Ann Arbor, MI Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- No unpermitted street/sidewalk obstructions
- Owner duty
- Keep vegetation clear of passage
- Default penalty
- Up to $500 / 90 days
- Permit-holder fine
- Up to $1,000 civil infraction
Summary
Ann Arbor's Chapter 47 streets ordinance flatly bars placing or maintaining any obstruction in a street or sidewalk unless the city has specifically permitted it, with narrow carve-outs for brief loading and lawful parking.
No person shall place or maintain any article, thing or obstruction in any street, except as specifically permitted by this Code, but this provision shall not be deemed to prohibit such temporary obstructions as may be incidental to the expeditious movement of articles and things to and from abutting premises, nor to the lawful parking of vehicles within the part of the street reserved for vehicular traffic.(3)No person shall occupy any space in a street for purposes of selling goods or services, except as specifically permitted by Chapter 31 and Chapter 79, unless said person has received a permit pursuant to this chapter.(4)It is the duty of each owner of property adjacent to a street to maintain that property so that trees, shrubs and other vegetation do not obstruct the passage of vehicles, bicycles or pedestrians on streets or sidewalks. If a property owner fails to maintain the property as required by this section, the city may do the work necessary to bring the property into compliance and charge the property owner for the reasonable cost of the work. If the charges for the work are not paid, they may be assessed against the property, as provided in Section 10.4 of the City Charter. (Ord. No. 45-75, 2-17-76; Ord. No. 45-79, 9-4-79; Ord. No. 42-98, § 9, 10-5-98)
4:3. - Permits, indemnification, bonds and insurance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 4:2(2) prohibits placing or maintaining any article, thing or obstruction in any street unless the Code specifically permits it; the Code's own definitions make 'sidewalk' a portion of 'street,' so the ban reaches sidewalks too. Adjacent property owners also have an affirmative duty under § 4:2(4) to keep trees, shrubs and vegetation from blocking vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian passage, or the city can do the trimming and bill them.
Violations & Fines
General obstructions carry the Code's default penalty (§ 1:13): up to $500 and/or 90 days per offense, each day separate; permit holders who block pedestrian passage face a specific $1,000 civil-infraction fine under § 4:14(13)(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a sign or planter on the sidewalk in front of my business?
Who has to trim tree branches hanging over the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
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