Bellevue prohibits obstructing public sidewalks per BCC 14.30. Vegetation, vehicles, trash cans, and A-frame signs cannot block the pedestrian clear zone of 5 feet.
Bellevue City Code Chapter 14.30 and Land Use Code 20.20.522 together require that public sidewalks and pedestrian paths remain clear of obstructions at all times. A minimum unobstructed pedestrian clear zone of 5 feet in width and 8 feet in vertical clearance must be maintained. Property owners must trim overhanging vegetation (trees, shrubs, and hedges) that encroaches into this clear zone. Parking vehicles across or partially on the sidewalk is prohibited and subject to parking enforcement. Placing trash or recycling bins on the sidewalk outside of collection windows (no earlier than the evening before, must be removed by end of collection day) is a violation. Temporary sidewalk obstructions for construction, moving, or events require a Right-of-Way Use permit from the Transportation Department. A-frame sandwich boards, outdoor seating, and merchandise displays on commercial sidewalks require a Sidewalk Cafe or Pedestrian Right-of-Way permit. Violations are civil infractions carrying fines up to 250 dollars per day. Report obstructions via the MyBellevue app or 425-452-6855.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Bellevue, WA
On-street parking in Bellevue is governed by BCC Chapter 11.23, which restricts parking to 72 consecutive hours and prohibits blocking driveways, fire hydran...
Bellevue, WA
Bellevue allows overnight on-street parking up to 72 hours total, but signed residential zones and commercial-vehicle rules create additional limits from 12 ...
Bellevue, WA
Bellevue restricts on-street commercial vehicle parking over 10,000 pounds to 1 hour in residential zones and limits storage of work vehicles in front yards ...
Bellevue, WA
Bellevue limits RV and boat storage in residential yards and restricts on-street RV parking to 72 hours, with additional setback and screening rules in LUC 2...
Bellevue, WA
Bellevue requires building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing; walls in critical areas need geotechnical review regardle...
Bellevue, WA
Bellevue has no formal defensible space mandate like California, but homes in Wildland Urban Interface areas such as Cougar Mountain should maintain 30-foot ...
See how Bellevue's obstruction rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.