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

1 lets owners of buildings or structures, other than fences and billboards, that already encroach in, upon, or over a public right-of-way keep that encroachment in place until the building or structure is destroyed or removed, provided the encroachment doesn't interfere with the city's use of the right-of-way, doesn't obstruct public travel, and isn't a public hazard; the section doesn't relieve the owner of negligence liability tied to the encroachment. Fences get no such grace period: under Sec. 00 penalty for each day the failure continues and have the encroachment removed at the owner's cost.

Billboards on city property, streets, or alleys must be removed by whoever owns or erected them, and failing to do so is a class 3 misdemeanor under Sec. 1-13. New work that will occupy the right-of-way, such as barriers, scaffolding, or protective devices around construction, needs its own right-of-way permit under Sec. 35-12, issued by the transportation engineer or a designee, with fees set and periodically revised by the city manager. 1 layers on a further ban on placing any new structure, barricade, wall, fence, or tent in the right-of-way abutting a public street or sidewalk, apart from mailboxes, newspaper tubes, approved bus shelters, or temporary structures tied to a city-supported event.