Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Taunton, MA (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Taunton, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
Taunton puts ongoing sidewalk repair on the City itself, not the abutting owner: the Supervisor of Streets must keep every sidewalk in the City in repair and safe for travel year-round. When a new sidewalk is built, though, the Municipal Council can assess the abutting property owners for a share of the construction cost.
Taunton Sidewalk Repair Responsibility Rules
Light RestrictionsTaunton City Code §§ 96-56, 383-47
The Supervisor of Streets shall perform the duties, exercise the powers and be subject to the obligations of a surveyor of highways as provided by statute and shall, under the direction and control of the Commissioner of Public Works, have the general superintendence of all streets, ways, lanes, sidewalks, bridges, culverts within the street limits, and public squares within the City. The Super...
Obstruction Rules
Taunton bans placing a pole, sign, mailbox, permanent trash receptacle or any other object on a municipal sidewalk if it leaves less than 36 inches of clear path around it, with a $300-per-day fine per object. A separate rule bans leaving a car, trailer or dumpster in a street to obstruct it once the police have ordered it removed.
Taunton Sidewalk & Street Obstruction Rules
Significant RestrictionsTaunton City Code §§ 123-5(A)-(B), 383-11
No pole, sign, mailbox, permanent trash receptacle, or any other object shall be placed, located, relocated and/or replaced in or on a municipal sidewalk in such a manner that less than 36 inches clear space for the path of travel is provided around the obstruction on the sidewalk. This shall not include residential trash and trash receptacles placed on a sidewalk for municipal trash pickup. .....
Encroachment Permits
Taunton requires Municipal Council permission, and a $100 fee, before anyone hangs a sign, awning, marquee, clock or similar structure that projects over a street or sidewalk line. The petitioner must first file plans with the Building Commissioner showing the structure's size, type and how it attaches to the building.
Taunton Sidewalk Encroachment Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsTaunton City Code §§ 1-5, 383-5
Any person violating any chapter or section of the Revised Ordinances in which no specific penalty is provided shall be punished by a fine of $300. ... No person shall place or maintain signs, advertising devices, clocks, marquees, public telephones, telephone booths and other appurtenances, permanent awnings or other structures projecting over the line of any street or sidewalk of the City wit...
Looking for Bristol County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Taunton city rules.
Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Bristol County →