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Hammond, IN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Covers
streets, alleys, sidewalks, grounds, parkways
Standard
any material, substance, vehicle, or thing
Enforcers
Police Chief, Code Enforcement Commissioner
Added by
Ordinance 5083 (1986)
Max fine
$2,500, $7,500 repeat offense

Summary

In the City of Hammond, Indiana, it is unlawful for anyone to encumber or obstruct a street, alley, sidewalk, public ground, building or parkway with any material, substance, vehicle or thing whatsoever under Hammond Code of Ordinances § 101.013. Any police officer who finds an obstruction is directed to work to remove it, and if it cannot readily be cleared, the officer reports the condition to the Department of Public Works and Safety.

It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to encumber or obstruct any street, alley, sidewalk, public ground, building or parkway in the city with any material, substance, vehicle or thing whatsoever.

View official code

Full Breakdown

013, Obstruction of Public Property, is written broadly: it bars encumbering or obstructing a street, alley, sidewalk, public ground, building or parkway in the city with any material, substance, vehicle or thing whatsoever, without carving out permit exceptions inside the section itself. 080 for digging or placing material in the right-of-way. 002 assigns the Chief of Police and the Code Enforcement Commissioner to see to enforcement of the whole chapter, and directs any police officer who comes across an obstruction in a street, alley or sidewalk to try to remove it on the spot.

002(B) requires the officer to report the condition to the Department of Public Works and Safety, which then takes charge of clearing it. The section was added to the code by Ordinance 5083, passed October 27, 1986.

Violations & Fines

§ 101.013 carries a penalty line to the Chapter 101 catch-all at § 10.99: a fine of up to $2,500 for obstructing a Hammond street, alley, sidewalk, public ground, building or parkway, with every day the obstruction continues counted as a separate offense. A second conviction for obstructing public property under this section raises the maximum fine to $7,500.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as an illegal obstruction on a Hammond sidewalk?
Section 101.013 covers any material, substance, vehicle or thing whatsoever placed so as to encumber or obstruct a street, alley, sidewalk, public ground, building or parkway in the city, a deliberately broad standard with no listed exceptions inside the section.
Who removes an obstruction from a Hammond street or sidewalk?
Under § 101.002, any police officer who finds an obstruction is directed to try to remove it. If the officer cannot readily clear it, the officer reports the condition to the Department of Public Works and Safety for removal.
Is there a permit that lets me place material in a Hammond street?
Section 101.013 itself sets no permit exception. Placing building material or other material in a public street, sidewalk or alley instead falls under the special permit rules in § 101.003 or the excavation permit required by § 101.080.
What is the penalty for obstructing public property in Hammond?
Section 101.013 points to the § 10.99 general penalty: up to $2,500 per violation, with each day the obstruction continues a separate offense, and up to $7,500 for a repeat conviction of the same section.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Hammond

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All Hammond rules

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