Parma, OH Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Parma Codified Ordinances § 660.34
- Sidewalk obstruction limit
- Maximum 1 hour for loading/unloading
- Hazardous debris ban
- No tacks, glass, wire or nails on sidewalks
- Heavy loads
- Must protect pavement before hauling across
- Cellar/coal-chute doors
- Must have safeguards when open
- Penalty
- Minor misdemeanor under § 698.02
Summary
Parma caps how long anything can block a sidewalk at one hour: Section 660.34 lets deliveries and pickups use the walk temporarily but no longer, bans dropping tacks, glass or nails that could hurt pedestrians, and requires protective covering before hauling heavy loads across a sidewalk or curb.
(a) No person shall place or knowingly drop upon any part of a sidewalk or playground any tacks, bottles, wire, glass, nails or other articles which may damage property of another or injure any person or animal traveling along or upon such sidewalk or playground. ... (c) No person shall place, deposit or maintain any merchandise, goods, material or equipment upon any sidewalk so as to obstruct pedestrian traffic thereon except for such reasonable time as may be actually necessary for the delivery or pickup of such articles. In no case shall the obstruction remain on such sidewalk for more than one hour. (d) No person shall unload upon, or transport any heavy merchandise, goods, material or equipment over or across any sidewalk or curb without first placing some sufficient protection over the pavement to protect against damage or injury.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-30: Local legislation current to August 3, 2026 | State legislation current to June 25, 2025).
Full Breakdown
34, Sidewalk Obstructions; Damage or Injury, dates to Ordinance 448-68, passed February 3, 1969, and covers five separate hazards along Parma's sidewalks. Subsection (a) bans dropping or placing tacks, bottles, wire, glass or nails on a sidewalk or playground where they could injure a pedestrian or animal. Subsection (b) prohibits walking on, or letting an animal onto, sidewalk pavement that is soft or newly poured, protecting fresh concrete before it cures. Subsection (c) is the working rule for contractors, delivery drivers and merchants: goods, equipment or materials can sit on a sidewalk only for the reasonable time it takes to load or unload them, and never more than one hour regardless of the reason.
Subsection (d) requires anyone hauling heavy merchandise or equipment across a sidewalk or curb to lay down sufficient protection first, so dollies, pallet jacks or heavy crates don't crack the concrete. Subsection (e) requires safeguards on any cellar door, coal chute or elevator opening built into a sidewalk, so an open hatch doesn't become a fall hazard for pedestrians. The penalty clause was last updated by Ordinance 146-13, passed July 1, 2013.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of Section 660.34 is a minor misdemeanor under Section 698.02 of the Codified Ordinances, Parma's lowest criminal classification. The penalty language was last amended by Ordinance 146-13 in 2013. Because the ordinance singles out five separate hazards, from loose glass to an unguarded coal chute, each type of violation can be charged and cited on its own facts by the Division of Police.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a delivery truck block a Parma sidewalk?
Can I drive a hand truck loaded with heavy equipment across a sidewalk?
What's the penalty for a sidewalk obstruction violation in Parma?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Parma
Compare Parma to another location·View the Ohio sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Obstruction Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle obstruction rules.