Greensboro, NC Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Application fee
- $15.00, nonrefundable on renewal
- Peak travel-lane fee
- $70/day/lane, major thoroughfares
- CBD sidewalk fee
- $10.00 per day per sidewalk
- Unpermitted obstruction penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, $50 fine
- Issuing authority
- City manager or designee
- Governing standard
- City WATCH handbook + MUTCD
Summary
Placing anything that blocks or impedes a Greensboro street, sidewalk or right-of-way requires a Temporary Right-of-Way (TROW) encroachment permit from the city manager under Sec. 26-4. The $15 application fee is only the start: daily use fees run from $2 up to $70 depending on street classification, peak hours and whether the encroachment sits in a travel lane, sidewalk or parking space.
(a)It shall be unlawful to obstruct or block, impede or place any object or thing having the potential to obstruct, block, or impede any city street sidewalk, or right-of-way without a written permit therefore from the city manager or his/her/their designee. Pursuant to G.S. § 14-4, any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor with a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00)... (b)(1)Application fee. An application fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) will be required to submit an application for an encroachment permit. This fee shall be waived for applications to extend an existing permit for which an application fee has already been paid.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 132).
Full Breakdown
Greensboro's TROW ordinance, Code of Ordinances Sec. 26-4, makes it unlawful to obstruct, block or impede any city street, sidewalk or right-of-way, or place anything with the potential to do so, without a written encroachment permit from the city manager or designee. City construction and maintenance work is exempt, and a street/sidewalk café permit issued under chapter 26, division 3 satisfies the requirement without paying the separate encroachment fees. 00 nonrefundable application fee (waived only when extending an already-paid permit), plus daily encroachment fees keyed to street classification and time of day.
00 peak. 00 per day. 00 per day. Permit holders must follow the specifications in the City of Greensboro Work Area Traffic Control Handbook (WATCH) and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Ignore the permit conditions and the transportation director can revoke the permit outright by written notice. 00 fine.
Violations & Fines
Obstructing a Greensboro street, sidewalk or right-of-way without a TROW permit is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. § 14-4, punishable by a $50.00 fine. Permit holders who ignore their conditions face outright revocation by the transportation director on written notice, and unpaid daily encroachment fees accrue for every day the obstruction stays in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put a dumpster or storage pod on a Greensboro street?
How much does a Greensboro encroachment permit cost?
Can the city revoke my Greensboro encroachment permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greensboro
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Encroachment Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle encroachment permits.