Jacksonville Beach, FL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Section 28-7 of the Jacksonville Beach Code is a broad permission rule. It makes it unlawful for any person to place, park, leave, erect, construct, maintain, expose or display for sale or washing or cleaning any post, pole, goods, wares, furniture, boxes, receptacles, fruits, vegetables, merchandise, building material, fuels, slippery substances or other obstruction of whatsoever nature or kind. The listed places are any street, alley, sidewalk, footway, park, beach, pool or surf. The test is whether written permission was first obtained from the city manager or chief of police, so verbal approval does not satisfy the section.

Nearby sections in Chapter 28 add more. Section 28-4 makes it unlawful for any person owning or controlling property to allow the swinging of any gate, blind or door over any sidewalk or street in front of that property. Section 28-5(b) makes the abutting landowner responsible for caring for and protecting the adjacent sidewalk and parkway, and it says the space for sidewalks shall not be blocked when owners plant grass, flowers or shrubbery or place a coping or barrier along an improved parkway. Section 28-8 makes it unlawful to remove, break or render ineffective any light, lantern, barricade, fence or other warning device in a street, alley or sidewalk while it is out of repair, dangerous or being improved.

For permanent encroachments, Section 28-9 lets the city manager grant a right-of-way easement on written application, solely for fences, parking, landscaping, canopies, balconies or dumpster enclosures, and each easement must be specific as to area, time and purpose. The city council can set fees for the application.