San Leandro, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Two separate chapters cover obstruction. The Weed Abatement chapter's § 3-2-200 makes it unlawful for a property owner to permit grass, weeds, or other vegetation to obstruct the sidewalk or street abutting the property. The broader Encroachments chapter, SLMC § 5-1-100, defines 'encroachment' to include going upon, over, under, or using any street in a manner that prevents, obstructs, or interferes with its normal use, listing examples like erecting a fence, wall, or loading platform in the street, planting a tree or shrub within it, leaving rubbish or building material on it, or placing street furniture such as bicycle racks in the right-of-way.

Section 5-1-115 reinforces that any permit granted for work in the street stays subject to the public's right to use that part of the street, and that no part of the street shall be unduly obstructed at any time. Section 5-1-120 goes further and bars issuing any encroachment permit at all for a loading platform in a street, or for a post, pole, column, or structure supporting advertising signs, except as allowed under the Administrative Code's sign chapter. The Community Preservation Ordinance separately lists placing business inventory, refuse containers, equipment, vehicles, or other obstructions on the street or sidewalk as an unlawful nuisance under § 3-1-205(a)(5).