West Covina, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Section 19-11 bars anyone from erecting, constructing, placing, maintaining, leaving or abandoning 'any building, fence, porch, steps, post, pole, track, wire, pipe, conduit or other structure' in whole or in part in any city street, and separately bars placing, affixing, painting, maintaining, leaving or abandoning 'any seat, bench, table, stand, material or other obstruction' in a street, without first getting a permit from the traffic authority or the city engineer. mailboxes and poles and facilities belonging to public utilities lawfully using the streets, along with conforming garbage receptacles and official city notices.

For anything else placed without a permit, the chief of police is authorized to physically remove the obstruction and store it at the city yard. The property owner then has sixty days from the date of removal to reclaim it, but only after paying the actual cost of removal, which the ordinance caps at twenty-five dollars. This section works alongside the separate, more general Section 19-6, which bars leaving merchandise, baggage or personal property on any sidewalk or crosswalk, and Section 19-12, which limits loading and unloading obstructions on public streets to two hours before a separate permit is required. Together these sections give West Covina street crews and police clear authority to keep sidewalks and rights-of-way clear of unpermitted fixtures and debris.