Rochester, NY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

City Code § 104-24 makes it unlawful for any person to place or let remain "materials of any kind or any goods, wares, merchandise, equipment, machinery or other article or obstruction" in the right-of-way without a permit in writing from the City Engineer, with a narrow exception for actively loading or unloading (and even then a pedestrian passageway must stay open unless skids are needed). Newsstands otherwise lawfully permitted are not barred by this section. Where a permit is granted, the permittee must enclose obstructions with barriers sufficient for public safety, keep lighted lamps on those barriers overnight, and remove all materials and resulting rubbish by the permit's expiration date or immediately upon revocation; the City Engineer can revoke the permit without notice.

Enforcement runs through the Municipal Code Violations Bureau under § 104-26, which designates § 104-24 ("Street obstructions") among the Right-of-Way Code sections carrying the § 13A-11C penalty schedule, and treats every day of a continuing violation as a separate offense.