Kennewick, WA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KMC § 5.56.210, Miscellaneous Obstructions
- Obstruction ban
- No obstruction impeding travel except approved traffic devices
- Debris ban
- No cans, leaves, clippings or debris in right-of-way
- Burning ban
- No burning debris on roadway or sidewalk surfaces
- Default penalty
- Misdemeanor: up to $1,000 fine, 90 days jail
- Continuing offense
- Each day counts as a separate violation
Summary
Kennewick Municipal Code § 5.56.210 bars placing any obstruction in a public street, sidewalk, alley or easement that impedes or inconveniences travel, with the only exception being traffic control devices approved under § 5.56.150. The same section separately bans dumping garbage cans, leaves, grass clippings, prunings or other debris in the public right-of-way and prohibits burning debris on an improved street or sidewalk surface.
5.56.210 Miscellaneous Obstructions: (1)No obstruction may be placed in any public way which impedes or inconveniences travel except for approved traffic control devices (see Section 5.56.150).(2)No garbage cans, leaves, grass clippings, prunings, other debris, or obstructions may be deposited on any public street, walkway, path, public utility easement, lane, or alley. Burning of any debris on improved roadway or sidewalk surfaces is prohibited. ... 1.12.010 General Penalty: Any person violating any provision or failing to comply with any mandatory requirement of this Code which is designated a misdemeanor, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 and imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Whenever any act is prohibited or compliance with a provision is required by this Code and no designation as to misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or infraction is indicated, the act or omission is a misdemeanor. ... 1.12.040 Continuing Offenses: A person is guilty of a separate offense for each day or any portion thereof in which a violation of any provision of this Code is committed, continued or permitted and may be punished accordingly.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
210, titled "Miscellaneous Obstructions," is the city's general catch-all rule against blocking streets, sidewalks, alleys and easements. It has two operative parts. 150. That means A-frame signs, staged construction materials, parked equipment, stacked merchandise or anything else set in a street, alley or right-of-way that slows or blocks pedestrians and vehicles is unlawful unless the Deputy Director of Public Works has approved it as a traffic control device. Subsection (2) targets yard and household waste specifically: garbage cans, leaves, grass clippings, prunings and other debris cannot be deposited on any public street, walkway, path, public utility easement, lane or alley, and the same subsection separately bans burning any debris on an improved roadway or sidewalk surface, closing off curbside burn piles as a way to clear yard waste.
010 controls. 00 and up to 90 days in jail, or both. 040 adds that each day an obstruction or a pile of dumped debris remains in the public way is treated as a separate offense, so leaving material in place accrues additional exposure the longer it sits uncorrected. A property owner who needs to place material in the right-of-way, such as during sidewalk or driveway repair, has to go through the construction permit and traffic-control-device process instead of simply leaving material in the public way.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of Section 5.56.210 is prosecuted as a misdemeanor under Section 1.12.010, carrying a fine up to $1,000.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both. Because Section 1.12.040 makes each day a continuing violation a separate offense, an obstruction or dumped debris pile left in the right-of-way for a week can generate multiple counts. Public Works and Kennewick Police both have authority to cite obstructions under this chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stack yard waste at the curb before pickup day?
Is it legal to burn a pile of leaves at the curb?
What happens if I put up an A-frame sign in the sidewalk?
Who enforces the obstruction rule?
Sources & Official References
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