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Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Bloomington, IN (2026)

3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Bloomington, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Sidewalk Repair

In the City of Bloomington, every owner or occupant of a house, building or vacant lot must keep the sidewalk in front of it in repair, and keep it clean and free of dirt, filth or litter. After the city engineer gives notice to fix a sidewalk, ignoring it triggers the code's general penalty.

Bloomington Sidewalk Repair Falls to Adjacent Owner

Some Restrictions

Bloomington Municipal Code §§ 12.04.010, 12.04.050

Every owner or occupant of any house or other building, and any owner of any vacant lot within the city, shall keep the sidewalks in front of such house, building or vacant lot in repair. Any person neglecting or refusing to comply with the provisions of this section, or neglecting or refusing to put the sidewalk in front of any house, building or vacant lot owned or occupied by him or her in r...

Obstruction Rules

In the City of Bloomington, a contractor blocking a sidewalk for twenty-four hours or more under a right-of-way use permit must provide a walkaround at least five feet wide, protected by continuous barricades and meeting federal accessibility guidelines. The city engineer can require a walkaround even sooner in busy pedestrian areas, and downtown closures should provide an eight-foot path.

Bloomington Requires Walkarounds for Blocked Sidewalks

Some Restrictions

Bloomington Municipal Code § 12.08.110

If it is necessary to obstruct or block a sidewalk for a period or periods totaling twenty-four hours or more, then the party who has applied for the right-of-way use permit shall provide a walkaround for such area. The city engineer, or their designees, may also require walkarounds for shorter time periods to facilitate access in high-use pedestrian areas or other contexts. ... The walkaround ...

Encroachment Permits

In the City of Bloomington, closing, digging up, cutting into or excavating a street, sidewalk, alley or other right-of-way is unlawful without a right-of-way use permit from the city engineer. The permit, which must be kept on site, follows a $100 application fee, a project-specific bond, and liability insurance before work can begin.

Bloomington Right-of-Way Excavation Permit

Significant Restrictions

Bloomington Municipal Code §§ 12.08.010, 12.08.020

It is unlawful for any person to do, cause or permit to be done any closure, impediment, digging, cutting or excavating to any street, right-of-way, alley or public place, or into or through any pavement thereon, in the city except in accordance with and as provided for in this chapter. ... Any person closing, prohibiting access to, digging, cutting or excavating on or causing the same to be ma...