Queen Anne's County, MD Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Part 5 of Chapter 23 of the Queen Anne's County Code repeats the same obstruction ban for each of its three sidewalk categories: § 23-66.3B for sidewalks built through urban highway reconstruction, § 23-66.4C for sidewalks built by developers in subdivisions, and § 23-66.5D for sidewalks installed by owners in existing neighborhoods or properties. In each, sidewalks shall not be blocked by vehicles or other obstructions or used as a depository for materials, waste receptacles or other objects, nor shall sidewalks be defaced or removed.

That sentence carries four separate prohibitions: blocking with a vehicle or any other obstruction, storing materials on the walk, leaving waste receptacles or other objects there, and defacing or removing the sidewalk. The article applies only to the unincorporated areas of Queen Anne's County (§ 23-66.1C), so Kent Island, Stevensville, Grasonville and Chester are covered while Centreville, Queenstown and the other incorporated towns follow their own codes. The sidewalk rule sits beside two road-side rules in the same chapter. Section 23-15A(5) requires a permit from the Department of Public Works, Roads Division, before anyone places an obstruction on a County road or County road right-of-way, and § 23-32 says a person may not alter, change, obstruct, or encroach on any road in the County.

A sidewalk constructed on public property without County approval is removed at the violator's expense (§ 23-66.6E). The County can also use mandamus, injunctions and other actions at law or in equity to correct violations (§ 23-66.6F).