Minnetonka, MN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Section 845.010 lists nuisances affecting public peace, safety and general welfare, and several apply directly to sidewalks and the right-of-way in Minnetonka. Item 1 covers interfering with, obstructing or rendering dangerous for passage a public highway or right-of-way. Item 5 covers placing or throwing glass, tacks, nails, bottles or other substances on any street, sidewalk or other public property that can injure a person or animal or damage a pneumatic tire. Item 20 covers encroachments onto publicly-owned property or tax-forfeited property under public control without a legal right or permission from the public owner, including buildings or other objects, dumping of organic materials, storing of privately-owned items, and activities such as mowing, vegetation removal, or applying fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides.

Item 14 controls mailboxes in the right-of-way. They must meet United States Postal Service location and type rules, be installed as far back from the pavement as reasonably practical to avoid snow plowing damage, and sit within four feet of the intersection of a side property line with the street or in front of the building served.

Snow is handled in § 1130.010. A person must not deposit snow or ice plowed or removed from private property onto a public street, public sidewalk or other public property. Snow from private property can go in the boulevard abutting that property but not in non-abutting boulevards. No one can deposit snow or ice onto a street or sidewalk in a way that unreasonably obstructs its use or interferes with city snowplowing, and an owner or occupant cannot permit a plow contractor to do it.

Enforcement runs through § 845.045: written notice by the enforcing officer, a reasonable abatement time, and a written appeal to the city clerk within seven calendar days of service or before the abatement deadline, whichever comes first.