Palm Coast, FL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Section 42-56, part of the Right-of-Way Utilization Ordinance (Chapter 42, Article II), states flatly that placement or allowance of encroachments within the public right-of-way deemed a safety or traffic hazard is not permitted. The article's own definitions section, Section 42-34, defines "road" to include the associated sidewalks along with the roadbed, right-of-way, and drainage structures, so a sidewalk obstruction falls under this same right-of-way regime rather than a separate sidewalk ordinance. Section 42-38(a) confirms the scope: even a side service connection with "no pavement or sidewalk cut, or road or sidewalk crossing" can skip an individual permit only if it meets narrow conditions; any cut, crossing, or structure placed in the sidewalk strip otherwise needs a right-of-way utilization permit.

To get one, Section 42-44 requires a completed, typewritten application filed with the City's Development Services Department and payment of the permit fee before work starts. Once issued, Section 42-45 requires the permit to be kept on-site at all times; work performed without a valid permit on hand must stop immediately. The permit becomes void if work is not started within 90 days of the approval date (extendable once for another 90 days) or not finished within one year of issuance, and it lapses entirely if work sits abandoned for 90 days.

Section 42-56's ban on hazardous encroachments applies on top of that permit framework: even a City-issued permit does not authorize a placement that turns out to obstruct sight lines, traffic flow, or pedestrian safety, since Section 42-35 allows the City to revoke a permit found to be creating a health or safety hazard.