Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in North Carolina (2026)

Apex property owners must keep the sidewalk abutting their lot in good, safe repair and free of debris, trash, ice, and…

Property owners in Asheville must keep the public sidewalk, curb and grass strip abutting their land clear of debris…

The Town of Cary can order an abutting property owner to repair a sidewalk, and if the owner doesn't act within 30 days…

Charlotte's Charter lets the City Council assess the full cost of sidewalk or driveway repairs against the abutting…

Durham's City Code puts specific, narrow upkeep duties on the property next to a public sidewalk, not a blanket repair…

Gastonia places a specific maintenance duty on property owners abutting improved public sidewalks: grade the abutting…

Greensboro splits the cost of building or repairing a sidewalk between the city and the abutting property owner under…

In High Point, North Carolina, the owner of a lot abutting a paved street must pave, repave, repair, and maintain the…

Kill Devil Hills assesses 100% of the cost of a sidewalk improvement against the abutting property owner, excluding the…

Raleigh's City Charter makes it the legal duty of every property owner to keep the sidewalks and driveways abutting…

Wilmington makes the abutting property owner responsible for keeping public sidewalks and driveways in good repair, not…

In Winston-Salem, the tenant or occupant of any property bordering a street with an abutting sidewalk must keep that…

Cleveland County makes it unlawful to camp, pitch a tent or leave bedding on any county-owned property, including…

Concord bars erecting or leaving any obstruction in a public street, right-of-way, easement or sidewalk that interferes…

Rockingham County bans blocking sidewalks, streets, alleys or other public rights-of-way while soliciting, panhandling…

Placing or maintaining any obstruction or encroachment on a Wilmington street, sidewalk, right-of-way, wharf, or other…

Apex bans building or leaving structures, vehicles, or stored items on streets and sidewalks, with narrow carve-outs…

Asheville makes it a misdemeanor to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic on any city street, sidewalk, park or…

Cary bars property owners from letting objects, structures, or vegetation block sidewalks, greenways, bike lanes, or…

Charlotte bans placing or keeping an unnecessary obstruction in any public right-of-way under City Code § 19-241. The…

Durham bars anyone from impeding the "regular flow of travel" on a sidewalk in a way that blocks pedestrian or vehicle…

Fayetteville makes it unlawful to block a sidewalk, public passageway, street, or a building's entrance with an object…

Gastonia makes it unlawful to obstruct a public sidewalk by displaying goods for sale without a temporary sidewalk…

Leaving objects that block a Greensboro sidewalk, street, or building entrance is a misdemeanor: the code lets police…

High Point bans leaving boxes, crates, barrels, bricks, or other obstructions in any street, alley, or sidewalk, though…

It is unlawful to obstruct a Raleigh sidewalk by leaving boxes, bags, crates, stands, vehicles, coal, wood, lumber…

Rose Hill makes it unlawful to throw, store, pile, deposit, or place almost anything on a town street or sidewalk…

Shelby makes it unlawful to congregate on streets or sidewalks in a way that blocks or hinders pedestrians or traffic…

Winston-Salem bans blocking sidewalks, streets, bridges or walkways in any way that stops pedestrians or vehicles from…

Building any structure in an Asheville street, sidewalk, alley or public right-of-way is unlawful without a signed…

High Point requires City Council or Technical Review Committee approval before any private structure, above or below…

Placing a fence, wall, awning or other structure into a Wilmington street or sidewalk is unlawful by default. City Code…

Apex requires a written irrigation encroachment permit before anyone installs or maintains an irrigation system in a…

Cary lets adjacent owners get a town manager permit for minor encroachments like irrigation, fencing and landscaping…

Charlotte requires anyone placing a fixed object in a public right-of-way, from a retaining wall to a private sign, to…

Concord requires anyone placing or keeping a fixed object in a public right-of-way or sidewalk to first get an…

Paving a driveway across a Durham sidewalk, walkway or parkway, or cutting curb for a driveway approach, requires a…

Anyone occupying or excavating Fayetteville's public rights-of-way for utility lines, wires, pipes or similar…

Gastonia bans building, placing or maintaining any encroachment in a street right-of-way, from fences and mailboxes to…

Placing anything that blocks or impedes a Greensboro street, sidewalk or right-of-way requires a Temporary Right-of-Way…

Kill Devil Hills requires Public Services Department approval before any driveway, walkway or drainage improvement is…

Anyone using a Raleigh public sidewalk or right-of-way for a private purpose needs a permit from the Director of…

Anyone who wants to dig, trench, or open a street, sidewalk, or other public place in Rose Hill needs a written permit…

Shelby requires a right-of-way encroachment permit before anyone builds or places lines, cables, or other fixtures in a…

Winston-Salem requires an encroachment permit for anything built under, above, or across a public street or sidewalk…