Chico Municipal Code Ch. 9.44 Obstruction of Streets and Sidewalks

Except when authorized by a permit issued pursuant to Title 14 of this code, it shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct the free passage of traffic upon any sidewalk. Authority is hereby given to the chief of police and designees, when there is any gathering or crowd upon the sidewalk which is obstructing the free and uninterrupted passage of pedestrians thereon, to direct such traffic, which authority shall exist during the entire time of such congestion. When crowds gather on the sidewalk in front of a theater or any other public place, the council is given authority to designate where such crowd shall stand, and may give notice thereof, by causing the erection of markers or other signs, and it shall be unlawful for any person in such crowd to disobey such markers and signs and also to disobey the directions given by the chief of police and designees.

(Prior code § 23.3 (Ord. 224 §360. Ord. 532 §48, Ord. 1871 §l), Ord. 2268)

A. Prohibition. No person shall sit or lie down upon a public sidewalk, curb or street, or upon a blanket, stool, chair or other object placed upon a public sidewalk, curb or street which is adjacent to any property zoned or used for commercial uses, as defined in Title 19 of this Code, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.

B. Exceptions. This section shall not apply to any person:

1. Sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk due to a medical emergency;

2. Using a wheelchair, walker or similar device as the result of a disability;

3. Operating or patronizing a commercial establishment conducted on the public sidewalk pursuant to an outdoor café permit issued pursuant to Chapter 14.70 of this code;

4. Sitting on a public bench or bus stop bench that is located on the public sidewalk;

5. Participating in or attending or viewing any parade, festival, performance, rally or other event conducted in accordance with this code and for which the appropriate permit has been obtained; or

6. Who is a child seated in a stroller.

C. Penalties. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction, shall be punished by:

1. A fine not exceeding $100 for a first violation.

2. A fine not exceeding $200 for a second violation occurring within a one year period.

3. A fine not exceeding $300 for a third and subsequent violation occurring within a one year period.

(Ord. 2445, Ord. 2520 §1)

No person shall stand, sit at or otherwise occupy the entrance of any building, including but not limited to a public or private building, church, hall, theater, place of public assemblage, store, or business so as in any manner to willfully or maliciously obstruct the entrance.

(Ord. 2466 §4)

It shall be unlawful to drive, herd, or cause to be driven or herded upon any public street, alley, sidewalk or public place of the city any cattle, horses, mules, hogs, sheep or goats.

(Prior code § 23.10 (Ord. 1111 §6))

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having the control of, or being the keeper of, any horse, mule, cow, goat, sheep, hogs, ass or domestic fowl, to permit the same to run at large upon or graze or feed upon any public street, alley, sidewalk or public place of the city.

(Prior code § 23.101 (Ord. 1111 §6))

It shall be unlawful for any person to plow any portion of an open public street, avenue or alley in the city, except for the purpose of grading the same under authority duly had and obtained from the city council, and no person shall cultivate, sow or plant therein, any vegetables or truck garden.

(Prior code § 23.11 (Ord. 224 §214))

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to hang or display or to permit to be hung, displayed or maintained over or across any street, avenue or sidewalk within the city any banner or other similar device except by permit from the city manager which shall be issued if the city manager finds:

l. That the event for which the banner is requested is of such a nature as to be of interest to persons residing or passing through the city;

2. That the proposed message on the banner contains the following information only:

a. Name of the event,

b. Date(s) of the event,

c. Time(s) of the event (optional with permittee),

d. Location of the event (optional with permittee);

3. That the proposed banner is constructed in accordance with the specifications as approved by the public works director;

4. That any fees established by resolution of the city council for banner permits have been paid;

5. That the person requesting the banner permit has made appropriate arrangements with a private contractor authorized by the city to hang such banners, if said banner is not to be hung by city personnel.

B. Permits shall be granted only upon the condition that the banner is to be hung by city personnel or an authorized private contractor and only at a location(s) at which the city maintains facilities for hanging banners.

C. The city manager is authorized to enter into agreements for the hanging of banners by private contractors, in a form approved by the city attorney.

D. In case more than one request for a permit to hang a banner at a particular location during a particular time is received by the city, the permit shall be granted for the banner which is of the greater general concern or interest to persons residing within or passing through the city. If it cannot be determined which is of greater general concern or interest, then the permit shall be granted to the first application received.

(Prior code § 23.14 (Ord. 224 §218, Ord. 684, Ord. 1111 §45, Ord. 1338 §1, Ord. 2364 §101), Ord. 2439 §75)