Clackamas County, OR Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code 7.03.090.A
- Trip-hazard threshold
- Over 1/2 inch displacement
- Beveled exception
- 1/4-1/2 inch if sloped ≤50%
- Correction window
- Minimum 10 days after notice
- Penalty basis
- ORS 203.065(1) civil penalty
- Enforcer
- DTD Road Official
Summary
Clackamas County bans earth, rock, vegetation, structures, debris and other hazards on road right-of-way abutting your property, including sidewalks. The Road Official enforces it, and even small pavement defects like unbeveled quarter-inch height differences count as violations.
A. Potential Hazards – No person shall allow any of the following things to exist on any portion of the road right-of-way that abuts property they own or occupies, including sidewalks, if it could create a potential hazard in the opinion of the Road Official: 1. Earth; 2. Rock; 3. Vegetation; 4. Structures; 5. Objects; 6. Debris; 7. Anything that may cause a potential hazard to the public in their use of a sidewalk or other facility intended for pedestrians, including, but not limited to: a. Vertical displacements on the surface greater than 1/2" or vertical displacements between 1/4" and 1/2" not beveled with a slope of 50 percent or less across the entire vertical displacement. b. Cracks or disrepair.
Full Breakdown
A prohibits property owners and occupants from allowing hazards to exist on any portion of the road right-of-way abutting their land, including sidewalks. The rule is broad by design: earth, rock, vegetation, structures, objects and debris are all listed as prohibited if the Road Official considers them a potential hazard. The code also sets an objective trip-hazard standard rather than leaving every case to discretion: a vertical displacement on a sidewalk surface greater than 1/2 inch is a violation outright, and even a displacement between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch violates the code unless it is beveled with a slope of 50 percent or less across the entire displacement.
Cracks or general disrepair are separately listed as hazards. This chapter is part of Title 7 (Roads), enforced by the county's Department of Transportation and Development (DTD) through its Road Official. Because the standard covers the right-of-way "abutting" a parcel, adjoining property owners bear practical responsibility for keeping the sidewalk strip clear even though the land itself is public right-of-way. 060 identifying the hazard and giving a correction deadline before escalating.
Violations & Fines
Under 7.03.080, violations of 7.03.090 carry civil penalties in amounts authorized by ORS 203.065(1). If a hazard is not corrected within a minimum of 10 days after notice under 7.03.070, the county may refer the matter to the Compliance Hearings Officer or pursue injunction, abatement or other proceedings to remove the violating condition, in addition to any other remedy available by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for keeping the sidewalk clear in unincorporated Clackamas County?
How much sidewalk unevenness is actually a violation?
What happens if I don't fix a cited sidewalk hazard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clackamas County
Compare Clackamas County to another location·View the Oregon sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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