Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Bellevue, WA (2026)
2 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Bellevue, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Obstruction Rules
Bellevue property owners must trim or remove trees, shrubs and vegetation that overhang or obstruct a sidewalk, street or public right-of-way. BCC 14.06.010 declares overgrowth that blocks pedestrian passage, blocks sight lines at intersections, or fouls utility lines a public nuisance, and the abutting owner bears the legal duty to abate it under BCC 14.06.020 and 14.06.030.
Bellevue Sidewalk Vegetation Obstruction Duty
Some RestrictionsBCC 14.06.010
Trees, plants, shrubs, vegetation or parts thereof which so overhang any sidewalk or street, or public right-of-way, or which are growing thereon in such manner as to obstruct or impair the free and full use of the sidewalk or street by the public or to obstruct vision of the improved portion of a public right-of-way or intersection of streets or which damage, obstruct or endanger power lines, ...
Encroachment Permits
Anyone making private use of a Bellevue public right-of-way, from a dumpster on the street to a fence or structure encroaching onto public property, needs a right-of-way use permit first under BCC 14.30.070. The transportation department issues four permit types and can require additional permits under other city codes per BCC 14.30.075.
Bellevue Right-of-Way Use Permit
Some RestrictionsBCC 14.30.070
A. It is unlawful for anyone to make private use of any public right-of-way without first having obtained a right‑of‑way use permit issued by the city or to use any right-of-way without complying with all the provisions of such right-of-way use permit issued by the city; provided, that a right-of-way use permit shall not be required for any use or activity subject to and requiring a permit purs...
Looking for King County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellevue city rules.
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