Blocking sidewalks with vehicles, vegetation, trash bins, or construction materials is prohibited. Minimum clear path widths are enforced under local bylaws and ADA standards.
Middlesex County municipalities prohibit obstructing public sidewalks under local traffic and general bylaws. Cambridge Municipal Code 12.16 requires a minimum 4-foot clear pedestrian path. Somerville and Newton enforce similar standards referenced to Americans with Disabilities Act 2010 Standards requiring a 36-inch minimum accessible route with 60-inch passing spaces. Common violations include parked vehicles blocking sidewalks, overgrown hedges, trash barrels left out past collection day, construction dumpsters without permits, sandwich board signs, and snow piles blocking curb ramps. Obstruction fines typically range from 50 to 300 dollars per day. Construction, moving trucks, and dumpsters require street occupancy permits from DPW. Restaurant outdoor seating encroaching on sidewalks requires a license from the local licensing board.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no operational county government - it was abolished July 11, 1997 under M.G.L. c. 34B - so there is no countywide noise ordinance. Massa...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County treats persistent barking as a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. Dog licensing required statewide (MGL c.140 §155).
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County has no unified leaf blower ordinance. Regulations are set by individual cities and towns such as Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, and Lexington...
Middlesex County, MA
Middlesex County restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight and size limits apply. Overnight storage of heavy trucks prohibited.
Middlesex County, MA
Driveway rules are set by each Middlesex County city or town zoning bylaw. Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, and Framingham regulate curb cuts, width, paving, a...
Middlesex County, MA
Winter parking bans are the dominant rule across Middlesex County. Most cities prohibit overnight on-street parking from November through April to allow snow...
See how Burlington'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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.