De-code Sidewalk Obstructions

Sidewalks are designed for the purpose of allowing pedestrian traffic to be separated from vehicular traffic. This includes people walking, children riding bicycles, parents pushing baby carriages, and wheelchairs.

The City receives frequent complaints concerning sidewalk obstructions: a sidewalk obstruction is anything which blocks the sidewalk.  Most frequently, the obstructions are trees or hedges growing across the sidewalk, or vehicles parking on or across the sidewalk.  The code requires the sidewalk to

have a clearance zone equal to the width of the walkway up to a height of 7 ½ feet. Tree branches, bushes, hedges, and even grass growing across the sidewalk must be trimmed so that nothing encroaches in the clearance zone.  

It seems a lot of people are surprised to learn they cannot park on a sidewalk.  A sidewalk which crosses a driveway is still a sidewalk; it is not part of the driveway and cannot be blocked. Code Compliance will issue

parking citations for vehicles blocking sidewalks. It doesn’t matter if you are there for five minutes or five hours. If a sidewalk is blocked a pedestrian is forced to go around the obstacle. This can be difficult for bicycles and wheelchairs and dangerous for kids who may be forced to walk in the street. Please do not park on the sidewalk at anytime. 

Eric L. Wardle is Chief of Code Compliance for the City of Marco Island. He may be reached at 239-389-5060 or EWardle@cityofmarcoisland.com.