches to the building.

Key details: Permit fee: $100, payable in advance. Permitting authority: Municipal Council. Plans reviewed by: Building Commissioner. Permit scope: Applies only to the named structure. Default fine if violated: $300.

Placing or maintaining a sign, awning, marquee, clock or other structure that projects over a street or sidewalk line without Municipal Council permission, or substituting a different structure under an existing permit without the Council's express consent, violates Section 383-5. With no fine written into the section itself, the general penalty clause applies: a fine of $300 for a violation the City ordinances do not separately penalize.

Sidewalk Repair

Taunton puts ongoing sidewalk repair on the City itself, not the abutting owner: the Supervisor of Streets must keep every sidewalk in the City in repair and safe for travel year-round. When a new sidewalk is built, though, the Municipal Council can assess the abutting property owners for a share of the construction cost.

Key details: Ongoing repair duty falls on: Supervisor of Streets (the City). Standard required: safe for travel, all seasons. New sidewalk cost: may be assessed to abutters. Exception: snow/ice removal is the owner's job. New sidewalk hearing notice: 7 days to abutters.

Section 96-56 is a duty on City officials rather than a prohibition on residents, so it carries no fine for a property owner; a resident's recourse for a sidewalk in disrepair is to report the defect to the Supervisor of Streets, whose staff are separately required by the Code to forward any defect notice they receive. Betterment assessments for a newly constructed sidewalk are billed to abutters under Section 383-47 rather than penalized as a violation.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Taunton gives residents more flexibility on sidewalk repair.

Obstruction Rules

Taunton bans placing a pole, sign, mailbox, permanent trash receptacle or any other object on a municipal sidewalk if it leaves less than 36 inches of clear path around it, with a $300-per-day fine per object. A separate rule bans leaving a car, trailer or dumpster in a street to obstruct it once the police have ordered it removed.

Key details: Minimum sidewalk clearance: 36 inches. Fine per object, per day: $300. Compliance grace period: 60 days after notification. Exempt: residential trash out for pickup. Street obstruction enforcer: Mayor, Chief of Police, or officer.

Leaving an object on a sidewalk with less than 36 inches of clear path draws a $300-per-day fine, with each noncompliant object a separate violation, unless it is fixed within 60 days of notification. Leaving a car, trailer or dumpster obstructing a street after police have ordered it removed violates Section 383-11, enforceable by the Chief of Police or any officer on the scene.

This is one of the stricter rules in Taunton's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Taunton'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 Taunton is broadly strict or permissive.

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