Allentown, PA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Section 545-46 of the Codified Ordinances bars placing any temporary obstruction in the right-of-way of a City street without a use permit from the Director of Community and Economic Development or a designee. M. Dumpsters placed in the cartway must carry reflective tape. Merchandise or produce displays must come off the sidewalk one hour after sunset and stay off until sunrise, unless the area is well lit with an attendant present overnight. Applications need plans and specifications approved by the Division of Inspections, and the Director can deny a permit if the obstruction would create a safety hazard or is not aesthetically appropriate to the surrounding area.

In a historic district, the Board of Historical Architectural Review must also approve the obstruction as historically appropriate. Written approval from the property owner responsible for maintaining that stretch of sidewalk is required for obstructions off Hamilton Street. Vending machines are limited to newspaper and advertising boxes, which face their own siting rules: banned in residential or park zones, barred from sidewalks under five feet wide, and requiring the abutting owner's written permission plus proof of liability insurance. Permits issue monthly or annually, renew every January, and the City may cancel or revoke one for a violation of the article.