Abilene, TX Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Article V of Chapter 29 requires a street, alley, sidewalk or public way use license under Section 29-91 before anyone places an encroachment in a public right-of-way or puts any part of it to private use; Section 29-90 explains the article exists to let the City permit uses that would otherwise be unlawful, without disturbing the separate franchise requirements the City Charter (Sections 110 to 117) imposes on public utilities. Under Section 29-92, the application goes to the Director of Public Works on the City's own form, and the applicant has to state the full purpose of the request along with every fact the Director considers relevant; giving incorrect information lets the City Manager or Council void the license later.

Section 29-93 splits approval authority by duration: the City Manager signs off on any license running thirty days or less, while anything longer than thirty days goes to the City Council. A denied applicant can appeal to the City Council by filing a written appeal with the City Secretary within ten business days of the denial, and if no appeal is filed in that window, the City Manager's decision becomes final; a timely appeal gets a Council hearing within thirty days of filing. Section 29-94 requires every license agreement to spell out the exact use granted and its term, hold the City harmless and indemnified against injury or property-damage claims tied to the license, and allow revocation on thirty days' notice, or sooner if the licensee violates the agreement. Fees for the license are set by the City and kept on file with the City Secretary under Section 29-95.