Jefferson County, MO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- Personal property banned on right-of-way, § 345.110
- Trash exception
- Curbside until end of next day
- Eviction exception
- 24-hour limit, then deemed abandoned
- Related ban
- Basketball hoops, sports gear, § 345.100
- Removal power
- Highway Administrator or County Police
- Coverage
- Unincorporated Jefferson County roads only
- Penalty
- Up to 1 year jail or $2,000 fine
Summary
Jefferson County makes it unlawful to place personal property, including furniture set out during a rental eviction, on the sidewalk, roadway or any part of a county road's public right-of-way. Trash may sit at the curb only until the end of the following day, and evicted tenants' belongings must be cleared within twenty-four hours or the county treats them as abandoned.
It is unlawful to place personal property, including personal property involved in an eviction from rental property, on the sidewalk, roadway or any part of the public right-of-way of a County roadway, except as follows: 1. For trash collection by the end of the following day; 2. In the event of an eviction, property may be so placed by the landlord for a period not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours, after which the property shall be deemed abandoned and must be removed from the right-of-way by the landlord.
Full Breakdown
110 of the Jefferson County Traffic Code, Title III, prohibits placing personal property on the sidewalk, roadway or any other part of the public right-of-way of a county roadway. Two narrow exceptions apply: trash set out for collection may sit at the curb only until the end of the following day, and property removed during a landlord eviction may stay in the right-of-way for up to twenty-four hours before the code deems it abandoned and requires the landlord to remove it. 100 bars a related form of obstruction: no one may place or erect a basketball hoop, playground equipment or other sports apparatus in or on a public roadway or sidewalk, or use such equipment for any activity conducted in the roadway or on the sidewalk.
The County gives the Highway Administrator of Highways and Traffic, that official's designated representative, or any Jefferson County Police Officer authority to physically remove a prohibited hoop, apparatus or item of personal property from the roadway or sidewalk without waiting for a citation to resolve the obstruction. 110 governs sidewalks and rights-of-way on unincorporated county roads; residents of Arnold, Festus, De Soto, Hillsboro and the County's other cities are covered by their own municipal obstruction ordinances instead. 040.
Violations & Fines
Blocking a sidewalk or county right-of-way with personal property is a Traffic Code misdemeanor under Section 300.040, punishable by up to one year in the County Jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both, where no different penalty is set elsewhere. Jefferson County Police Officers and the Highway Administrator's office can remove the obstructing property directly rather than wait for a court date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave furniture or belongings on a Jefferson County sidewalk?
How long can evicted tenants' belongings sit in the right-of-way?
Are basketball hoops allowed in the street in Jefferson County?
Does this right-of-way rule apply inside Arnold or Festus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Missouri sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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