Everett, MA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

The sidewalk obstruction rule is short. Section 17-18, Obstructing Sidewalks and Public Ways, in Chapter 17 of the Revised Ordinances enacted by the Everett City Council in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, says no person shall stand on any sidewalk or public way in such a manner as to obstruct free passage for pedestrians or vehicles. The test is the effect on passage, not how long the person stands there.

Section 17-6, Obstruction in Streets and Gutters, covers objects. Except as provided in the chapter, no person shall place or deposit, or permit to be placed or deposited, in any public way, any impediment or obstruction of any kind, including snow or ice from private premises, without a permit from the city services commission. Nor shall anyone occupy or obstruct a public way to interfere with the convenient use of the same for public travel. Subsection (b) limits street corner boxes such as newspaper, real estate and employment boxes to three at any public location. Subsection (d) defines public property to include sidewalks, strips between streets and sidewalks, alleys, public rights-of-way, parks and playgrounds.

Section 17-12(b) adds a clock: no person shall place or permit to remain on a public way for more than ten (10) minutes any goods or articles of which he is the owner or in charge. Section 17-12(c) bars standing in a roadway to solicit a ride, employment or business from a vehicle occupant, and subsection (e) bars standing directly in a lane of moving traffic to solicit or hand out material. Section 17-14 prohibits washing any vehicle in any public way. Section 17-9 keeps gates and doors from swinging into a public way.

Snow is a separate sidewalk duty under Section 17-6A, in force during a snow emergency called by the police chief or designee. Owners must clear a minimum passage of 36 inches in width or approximately 2/3 the sidewalk's width, whichever is less, within 12 hours after the emergency ends or the snowfall ends, and bus stops within 24 hours. The first offense is a warning and later offenses carry a $50.00 fine.