Flagstaff, AZ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

City Code Section 8-03-002-0005 lets the City issue permits for fixed continuing minor encroachments on public ways, including awnings, signs, balconies, bay windows, cornices, columns, pillars, shutters, roofs, show windows, ornamental projections, wires across streets, marquees, basement access and porticoes. Overhead encroachments must be securely attached to and supported by the structure carrying them, must extend no closer than 2 feet to a vertical line drawn from the curb face, and their lowest point must clear at least 8 feet above the sidewalk surface. The City may also permit subsurface encroachments such as excavations tied to utility installation and maintenance.

Columns, pillars and basement access structures need review and approval from the Heritage Preservation Commission on top of the other requirements of this division. A separate category covers temporary encroachments for placement of objects, construction or repair, granted at the City's sole discretion where they enhance the area's ambience or support exterior building repairs; this covers construction encroachments during building erection or repair, bicycle parking racks meeting ADA path requirements under Zoning Code Sections 10-50.80.050(B)(2) and (D), and potted plants, which must sit in leakproof containers and come off the sidewalk between November 1st and April 30th for snow removal.

Newspaper vending machines and U.S. Postal Service mail receptacles are expressly exempted from needing an encroachment permit at all, though machines must still sit at least 2 feet from the curb face. Applications go to the City Engineer at the Community Development Division counter with a drawing of the encroachment's width, doorways, sidewalk width and existing obstructions.