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O'Fallon, MO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Permit required
Before any private work in the ROW
Review deadline
31 days after complete application
Restoration bond
$5,000 for 24 months
Liability insurance
$1M per occurrence, $3M aggregate
Late-filing penalty
Triple the permit fee
Administering official
City Engineer

Summary

O'Fallon requires anyone who wants to dig, build or place anything in the public right-of-way, including work that touches a sidewalk, to first get a Right-of-Way (ROW) permit from the City Engineer. The permit is separate from any building permit, license or franchise already required, and the Engineer must act on a complete application within thirty-one days.

Any person desiring to perform ROW work must first apply for and obtain a ROW permit in addition to any other building permit, license, easement, franchise or authorization required by law. ... The Engineer shall promptly review each completed application for a ROW permit and shall grant or deny all such applications as provided herein within thirty-one (31) days of receipt thereof.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4860992; v58 updated 2026-05-14; through 05-14-2026).

Full Breakdown

020, a ROW permit application must name a 24/7 contact, describe the work with an engineering site plan, list projected start and end dates, and attach certificates of insurance or bonds. 00 aggregate. Minor work with no interference to the right-of-way is granted promptly; work with more than minor effect is scheduled and coordinated by the Engineer, who may postpone issuance to notify other potential right-of-way users so several projects can be combined. The Engineer can deny an application for delinquent fees, incomplete information, unresolved past violations, failure to restore the right-of-way after prior work, or environmental and historic sensitivity, provided the denial is competitively neutral.

Emergency work may start before the paperwork is filed, but the person doing it must notify the City as soon as practicable and apply for the permit no later than the third business day after the work begins.

Violations & Fines

Skipping the application altogether can trigger triple the normal permit fee under Section 406.020(A)(4)(e). Once issued, a permit can be revoked without a fee refund for a substantial breach, such as a material misrepresentation in the application or evading a permit condition, after the Engineer gives written notice and up to thirty days to cure. Any breach is also a Chapter 406 violation punishable under Section 100.010's general fine and imprisonment schedule, with unauthorized aboveground facilities subject to removal at the owner's expense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a City permit to work in the right-of-way in front of my house?
Yes. Section 406.020 requires anyone doing ROW work, defined broadly as excavation, obstruction, disruption or physical invasion of the right-of-way, to get a ROW permit from the City Engineer first, on top of any building permit already required for the same job.
How long does O'Fallon take to approve a ROW permit?
The Engineer must grant or deny a completed application within thirty-one days. Simple work causing no or minor interference is typically approved right away, while work with more than a minor effect is scheduled and coordinated with other right-of-way users first.
What happens if I start work without a permit?
Failing to submit an application can result in triple the normal permit fee being charged, and the work itself becomes a violation of Chapter 406 punishable under the City's general penalty section, Section 100.010, in addition to any cost of restoring the right-of-way.

Sources & Official References

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