Chesapeake, VA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited objects
- Fences, gates, porches, benches, merchandise, and more
- Test
- May obstruct safe, convenient use by vehicles/pedestrians
- Enforcement
- Director of public works orders removal
- Non-compliance cost
- City removes object, bills owner for cost
- Permitted exceptions
- Entryway features (Sec. 66-121.1) and signs (Sec. 14-700)
Summary
Chesapeake bans placing fences, gates, porches, benches, merchandise, or almost any other object on a sidewalk, street, right-of-way or alley if it obstructs safe use by vehicles or pedestrians. Sec. 66-8 lets the director of public works order the owner to remove it, and the city can remove it and bill the owner if the owner refuses.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place on any sidewalk, street, right-of-way or alley in the city any object which may obstruct the safe and convenient use of the same by vehicles and pedestrians, including, but not limited to, any fence, gate, porch, step, post, barrel, bench, bar, table, box, carriage, buggy, wagon, merchandise, goods, wares or other fixtures or articles whatsoever, whether they be for sale, exhibition or any other purpose. Should the owner of such object fail or refuse to remove such objects within a reasonable time after having been so notified by the director of public works, or designee, the director of public works or designee shall proceed to have such objects removed to such place as may be approved and collect the cost of such removal from the owner thereof.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 66-8 casts a wide net over what counts as a sidewalk or right-of-way obstruction, naming fences, gates, porches, steps, posts, barrels, benches, bars, tables, boxes, carriages, buggies, wagons and any merchandise, goods or wares set out for sale or exhibition, plus a catch-all for other fixtures or articles whatsoever. The test is functional: an object violates the section if it may obstruct the safe and convenient use of the sidewalk, street, right-of-way or alley by vehicles and pedestrians, regardless of what the object is.
Enforcement runs through the director of public works or a designee, who notifies the owner and gives a reasonable time to remove the object; if the owner fails or refuses, the city removes it and bills the owner for the cost of removal. The section carves out three exceptions built into other parts of the code: entryway structures and ornamental features other than signs may sit in the right-of-way if the director of development and permits approves them through a permit issued under Sec. 1; signs are allowed in the right-of-way under a permit issued per Sec.
14-700 of the zoning ordinance; and the director of public works may adopt a residential roadway delineation policy for roads without curb and gutter, under which anything the policy permits is treated as permitted and anything else remains a violation. 2-2009 supplies the state-law backdrop authorizing this kind of local street-obstruction ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Leaving an obstructing object on a sidewalk, street, right-of-way or alley violates Sec. 66-8 as soon as the director of public works determines it interferes with safe use. After notice, an owner who does not remove the object within a reasonable time faces city removal at the owner's expense, billed for the full cost. Unpermitted entryway structures, ornamental features or signs in the right-of-way lose the exception and are treated the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a bench or planter on the sidewalk in front of my house in Chesapeake?
What happens if I don't remove an obstruction after the city tells me to?
Are decorative entryway features in the right-of-way allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesapeake
Compare Chesapeake to another location·View the Virginia sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.