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

Article VIII of Chapter 222 governs obstructions of public ways. Section 222-43 bars placing, erecting or causing to be placed any fixture or structure within a sidewalk, street or highway unless a permit authorizing it is granted and in effect, issued by the City Council or another designated City authority for City ways, or by the state Department of Public Works for state highways. Section 222-44 separately addresses merchandise display and loading: no one but a City or state employee performing public duties may leave an article, material or merchandise, or park a vehicle or cart, on a sidewalk, street or highway to display merchandise without the same kind of permit, though reasonable and expeditious loading or unloading is allowed as long as it never blocks pedestrian or vehicular passage.

Section 222-45 gives the City the power to move any fixture, structure or property placed illegally under §§ 222-43 or 222-44, at the owner's expense, once an officer directs the removal. Section 222-46 lets the City Council or other issuing authority demand a cash deposit, surety bond or insurance policy from a permit holder to cover any liability the obstruction might cause to the City or the Commonwealth. Read together, these sections mean that anything from a sidewalk display rack to construction staging in the right-of-way needs advance City Council or DPW sign-off, and unpermitted material does not just risk a fine, it can be physically hauled away and billed back to whoever put it there.