How Victorville Handles Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: A Practical Guide
If you live in Victorville 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. Victorville has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of sidewalk & pedestrian rules, and some of them might surprise you.
Obstruction Rules
Victorville bans placing or piling material, personal property or any impediment to travel on a street, sidewalk or public right-of-way without a permit. Section 9.11.200 of the Municipal Code makes unpermitted obstructions removable by the city, and Section 9.11.220 lets crews clear posted material after a seventy-two-hour notice.
Key details: Rule: no material/obstruction on highway without permit. Removal notice: 72 hours, posted on item. Traffic hazard: immediate removal, no notice wait. Owner pays: transportation, handling, storage costs. Separate offense: obstructing city engineer inspection.
An unpermitted obstruction is removable on a seventy-two-hour notice, and the owner is billed for the city's transportation, handling and storage costs (Section 9.11.220(e)). If the item is a traffic hazard, the city engineer can order immediate removal without waiting seventy-two hours. General Title 9 violations are also punishable as a civil penalty or misdemeanor under Section 9.04.030, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
This is one of the stricter rules in Victorville's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Encroachment Permits
Placing any structure, fence, sign, pipe or other object in, under or over a Victorville street or public right-of-way requires an encroachment permit from the city engineer. Municipal Code Section 9.11.010 lists the acts needing a permit, and Section 9.11.020 requires a written application, fees, insurance and often a performance bond before issuance.
Key details: Permit issuer: city engineer. Covers: fences, signs, pipes, structures in ROW. Application requires: fees, insurance, often security. Permits: nontransferable. Relocation: city engineer can order at owner's cost.
Working in the right-of-way without a permit, or violating permit conditions, is punishable under Title 9's general penalty, Section 9.04.030: a civil penalty, or, at the city attorney's discretion, a misdemeanor, with each day of noncompliance charged as a separate offense. Section 9.11.190(d) also lets the city engineer remove a non-conforming encroachment and recover the cost from the permittee.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Victorville actively enforces its encroachment permits requirements.
The Bottom Line
Victorville is tougher than many cities when it comes to sidewalk & pedestrian rules. Out of the 2 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Victorville, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
These rules come from Victorville's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.