Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Portsmouth, VA (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Portsmouth, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
When Portsmouth builds, replaces or enlarges a sidewalk, city council can assess up to half the cost against the abutting property owner under Secs. 32-251 and 32-253. The owner gets 30 days to appeal an overruled objection to circuit court, and can pay the bill in installments over as long as five years.
Portsmouth Sidewalk Assessments on Abutting Owners
Some RestrictionsSec. 32-251(b); Sec. 32-253
(b)In addition to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the city council may impose taxes or assessments upon abutting property owners for the construction, replacement or enlargement of sidewalks, water lines, sanitary sewers or stormwater sewers; for the installation of streetlights; for the construction or installation of canopies or other weather-protective devices; for the inst...
Obstruction Rules
Portsmouth makes it unlawful to leave a box, barrel, trash can, storage container or any other obstruction in a street or right-of-way without a permit from the city engineer, under Sec. 32-9. The ban is a catch-all: it covers anything not separately authorized elsewhere in the Code or by other city regulation.
Portsmouth Ban on Obstructing Streets and Sidewalks
Some RestrictionsSec. 32-9
Except as otherwise provided by this Code or by other city regulation, it shall be unlawful for any person to leave, or cause to be left, any box, barrel, trash or storage container, or other obstruction in any portion of the street or right-of-way without first obtaining a permit from the city engineer.
Encroachment Permits
Anyone whose awning, sign, bay window, fence or other structure projects into a Portsmouth street or right-of-way needs an encroachment permit under Sec. 32-7. The city manager decides after review by the traffic engineer, planning department, law department and city engineer, and can issue the permit only if it serves the public interest, creates no hazard, and does not interfere with reasonable street use.
Portsmouth Street Encroachment Permit for Right-of-Way Use
Significant RestrictionsSec. 32-7
Encroachment means a foundation, awning, fire escape, shutter, sign, cornice, gutter, downspout, bay window, fence or other appurtenance to a building existing or to be constructed in, upon or over the streets of the city. ... (5)The city manager may, in his discretion, issue an encroachment permit if it has been prepared and reviewed pursuant to this section. The city manager may issue an encr...