Shoreline, WA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Base rule
- No private ROW use without a permit (§ 12.15.030(B))
- Obstruction standard
- Must not "unreasonably obstruct" travel (§ 12.15.030(D))
- Sign removal
- Within 24 hours after use ends
- Unpermitted use
- Declared a public nuisance (§ 12.15.200)
- Enforcement
- Chapter 20.30 SMC penalties
Summary
Shoreline bars any private use of a street or sidewalk right-of-way unless a permit is issued. SMC § 12.15.030(B) says city right-of-way "shall not be privately improved or used for access or other purposes unless a permit has been issued," and § 12.15.030(D) requires that permitted short-term uses not "unreasonably obstruct, hinder, jeopardize, injure, or delay" travel.
B. Nonexclusive Right. City right-of-way shall not be privately improved or used for access or other purposes unless a permit has been issued for such use. Permits issued pursuant to this section shall not be construed to convey any vested right or ownership interest in any city right-of-way. ... ... D. Right-of-Way Use Permits. The purpose of use permits is to allow short-term activities and temporary alteration of the right-of-way so as not to unreasonably obstruct, hinder, jeopardize, injure, or delay the use of the right-of-way for its primary functions: vehicular and pedestrian travel.
Full Breakdown
Section 12.15.030(B) makes clear a permit conveys no ownership or vested right in the right-of-way, and every permit must state on its face that the right-of-way stays open to the general public except where specific safety conditions require closure. Section 12.15.030(D) then sets the operating standard for short-term uses: activities and temporary alterations of the right-of-way are allowed only so long as they do not unreasonably obstruct, hinder, jeopardize, injure, or delay vehicular and pedestrian travel, the right-of-way's primary function. Any use must be for a lawful purpose and must not breach the peace or interfere with public use, and its location, time, and date must follow city requirements.
Permittees may be required to advise nearby property owners who could be inconvenienced, and the director can require police escorts, controls, and inspections. All signs for directional control or event advertising must be approved, properly erected, and taken down within 24 hours after the use ends, and the permittee is liable for restoring the right-of-way to its prior condition or better. Floats, stands, and other use-related structures placed to accommodate an activity must still meet fire and building code requirements even though they sit in the public way.
Violations & Fines
Any object or activity occupying the right-of-way without the permit required by SMC § 12.15.030(B) is declared a public nuisance under § 12.15.200, subject to the enforcement procedures and penalties in Chapter 20.30 SMC. The director may also revoke a permit under § 12.15.190 if the permitted work endangers the public or adjoining property or is not proceeding as approved, requiring all use of the right-of-way to stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block part of a Shoreline sidewalk for a project without a permit?
What standard limits how much a permitted use can block the right-of-way?
What happens to signs placed in the right-of-way for an event?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shoreline
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Obstruction Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle obstruction rules.