Fall River, MA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned items
- Trunks, boxes, barrels, packages, deposits
- Group rule
- No 2+ people blocking a sidewalk
- Legal test
- Interferes with travelers' convenient use
- Applies to
- Streets, sidewalks, public places
Summary
Fall River bars leaving trunks, boxes, barrels, or other items on any street or sidewalk if they interfere with travelers, and separately bars two or more people from standing so as to block foot traffic.
No person shall occupy, obstruct or encumber any street, sidewalk or other public place with any trunk, box, barrel, package, article or deposit of any kind so as to interfere with the convenient use thereof by travelers. ... No person shall stand with, or near to, two or more persons upon any sidewalk, street or other public place so as to obstruct or inconvenience travel.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
Fall River's obstruction ordinance bars leaving trunks, boxes, barrels, packages or any other deposit on a street, sidewalk or public place if it interferes with travelers' convenient use (§ 66-252). A companion section, § 66-253, separately bars standing with two or more people on a sidewalk, street or public place so as to obstruct or inconvenience passersby. Both sit in Chapter 66's Obstructions article and apply citywide to any private encroachment onto the public right-of-way.
Violations & Fines
No stated fine in §§ 66-252 or 66-253; City Code violations default to the general penalty of up to $300 per offense under § 1-15, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave boxes or barrels on a Fall River sidewalk?
Is it illegal to block a Fall River sidewalk with a group of people?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
Compare Fall River to another location·View the Massachusetts sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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Obstruction Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bristol County handle obstruction rules.