Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Austin, TX (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Austin, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
Repairing, altering, or constructing the sidewalk fronting your Austin property, whether on your lot or in the adjoining public right-of-way, requires a building permit from the building official before work starts. Austin City Code Sec. 25-11-32(A)(4) puts that permit duty on the person controlling the abutting property.
Austin Sidewalk Repair Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsAustin City Code Sec. 25-11-32(A)(4)
(A)Unless a technical code exempts an activity from its permitting requirements, a person may not perform the following activities unless the person first obtains the appropriate permit from the building official:(1)an activity regulated by Chapter 25-12, Article 1 (Uniform Building Code), Article 4 (Electrical Code), Article 5 (Uniform Mechanical Code), or Article 6 (Uniform Plumbing Code);......
Obstruction Rules
Austin bars placing vehicles, machinery, dockless-transportation items, or other bulky objects on a street, alley, or sidewalk to sell, work from, or dump as junk, and separately bans commercial merchandise displays on sidewalks and rights-of-way in front of a business or residence. Violators face the citywide Class C misdemeanor penalty.
Austin Sidewalk Obstruction Rules
Significant RestrictionsAustin City Code Sec. 14-9-3
(A)A person may not place, store, or park, or allow another person to place, store, or park, a vehicle, machinery, dockless transportation item or other bulky item on a street, alley, or sidewalk:(l)to sell, purchase, rent, or lease the item;(2)to use the object or item for work or business; or(3)as waste, refuse, or junk.(B)This section does not apply to an individual's automobile or other veh...
Encroachment Permits
Austin requires a Public Works Department application before anyone builds a permanent encroachment in a public right-of-way, obtains a license for private use of public property, or seeks release of a public easement. Approved surface licenses carry an annual fee equal to 10 percent of the property's appraised value, with reduced rates for underground or overhead use.
Austin Right-of-Way Encroachment Permits
Significant RestrictionsAustin City Code Sec. 14-11-1
(A)Except as provided in Chapter 14-7 (Sustainable Urban Agriculture) and Section 14-11-2 (Exceptions For Certain Uses Of Public Property), a person must submit an application to the director of the Public Works Department to obtain a release of a public easement, license for the private use of public property, an agreement for a permanent encroachment in a public right-of-way, or vacation of a...
Looking for Travis County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Austin city rules.
Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Travis County →