Woodbury, MN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

Woodbury treats the space along its public sidewalks and streets as protected right-of-way under Article III of Chapter 15, Public Property Encroachments and Easements. Section 15-51 sets the underlying purpose: public rights-of-way, statutory right-of-way and easements exist for recreation, infrastructure, utilities, transportation and drainage, and anything that prevents or inhibits that use, makes public land appear private, or creates a hazardous situation is prohibited outright. Section 15-55 applies that purpose specifically to right-of-way and road easements, the strip of land that includes the sidewalk under the Code's own definition of 'sidewalk' as part of the street boulevard.

Subsection (d) bars anyone from placing, depositing, displaying, installing, constructing, altering or maintaining any structure, fence, goods, landscaping or other obstructions upon, across or under any city property or public right-of-way or road easement, and subsection (e) separately forbids any sight obstruction within a clear-sight triangle. The nuisance chapter reinforces the rule: § 15-2(b)(8) separately lists 'obstructions and excavations affecting the ordinary use of the public of streets, alleys, sidewalks or public grounds' as a nuisance affecting public peace and safety, and § 15-2(b)(11) targets sidewalk crowds that obstruct traffic and free passage, apart from permitted block parties and city-approved events.

Enforcement of Article III runs through officials appointed by the city administrator per § 15-52, and § 15-55(h) gives the city authority to remove any offending structure in the right-of-way at the violator's expense whenever it impedes access or the easement's intended purpose. Because Article III sets no unique fine, violators also face the City Code's general misdemeanor penalty under §§ 26-1, 26-3 and 26-4.