Sandy, UT Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Section 21-26-13 is Sandy's specific sidewalk-obstruction rule for newspaper and periodical racks. It's unlawful to erect, place, maintain, or operate a newsrack on any public street, sidewalk, or public way without a Community Development Department permit specifying the exact location, construction, and appearance, and that permit runs for three years before it must be renewed. No newsrack may rest on or project into a roadway or parkstrip, and none placed on a sidewalk or parkway may reduce the clear space for pedestrian passage below six feet, interfere with mechanical sidewalk cleaning, or block access ramps for disabled persons.

Specific setbacks apply: five feet from any marked crosswalk, fire hydrant, driveway, or bus bench enclosure; fifteen feet from an unmarked crosswalk's curb return; three feet from any bus stop sign or landscaping; and racks can't sit within 100 feet of another rack on the same block carrying the same publication. Racks are capped at 56 inches tall, limited to dark brown or dark green coloring, and can't display advertising beyond the publication sold inside. When the Director finds a newsrack in violation, the distributor gets a correction order by phone or in person, confirmed by certified mail, with five business days to fix the problem or three days to appeal; missing both deadlines means the City summarily removes the rack as unclaimed property and charges an impound fee. A rack left empty for 30 straight days is treated the same way, as abandoned.