Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Asheville, NC (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Asheville, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
Property owners in Asheville must keep the public sidewalk, curb and grass strip abutting their land clear of debris, mow the strip to 18 inches or less, and clear ice by 10 a.m. and snow within 48 hours. Noncompliance draws a $100-per-day civil penalty up to $5,000.
Asheville Sidewalk Maintenance Duty
Some RestrictionsAsheville City Code § 16-3
It shall be the responsibility of the responsible party to ensure that the public sidewalk and curb abutting a property owner's property are kept clear of dirt, grass, weeds, mud, trash, debris and vegetation of any kind to prevent a hazard to the public... The grass strip between the sidewalk and curb is to be kept mowed to a height not to exceed 18 inches... Ice: The responsible party whose p...
Obstruction Rules
Asheville makes it a misdemeanor to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic on any city street, sidewalk, park or public area, or to block corners, stairways and doorways that give the public access to buildings. Violators face prosecution under state misdemeanor law.
Asheville Sidewalk Obstruction Ban
Some RestrictionsAsheville City Code § 16-2
It shall be unlawful for any person, singly or in a group, to: (1) Obstruct or cause to be obstructed vehicular or pedestrian traffic on the streets or sidewalks or in parks or other public areas within the corporate limits of the city; or (2) Obstruct or cause to be obstructed corners, stairways or doorways to prevent or hamper free access by members of the public to private buildings fronting...
Encroachment Permits
Building any structure in an Asheville street, sidewalk, alley or public right-of-way is unlawful without a signed encroachment agreement from the city manager. Agreements can be terminated on 30 days' notice, and the owner pays to remove the encroachment if it isn't cleared.
Asheville Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit
Significant RestrictionsAsheville City Code §§ 16-72, 16-74
(a) Except as permitted in accordance with this division, it shall be unlawful to erect or construct any structure upon or within any street, sidewalk, alley, square or public rights-of-way of the city. (b) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any property to allow, permit, cause, construct or erect any structure upon property owned by him which encroaches upon or within any street, sidewalk, ...
Looking for Buncombe County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Asheville city rules.
Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Buncombe County →