Manatee County, FL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

Sec. 2-28-22 makes a right-of-way use permit mandatory before any person, corporation, partnership or association constructs, installs, removes, relocates or performs work within, on, under or above a county right-of-way, unless the activity is exempted by state or federal law. Routine maintenance that does not involve excavation or closing a sidewalk or vehicular lane, replacement of substantially similar wireless facilities, and utility emergency repairs are excused from the permit requirement. Applications under Sec. 2-28-25 must include a completed form, signed and sealed engineering drawings showing the offset from the right-of-way centerline, right-of-way and pavement width, and a cost estimate; the right-of-way manager can also require a traffic control and management plan meeting FDOT Series 600 or MUTCD standards when the work will encroach on vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian traffic.

Sec. 2-28-33 lets the board set the fee schedule, exempts county employees and contractors, and charges half price for permit extensions. Sec. 2-28-34 requires a surety bond, or cash, certified check or letter of credit in lieu of bond, sized to a licensed engineer's or contractor's cost estimate, held for a two-year guarantee period after installation is complete. Permits run no more than one year and may be extended once for up to another year (Sec. 2-28-28(c)). , Monday through Saturday, unless the right-of-way manager approves a deviation; emergency repairs and nighttime water tie-ins are excepted (Sec.

2-28-30). A copy of the permit must stay on site while work is underway (Sec. 2-28-28(d)), and the permittee must restore any disturbed area, including sod, shrubbery and damaged pavement, to its pre-work condition at its own expense (Sec. 2-28-31).