Collierville, TN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

The Collierville Code of Ordinances regulates private use of the public right-of-way through three sets of rules. Section 92.30 makes it unlawful to make any excavation, cut or tunnel within any right of way, street, alley or public place without first obtaining a permit, or to vary from the permit's terms. A person maintaining pipes, lines or other underground facilities can proceed without a permit in an emergency when the work must be done immediately, but must apply on the first regular business day the Town Engineer's office is open, and the permit is retroactive to the day work began.

Applications go to the Town Engineer under § 92.31 and state the location, size and purpose of the work, who is doing it and for whom, with an agreement to comply with all Town standards, ordinances and laws. The Town Engineer approves or rejects the application. A permit fee set by resolution of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen is paid at filing under § 92.32, performance security such as a letter of credit or cash deposit must be filed before approval under § 92.33, and § 92.36 requires insurance of not less than $100,000 for each person and $300,000 for each accident for bodily injury, and not less than $25,000 for any one accident and a $75,000 aggregate for property damage. Section 92.38 directs the Town Administrator to inspect the work, with notice at least ten hours before refilling begins.

Under § 92.39, no one may cut, build or maintain a driveway across a curb or sidewalk without first obtaining a permit from the Town Engineer, and no permit issues where the driveway would create an unreasonable hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

Section 95.08(B) covers the opposite case, a fixed encroachment. No person or entity may encroach on any public street, park, greenbelt trail, right-of-way, alley, boulevard or other public property by placing or storing personal property or erecting a building or structure there. The Town sends a fifteen day written notice, then the Town Administrator directs removal or destruction and assesses the costs against the responsible party, with unpaid assessments placed as a lien. Under § 95.08(C), a resident with a fence immediately adjacent to Town property can, at their own expense, remove vegetation within Town property no more than six feet from the fence, but removing trees with trunks of six inches or more is prohibited and nothing may be planted or built in the cleared area.