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Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Albany, NY (2026)

3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Albany, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Sidewalk Repair

Albany City Code makes the owner of any house, building, or lot responsible for keeping the street and sidewalk in front of it, up to the center line, in good repair, backed by a $5-per-day penalty for neglect.

Albany Property Owners Must Repair Their Sidewalks

Some Restrictions

Albany City Code §§ 323-19 and 323-20

The owner of any house, other building or lot fronting upon any street in this City shall, at his own proper charge and expense, keep and maintain in good repair, and level, pitch and pave so much of said street to the middle thereof, as lies in front of his said house, building or lot, and repair so much of the same as may be from time to time taken up for making drains or sewers, and shall pe...

Obstruction Rules

Albany requires a barricade permit from the Building Commissioner before anyone obstructs a street, sidewalk, driveway, or alley, with violations enforced under the City's zoning penalty provisions.

Albany Sidewalk Obstruction Requires a Barricade Permit

Significant Restrictions

Albany City Code § 323-5

No person shall obstruct any street, sidewalk, driveway or alley without first obtaining a barricade permit from the Building Commissioner. Violations of this section are subject to the remedies and penalties of Chapter 375, Zoning, of this Code.

Encroachment Permits

Albany requires a Commissioner of Public Works permit before attaching signs, booths, awnings, tanks, vaults, or driveways to a building where the structure crosses or sits on a public sidewalk.

Albany Sidewalk Building-Attachment Encroachment Permits

Significant Restrictions

Albany City Code § 245-1

The Commissioner of Public Works is hereby authorized and empowered to issue permits for the construction and maintenance of signs, booths, barber posts, awnings and other conveniences attached to the building, tanks, vaults and driveways across sidewalks to the owner of any building or real property in the City.

Looking for Albany County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Albany city rules.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Albany County