Georgetown, KY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Georgetown handles sidewalk obstruction in three connected sections of Chapter 32, Article II. Section 32-29 is the plain rule: no person shall obstruct any street, sidewalk or alley with boxes, barrels, building materials or other substances.

Section 32-24 covers work in the public way. It makes it unlawful for anyone to leave any obstruction on the streets, sidewalks, alleys or public ways of the city, or to leave any part of them torn up or unfit for public travel, unless the person places in a conspicuous place a red lantern or other light, lighted from twilight until daylight, with necessary safeguards in daylight. The section also reaches any person engaged in building or improving, including the municipal water and sanitary sewer service, and any gas, waterworks, electric light company or street railway constructing or repairing mains, pipes or road beds. Whoever fails to remove all dirt and material from the streets after the work, or fails within a reasonable time to repair the injury to streets and pavements, is fined as provided in section 1-13 for each offense, pays the costs of removal and repair, and is liable for all damages that accrue.

Section 32-25 is the builder's allowance. Persons engaged in building or improving have permission to occupy so much of the street and sidewalks contiguous to the works, for a reasonable time, as is necessary for construction, provided that there is at all times space opposite the work for two vehicles to pass.

Related sidewalk duties sit nearby. Section 32-47 makes each owner responsible for keeping the sidewalk bordering their property in good repair and declares that allowing a sidewalk to become a danger to the public is a public nuisance subject to enforcement and abatement under chapter 2, article VI. Section 32-29 prints no penalty of its own, so the general penalty in section 1-13(a) applies: a fine not exceeding $500.00 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both, with each day a separate offense unless otherwise provided.