Erie, PA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

05 prohibits placing bales, boxes, barrels, hogsheads, crates, lumber, coal, wood, ashes 'or any article or thing whatsoever' on the sidewalk in front of a person's premises if it obstructs the walk. The only carve-out is for bicycle racks, which may sit at the outer edge of a sidewalk provided they stand no less than 28 and no more than 38 inches tall, run no wider than three feet, and carry no advertising beyond the owner's name. The same section bars driving or parking a wagon, cart, dray, sled or other vehicle on a sidewalk to load or unload goods, or letting a horse or team stand on the walk, and separately bars any wagon, cart or obstruction in a public alley that blocks free use of the alley.

01 backs this with a broader public-nuisance declaration covering merchandise, vehicles, trees, posts, timber, firewood, brick, stone, straw, hay, shavings or manure left on any street, public square or public wharf without Mayor-and-Council authorization, though it preserves existing allowances for sidewalk areaways and merchant display space. 06 clarifies that reasonable, temporary use of a sidewalk to load or unload goods to and from an adjoining store is permitted, so the ban targets objects left standing, not brief transfer activity.