Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Charlottesville, VA (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Charlottesville, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
In the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, a property owner who wants a sidewalk laid or rebuilt in front of their lot must apply in writing to the director of public works and pay for the work themselves under his supervision. If no owner applies, city council can order a sidewalk built and assess the cost against the abutting landowner. Store occupants and building owners must also keep that sidewalk clean.
Sidewalk Repair Responsibility in Charlottesville, VA
Some RestrictionsCharlottesville City Code §§ 28-7, 28-24
(a)Whenever any citizen or property owner desires to lay a sidewalk for themselves in a city street, they shall make application to the director of public works in writing, who shall grant such permission upon the condition that the applicant make such improvement at their own expense and do the work under the supervision of the director of public works.(b)Where no application is received from ...
Obstruction Rules
City Code § 28-12 bars placing anything in a Charlottesville street or sidewalk, or the air space above it, that hinders foot or vehicle traffic. Merchants may briefly use the sidewalk's outer margin to receive deliveries if the public still has free passage, and anyone who obstructs a right-of-way is liable for resulting damage; each hour a violation continues can count as a separate offense.
Charlottesville Sidewalk Obstruction Rules
Some RestrictionsCharlottesville City Code § 28-12
No person shall obstruct a street or sidewalk, or the space vertically above the same, by placing therein anything whatsoever which will hinder or obstruct the passage of persons or vehicles in any manner whatsoever. Every hour the violation continues may, in the discretion of the judge of the general district court, be held to be a separate offense. ... Merchants and others, while receiving go...
Encroachment Permits
Private, non-public use of a Charlottesville street, sidewalk or on-street parking space, from a dumpster to a construction staging area, needs a temporary-use permit from the city traffic engineer or city manager under City Code § 28-5. Fees run $5 per day for each space, sidewalk, or right-of-way segment used, and use is capped at 48 hours unless tied to adjacent construction.
Charlottesville Right-of-Way Use Permits
Significant RestrictionsCharlottesville City Code § 28-5
The city traffic engineer or city manager may permit the temporary use of any city right-of-way (including any street, on-street parking space(s), or sidewalk) for other than public purposes, and may close the rights-of-way to public use and travel during such temporary use, for a specified period of time, when they determine that such temporary closing will not be unduly injurious to the safet...