Anoka County, MN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Ordinance #2025-2, adopted by the County Board on February 25, 2025, replaced the prior Right of Way Ordinance #2000-2 (dated November 28, 2000) in its entirety. 03 defines 'Right of Way' broadly to include the area on, below or above a county roadway, highway, street, boulevard, cartway, walking or bicycle trail, and public sidewalk in which the county has an interest, and defines 'Obstruct' as placing any tangible object in that right-of-way so as to hinder free and open passage. 08, Subdivision 1 requires anyone who wants to access, landscape, excavate or grade, install facilities, hold a sponsored event, interfere with traffic or pedestrian flow, or obstruct the right-of-way to first register and obtain the appropriate permit from the county.

The Right of Way Permit is issued by the Highway Department and covers only the specific stretch of right-of-way described in the permit. Routine maintenance work that obstructs a roadway or pedestrian facility needs its own annual obstruction permit, issued at the Director's discretion under Subdivision 3, and permit extensions require a supplementary application filed before the original permit expires. 16 to protect public health, safety or the future use of the right-of-way, or if the applicant has unresolved breaches of a prior permit.