Charlottesville, VA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Section 28-5 lets the city traffic engineer or city manager permit the temporary use of any city right-of-way, including a street, on-street parking space, or sidewalk, for purposes other than public ones, and to close that right-of-way to public travel while the private use is underway. The permit issues only after a finding that the closing won't unduly injure public safety and convenience, that the closing is necessary because the activity will impede traffic or pedestrian travel, and that any state-highway extension being closed can still be adequately detoured.

Conditions attach automatically: no advertising may be displayed on the closed right-of-way, the permittee must carry public liability and property damage insurance naming the city as an additional insured, in amounts the city manager sets, and the permittee is liable for any damage to persons or property from the use. Every object placed in the right-of-way, including equipment, vehicles, scaffolding, trailers and containers, must be specifically listed in the permit. Ordinary temporary use is capped at 48 hours, but the traffic engineer may authorize a longer period for a use tied to construction activity on adjacent property.

Applications go in writing to the city traffic engineer, and approved permits carry daily fees of $5 per on-street parking space used, $5 per sidewalk used, and $5 per right-of-way segment used, on top of any separate building-permit fee for erecting a temporary structure. A city traffic engineer's decision authorizing a closing longer than 30 days can be appealed by a city resident or business owner under the procedure in § 15-4(e)(2), and any permit can be revoked for noncompliance with its conditions.