Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in King County, WA (2026)

3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 7 cities in King County, Washington.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of King County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Sidewalk Repair

In unincorporated King County, the county road engineer decides when a sidewalk needs repair and can bill the abutting owner if the owner caused the damage.

King County Sidewalk Repair Responsibility

Some Restrictions

King County Code § 14.52.020

If the county road engineer determines the damage resulted from the actions of the abutting property owner or resulted from an instrumentality located on the abutting property, the county road engineer shall notify the abutting property owner that the expense of repair shall be the responsibility of the abutting property owner, except that the abutting property owner is not responsible for any ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Obstruction Rules

Unincorporated King County caps how far a stand, box, platform or similar structure can encroach onto a county road right-of-way: no more than two feet from the right-of-way line, under K.C.C. 12.28.010.

King County Right-of-Way Obstruction Rules

Some Restrictions

King County Code § 12.28.010

It is unlawful for any person to build, erect, establish, operate, maintain or conduct, along and upon the right of way of any county road or highway, any platform, box, stand or any other temporary or permanent device or structure used, or to be used, for the purpose of receiving, vending or delivering any milk, milk cans, vegetables, fruits, merchandise, produce, or any other thing or commodi...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Encroachment Permits

Private use or improvement of county road right-of-way in unincorporated King County requires a right-of-way use permit before work begins.

King County Right-of-Way Use Permit

Some Restrictions

King County Code § 14.28.020

County road right-of-way shall not be privately improved or used for access or other purposes and no development approval shall be issued which requires use of privately maintained county right-of-way unless a permit therefor has been issued pursuant to this chapter, except for utility construction work authorized pursuant to K.C.C. Chapter 14.44. This section shall not apply to driveway c...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗