Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in New Britain, CT (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for New Britain, Connecticut, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
New Britain puts sidewalk upkeep on the abutting owner, not the city. Sec. 21-70 requires the owner or custodian of any building or lot bordering a sidewalk to keep it safe, repair defects and clear obstructions; if they neglect a defect after notice, the Department of Public Works fixes it and bills the owner, and Sec. 21-72 turns unpaid costs into a lien on the property.
New Britain Abutting Owner Sidewalk Repair Duty
Some RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances §§ 21-70, 21-72
(a)The owner or custodian of any building or lot of land bordering upon any street where there is a sidewalk shall:(1)Keep the sidewalk in a condition safe and convenient for the use of the public;(2)Repair all defects in the sidewalk which in any way endanger or hamper the movement of public traffic; and(3)Remove without delay any and all obstructions that may be placed or found on the sidewal...
Obstruction Rules
New Britain bars obstructing any street or public place, including dumping refuse, placing fences, bridging a street, or blocking a drain or hydrant, unless the department of public works first issues a permit under Code of Ordinances Sec. 21-15. That permit won't issue until the applicant posts a bond covering the city against accident claims from the obstruction.
New Britain Permit Required to Obstruct Streets
Significant RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances § 21-15
(a)Without a permit from the department of public works, no person shall obstruct any street or any other public place by:(1)Depositing refuse or placing fences or any impediment whatsoever on such streets;(2)Constructing any bridge over such street;(3)Filling any canal, drain, or gutter;(4)Obstructing or altering the course of any run of water;(5)Using any hydrant; or(6)Filling any catch basin...
Encroachment Permits
Anyone who wants to place or keep building material on a New Britain street, such as during construction, needs a building permit from the department of public works under Code of Ordinances Sec. 21-16. The permit expires one month after it issues, renewable in successive one-month stretches if the police chief certifies the storage isn't unreasonably blocking traffic.
New Britain Building-Material Street Storage Permit
Some RestrictionsNew Britain Code of Ordinances § 21-16
(a)No person shall place or maintain any building material on any street without a building permit from the department of public works. (b)Any person permitted to store such material in any street shall:(1)Provide a safe and convenient passage for public travel around or over the material and keep the passage free from all refuse and debris; ... (3)Place and maintain, from sunset of each day to...