Carver County, MN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 93.21
- Non-emergency penalty
- Double the permit fee, double other fees
- Emergency notice deadline
- Apply for permit within 2 business days
- Excuse that does not count
- Gopher State One-Call notice alone
- Sidewalks covered
- Yes, per § 93.03 ROW definition
Summary
Obstructing or excavating a Carver County right-of-way, including a public sidewalk, without first getting a permit is a separate violation under Code of Ordinances § 93.21. Outside an emergency, the responsible party must still obtain a permit afterward and pay double every fee tied to it.
(B) Non-emergency situations. Except in an emergency, any person who, without first having obtained the necessary permit, obstructs or excavates a right-of-way must subsequently obtain a permit and, as a penalty, pay double the normal fee for said permit, pay double all the other fees required by this code, deposit with the county the fees necessary to correct any damage to the right-of-way, and comply with all of the requirements of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-20: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 111-2025, passed 7-25-25).
Full Breakdown
21(B), titled 'Non-emergency situations,' states that except in an emergency, any person who obstructs or excavates a right-of-way without first having obtained the necessary permit must subsequently obtain one and, as a penalty, pay double the normal fee for that permit, pay double all other fees required by the code, and deposit with the county the funds necessary to correct any damage done to the right-of-way, on top of complying with every other Chapter 93 requirement. 21(A): a registrant must immediately notify the county of any emergency involving its facilities and may act right away to respond, but a call to Gopher State One-Call alone does not satisfy this notice duty, and the registrant must apply for the needed permits and pay the associated fees within two business days after the emergency.
If the county itself learns of an emergency, it will try to contact the registrant's local representative but may take whatever action it deems necessary, billing the cost to the registrant whose facilities caused the emergency. 03 expressly reaches public sidewalks in which the county has an interest, unpermitted work that blocks or digs up a sidewalk area falls squarely under this obstruction rule, not just roadway excavation.
Violations & Fines
Working without a permit costs double the standard permit fee plus double every other applicable fee, and the violator must deposit funds to cover right-of-way repair costs before the county will regularize the work. A substantial breach found afterward can still lead to permit revocation under § 93.23 with no refund, and the county may pursue injunctive relief or recover corrective-action costs through a civil action, certifying unpaid amounts as a special property tax assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a grace period for emergency right-of-way work?
What is the penalty for blocking a sidewalk without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carver County
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