Corpus Christi, TX Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Sec. 49-2 of the Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful for any person to obstruct, construct, encroach, place, or permit to be placed any object, obstruction, infrastructure, or facility upon, in, under, or over a street, sidewalk, the space between sidewalk and curbing, a travel lane, or any other commonly traveled part of a street, alley, or public right-of-way. The Director of Public Works, or a department designee, is the sole authority who can grant a permit or license exempting a person or organization from that ban, and the director enacts the rules governing those permits.

Under subsection (c), those rules can require the applicant's name, address, and phone number; emergency contact information; the exact location and purpose of the obstruction, closure, or encroachment; limits on its size, location, and duration; an indemnification requirement protecting the city; permit or license fees; conditions preserving the physical integrity and safety of streets and sidewalks or requested by the city traffic engineer; and penalties for violations. Two carve-outs exist: placing a receptacle, container, heavy brush, or bulky items on the right-of-way for pickup by the city's solid waste operations department is not covered by the section at all, and anyone operating under an existing city franchise agreement or council authorization to build in the right-of-way continues under that agreement instead of this permit process. The section traces to Code 1958 § 34-1 and was last amended by Ordinance No. 032622 on December 14, 2021.