Somerville, MA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Section 12-18 bars leaving "any vehicle or any other obstacle or article on any sidewalk or in any public or private way," or placing any obstruction in a street at any time, without first getting a permit from the commissioner of public works and lighting and guarding the obstacle to the commissioner's satisfaction. 00 to protect the city against liability and loss from the obstruction. The rule dates to the 1963 Code (former § 12-8) and was most recently amended by Ordinance 2009-15, effective November 12, 2009, which added an exception for construction dumpsters, which are instead regulated separately under section 12-77's dumpster permit and fee scheme.

The section can be enforced by the commissioner of public works, the commissioner's designee, or any police officer, giving the city three separate enforcement paths for the same encroachment. This encroachment permit sits alongside, but is legally distinct from, section 12-12's general nighttime-material rule and section 12-17's separate permission requirement for erecting posts or supports on a street or sidewalk, both of which the commissioner or city council also administers.