Union, NY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected spaces
- Streets, shoulders, sidewalks, curbline strip, creek beds, public places
- Banned items
- Stones, signs, materials, obstructions, encroaching structures
- Snow and ice
- Cannot be placed in any street or highway
- Mailboxes
- No legal authority to place one in the right-of-way
- First-offense penalty
- Not exceeding $250 or 15 days, or both
- Second-offense penalty
- $250 to $500 or up to 30 days
Summary
Town of Union Code § 178-24 bars placing stones, signs or any other obstruction in a street, highway, shoulder, sidewalk, the strip between the curbline and the property line, a creek bed or bank, or any public place, and bars encroachments by buildings, structures or excavations. It also states there is no legal authority to place a mailbox in the right-of-way. It covers the Town outside the incorporated villages.
A. No person, firm or corporation shall deposit or otherwise place any stones, signs or other materials, substance or obstruction in any street, highway, shoulder of a highway, sidewalk, in the area between the curbline and the street or property line, creek bed, creek bank or public place in the Town of Union, outside the limits of any incorporated villages therein, or encumber the same by any encroachment of buildings, structures, excavations or otherwise. No person, firm or corporation shall deposit or otherwise place any snow or ice in any street or highway in the Town of Union, outside the limits of any incorporated village therein. B. There is no legal authority to place a mailbox and/or structural support in the Town of Union right-of-way. If a property owner chooses to place his or her mailbox and/or structural support in the Town of Union right-of-way, they do so at their own risk.
Full Breakdown
Section 178-24 sits in Article V of Chapter 178 and was amended on February 20, 2008 by L.L. No. 2-2008 and on March 16, 2016 by L.L. No. 2-2016. Subsection A names the protected spaces: any street, highway, shoulder of a highway, sidewalk, the area between the curbline and the street or property line, creek bed, creek bank or public place in the Town of Union, outside the limits of any incorporated village. No person, firm or corporation can deposit or place stones, signs or any other material, substance or obstruction there, or encumber those spaces by any encroachment of buildings, structures, excavations or otherwise. A separate sentence bars placing snow or ice in any street or highway.
Subsection B deals with mailboxes. The code states there is no legal authority to place a mailbox or its structural support in the Town right-of-way. A property owner who places one there does so at their own risk, and the Town is not liable for damage to the mailbox or support if it results from the Town's snow removal.
Related sections fill in the rest. Section 178-23 bars owners and occupants from letting snow, ice or water fall from a building onto a street or sidewalk and requires leaders and drains to be placed so water does not run over a sidewalk. Section 178-25 exempts the Highway Superintendent and employees when lawfully making improvements or working on the streets and highways. Work that digs in the right-of-way needs the street-opening permit in § 178-3, and § 178-6 bars cutting or changing any curb, gutter or sidewalk without one. If an obstruction stays, § 178-27 lets the Town Highway Superintendent, Code Enforcement Officers, Building Inspectors or their designees remove the deposit and assess the expense on the owner's next annual Town tax, with attorneys fees and court costs added as a lien.
Violations & Fines
Under § 178-28 a violation of Article V is punishable by a penalty not exceeding $250 or imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both, for each offense. A second violation carries a penalty of not less than $250 and no more than $500, or imprisonment for not more than 30 days. The Town can also remove the obstruction and charge the cost to the owner under § 178-27, and repeat notices within twelve months add the inspection fees listed in § 178-29.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a sign or stones on the strip between the curb and my property line?
Can I legally put a mailbox in the Town right-of-way?
Does the rule cover buildings and excavations?
Can I shovel or plow snow into the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union
New York rules heatmap·Compare Union to another location·View the New York sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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