Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Buffalo, NY (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Buffalo, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
Buffalo puts sidewalk upkeep on the abutting property owner or occupant, not the city. Code section 413-48 requires keeping the walk in good order and repair and clear of dirt and refuse, with construction, grading and pipe-laying duties spread across the rest of Article VII.
Buffalo: Who Repairs Your Sidewalk
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 413-48
It shall be the duty of every owner or occupant of any premises fronting on any public street or ground to keep the sidewalk in front of the same in good order and repair, and he shall allow no accumulation of dirt, refuse or other material to remain thereon. Any person violating the regulatory provisions of this section may be liable, in addition to the general penalties and penalties set fort...
Obstruction Rules
Buffalo makes it unlawful to willfully block any public street, crosswalk, or sidewalk, or the entrance to a church, theater, hotel, public hall, or railroad depot, under City Code § 413-5(A). Peaceful labor picketing is carved out under § 413-5(B) so long as it doesn't unreasonably obstruct the street or sidewalk in front of the picketed premises.
Buffalo Sidewalk and Street Obstruction Ban
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 413-5(A)
No person shall willfully obstruct any public street, crosswalk or sidewalk or any passage into any church, theater, hotel, public hall or railroad depot or on board of any boat. B. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, peaceful picketing of any of the foregoing premises where a strike has been called by a bona fide labor union or its superiors and without unreasonable ob...
Encroachment Permits
Anyone placing a private structure, like a planter, ramp, awning or sign, in Buffalo's public right-of-way needs an encroachment permit, and City Code § 413-67 keeps it at least 18 inches off the curbline, 50 feet clear of intersection sightlines, and 8 feet clear of the building frontage for pedestrians.
Buffalo Right-of-Way Encroachment Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 413-67(A)-(C), (G)-(H)
A. No encroachment placed upon the public right-of-way shall be less than 18 inches from any curbline. B. No encroachment which obstructs the view of pedestrians or vehicular traffic may be placed within 50 feet of an intersection. C. No encroachment shall be placed so that less than eight feet of sidewalk space between said encroachment and the frontage of a building exists for the purpose of ...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Buffalo city rules.
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