Burlington, WI Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Article II of Chapter 274 governs right-of-way management. Section 274-15A requires anyone who occupies, uses, or has equipment in the right-of-way to obtain a right-of-way permit from the DPW, and (B) separately requires registration with the DPW before any construction, installation, repair, removal, relocation, or other work there. Subsection C targets dumpsters, storage containers, and construction vehicles specifically: a DPW permit is required to place one at all, none may remain in the right-of-way between November 15 and March 15, and between March 16 and November 14 one may stay no longer than three continuous calendar weeks; an emergency placement can be permitted during the winter window for up to three weeks but can be revoked for weather or snowplowing needs on 48 hours' notice.

Registration under § 274-16 requires the applicant's and a local representative's contact information available at all times, plus a certificate of insurance naming the City as an additional insured with minimums of $500,000 per person and $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury, and the same limits for property damage, with a 10-day cancellation notice to the City; only sidewalk and driveway apron work by adjacent property owners is exempt. Applying for a permit under § 274-18 requires a completed application with scaled drawings, payment of all fees and prior amounts owed the City, and a certified or cashier's check for $2,000 payable to the City of Burlington, refunded once restoration is confirmed complete, again exempting owner-performed sidewalk and driveway apron work.

Fees for excavation, sidewalk/driveway-apron work, dumpster placement, and City inspection are all set by the Common Council under § 274-20. The permittee must restore the work area to its prior condition per DPW standards and guarantee that restoration for 24 months under § 274-21, and the DPW can order an immediate halt to noncompliant work and revoke the permit if defects aren't corrected within 10 days under § 274-22C.