Long Beach, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Long Beach Municipal Code § 14.04.040(B) prohibits using a public sidewalk, unimproved public walkway, or the parkway (the strip between sidewalk and curb) to display goods for sale or to leave goods, boxes, trucks, barrels or trunks in place for longer than is necessary to move them between a transporting vehicle and an adjoining business or residence, and sets a hard outer limit of sixty minutes regardless of purpose. Section 14.04.040(A) applies the same rule to the sidewalk, street and parkway together. A separate, broader prohibition at § 14.04.010(A) bars anyone from congregating on or using a street, alley, pier or park in a way that obstructs free passage, and § 14.04.010(B) specifically forbids obstructing a parking lane except for legally parked vehicles or activity permitted under Chapter 14.06.

The sidewalk-goods rule exempts electrical or other signs, garbage, waste, trash, awnings, balconies and other building projections that are separately regulated elsewhere in the Code, and it does not apply to activity permitted under Chapter 5.73 (sidewalk vending) or Chapter 14.14 (public walkway occupancy, covering sidewalk cafes and parklets). A related, more detailed permit scheme at § 14.04.015 governs construction-related sidewalk, traffic-lane and parking-lane closures, requiring a Department of Public Works permit, defining Peak Traffic Hours as 6:00 a.m.–8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. on designated street classifications, and exempting genuine emergency work if the City is notified in advance and a permit is obtained within forty-eight hours.