[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 1; Ord. No. 1092, § I, 11-25-2014]
A. 
The several streets in the City shall continue to be called and known by the names by which they are now called and known until the same shall be altered by the City Council. The City Council shall give names to all streets hereafter laid out and may change the name of a street at any time. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Services to cause suitable signs, setting forth the name of the streets, lane, alley or court, to be placed and maintained on or near the corners of streets, lanes, alleys or courts in such style and in such number as they shall deem necessary and convenient.
B. 
Such Commissioner shall keep in their office an index or other system of records, alphabetically arranged, of all street, ways or sidewalks in the City which have been, or may be in the future, laid out and accepted, showing the respective dates of laying out and acceptance, and the respective widths thereof and alterations made from time to time.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 20-1.1, added 7-1-1977 by Ord. No. 287, § 1, pertaining to tree planting, was repealed 3-14-1978 by Ord. No. 304, § 1.
[Ord. No. 290, § 1, 8-19-1977[1]]
In all surface parking areas which abut upon a public way, wheel stops or curbs with a minimum four-inch relief shall be provided in such locations so as to prevent any vehicle using the said parking area from encroaching upon the said public way.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance added these provisions to Ch. 14. They were redesignated as Sec. 20-1.2 to maintain the organizational style of the Code.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 2; Ord. No. 506, § 3, 4-10-1985; Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities to assign numbers to all dwelling houses or other buildings now standing or hereafter to be erected and fronting on any street, lane, alley or public court within the City. When any such structure shall hereafter be erected, the Building Commissioner or their designee shall forthwith notify the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities thereof, who shall thereupon notify, in writing, the owner or occupant thereof of the number assigned thereto.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 3; Ord. No. 506, § 3, 4-10-1985; Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
The numbers referred to in Section 20-2 shall, in the business portion of the City, each cover a frontage of 10 feet, more or less; in the residence portions of the City, a frontage of 25 feet, more or less, at the discretion of the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities, and measurement for such assignment of numbers shall be made continuously from end to end of the street, lane, alley or court. The odd numbers shall be on the left-hand side of the street as one goes from the principal street from which it opens, and the even numbers similarly on the right-hand side of the street. The Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities may order any street already numbered to be renumbered whenever they deem it necessary.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 4; Ord. No. 506, § 3, 4-10-1985; Ord. No. 553, § 1, 9-29-1986; Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
Every owner or occupant of any dwelling house or other building or part of a building situated as set out in Section 20-3 shall place and maintain, in contrasting color, in Arabic numerals or alphabet letters, on or over the door or outermost portion thereof, facing such street such number or numbers as may be assigned thereto by the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities under any of the provisions of this article, and such numbers shall be at least four inches in height and shall be placed so as to be easily observed from the street in front of the premises. When the dwelling house or other building is situated at a distance of more than 75 feet from the street line the number or numbers shall be posted in a manner near the street so as to be visible or placed on the roadside mailbox so as to be observed from either direction on the street.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 674, § 15, approved 5-29-1991, repealed Sec. 20-5, pertaining to penalty for failure to comply with Secs. 20-2 to 20-4. Sec. 20-5 was derived from R.O. 1947, ch. 24, § 5; and Ord. No. 506, § 3, approved 4-10-1985. Such section has been reserved to preserve numerical sequence of section designations. The user's attention is directed to Sec. 20-91.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 6; Ord. No. 132, § 2; Ord. No. 556, § 1, 9-29-1986; Ord. No. 1092, § II, 11-25-2014; Ord. No. 1158, § I, 9-29-2015; Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
No person shall break or dig up the ground or pavement in any public street, or any sidewalk or common in the City; or erect any staging for building thereon; or place any materials or rubbish thereon, without first obtaining from the Commissioner of Public Services a written permit which shall state the space in the street or other public place that may be occupied and the time allowed for such occupancy and such other provisions as such Commissioner may deem best, and also without first filing with the City Clerk a written agreement under seal, approved by the City Solicitor, to comply strictly with the terms of such permit; indemnify the City against all loss, cost or expense that it may suffer by reason of such occupancy and evidence of liability insurance in the aggregate amount of $1,000,000 in which the City is named as an additional insured. The Commissioner of Public Services shall require the applicant for a permit under this section to file a bond, in an amount sufficient to return the street, lane, alley, sidewalk or public place to its previous condition, and with such sureties as may be satisfactory to them, and in a form approved by the City Solicitor, conditioned upon full compliance with all terms, provisions, conditions and requirements of such permit and upon the keeping, maintaining and restoring of such street, lane, alley, sidewalk or public place covered by such permit in the manner and condition required by this chapter. This section shall not apply to the City or any of its officers.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 7; Ord. No. 1092, § III, 11-25-2014; Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
A. 
Whenever any street, lane, alley or sidewalk or other public place of the City shall, under any license granted as provided in the preceding section, be dug up, encumbered or otherwise obstructed or rendered unsafe or inconvenient for travel, the person so licensed shall place, and at all times maintain, a suitable protection and warning around the section of the street, lane, alley or other public place so obstructed so long as the same shall be or remain unsafe or inconvenient as aforesaid. Such licensee shall also, within such reasonable time as the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities shall direct, mend and repair such street, lane, alley, sidewalk or public place to the approval of such Commissioner.
B. 
No permit to erect a building on any private way or street hereafter laid out shall be granted, nor shall any water or sewer pipe be laid by the City in any private way or street hereafter laid out, until plans and profiles of such way or street have been filed with and approved by the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities; except, however, that the Inspector of Buildings may issue a permit to erect a building on such private way or street, provided that the owner of the land upon which such building is to be erected shall sign a waiver of the damage, releasing the City from all claims and liabilities of every name and nature, and especially from any future claims for damages for the changing of the grade of the street or way upon which such building is located.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 20-8, Same—Notification of certain officers when street closed, etc., R.O. 1947, Ch. 24, § 8, as amended by Ord. No. 1092, § IV, 11-25-2014, was repealed 11-13-2025 by Ord. No. 1332.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 9; Ord. No. 1092, § V, 11-25-2014; Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
A. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided in Chapter 3, no person shall suspend or display, or cause to be suspended or displayed, any flag, banner, pennant or other thing of like nature or any article of merchandise over any part of any street or sidewalk without written permission from the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities, which permission shall be revocable; nor unless the same be safely and securely fastened and so located as in no wise to incommode travelers, the lowest part thereof to be at least seven feet above the sidewalk. No sign, article of merchandise or other thing displayed or maintained on any street or sidewalk shall project more than two feet from the inner edge or line of the sidewalk. Any person having such written permission shall conform to all directions of, and conditions imposed by, the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities in relation to the location, extent, materials, construction and maintenance of the object permitted to be suspended or displayed.
B. 
The Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities may, however, grant permits, which shall be revocable at their discretion, for the placing of steps and ramps, racks for bicycles, hitching posts, goods, wares and merchandise while being received in original packages or while being packed for delivery after actual sale thereof, and receptacles for flagpoles near the outer edge of the sidewalk; provided, however, that such Commissioner may prescribe reasonable restrictions and regulations as to the construction of such steps and ramps, racks for bicycles, hitching posts and receptacles for flagpoles, and also as to the size and location of all articles mentioned in this section and placed or displayed as aforesaid.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 13; Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
No person shall play or perform on any musical instrument in any street or public place within the City in such a manner that violates the provisions of Chapter 13 1/2, Noise Control, or in a manner that obstructs the free passage of pedestrians. The words "musical instrument" shall be construed to include a drum.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 20-11, Permitting firewood, etc., to remain on sidewalk, etc., after dark, R.O. 1947, Ch. 24, § 14, was repealed 11-13-2025 by Ord. No. 1332.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 16]
No person shall slide or coast down, across, in or along any of the sidewalks or streets of the City except in such places and under such restrictions as the City Council shall designate and direct.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 17; Ord. No. 1092, § VI, 11-25-2014; Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
No person shall move a building within, into, through or across any public way, or any street or way within a subdivision as that word is used in the statutes referring to municipal planning, without a written permit from the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities, to be granted, if such permit is consistent with public safety and convenience, upon such reasonable terms as, in their opinion, public safety and convenience may require.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 20-16, Sidewalk cafes, Ord. No. 860, § I, 10-26-1999; Ord. No. 1078, § I, 2-11-2014; Ord. No. 1158, § II, 9-29-2015, was repealed by Ord. No. 1317, 5-13-2025.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 20; Ord. No. 530, § 1, 1-17-1986; Ord. No. 860, § I, 10-26-1999]
No person shall place or keep any vending machine, table, stall, booth or other erection, or any wagon, truck, handcart or other vehicle in any street, lane, alley or public place or on any square or sidewalk in the City for the sale of newspapers, fruit or any other thing without first obtaining written permission and location therefor from the Licensing Board, which permission shall be revocable. The person, upon application, must furnish incidence of insurance to the Licensing Board, in a form and amount acceptable to the City Solicitor, and must pay the appropriate fee as indicated in Section 24-1 of this Code.
[Ord. No. 1332, 11-13-2025]
The provisions of Sections 20-16 and 20-16.1 shall be enforced by the Police Department. A person who fails to cure a violation of those sections after a written request to take corrective action shall be fined as indicated in Chapter 4 1/2 of this Code. In addition, the Licensing Board may omit, revoke or suspend a permit issued under Section 20-16 upon a second or subsequent infraction under Sections 20-16 and 20-16.1.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 26; Ord. No. 990, § I, 2-27-2007; Ord. No. 1092, § VII, 11-25-2014]
No person shall allow any sink water or other impure water to run from any house, barn or lot occupied by them or under their control into any street or highway in the City. If a person is found to be violating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities or their designee, Building Commissioner or their designee, Director of the Board of Health or their designee to assess a fine to any such person in accordance with the fine schedule set forth in Chapter 4 1/2, entitled "Criminal and Noncriminal Enforcement," Section 4 1/2-2.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 30; Ord. No. 592, § 1]
Three or more persons shall not stand together or near each other in any street or any footwalk or sidewalk in the City so as to obstruct the free passage of pedestrians.
[Ord. No. 57, 5-22-1968, § 1; Ord. No. 519, § 1, 10-11-1985[1]]
No person exercising his constitutional right to peacefully persuade or participate in any form of demonstration or picketing within the streets or sidewalks of the City shall have any sign or placard in their possession that is attached to any pole, stick, timber, metal or other similar material, except that placards attached to cardboard tubes shall be allowed.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 20-19(a) was redesignated as Sec. 20-19.1 in order to preserve Code format. The provisions of Ord. No. 381, enacted 7-11-1980, as Sec. 20-19(b) were redesignated as Sec. 20-19.2.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 20-19.2, pertaining to the prohibition of bicycle riding on sidewalks in business districts, and derived from Ord. No. 381, § 1, approved 7-11-1980, was repealed by Ord. No. 466, § 1, approved 10-28-1983.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 32]
No person shall, within the limits of any street or highway in the City, play at any game of ball; or fly any kite or balloon; or throw any stones or other missiles; or engage in any other game, amusement or exercise interfering with the free, safe and convenient use of such street or highway by any person traveling thereon.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 33; Ord. No. 746, § 1, 3-9-1994; Ord. No. 806, § I, 7-10-1996; Ord. No. 1044, § I, 7-13-2010; Ord. No. 1256, § I, 11-15-2022; Ord. No. 1290, § I, 11-26-2024]
A. 
The owner responsible for land or a building abutting a paved sidewalk shall, after snow has ceased to fall thereupon or whenever snow shall have collected or deposited upon any such sidewalk, within 24 hours remove the same or cause the same to be removed from such sidewalk; and also remove or cause to be removed from such sidewalk, or cover or cause to be covered with sand or some other suitable substance, within 24 hours after it has formed or appeared any ice with which the same may be encumbered, in such way as to render such sidewalk safe and convenient for travel, to a width of 36 inches. In the event that the sidewalk has a width of less than 36 inches, the owner may only remove snow to the width of the sidewalk. If a person is found to be violating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the Director of Public Health, or their designee, to assess a fine to any such person pursuant to MGL c. 40U in accordance with the fine schedule set forth in Chapter 4 1/2, entitled "Criminal and Noncriminal Enforcement," Section 4 1/2-2.
B. 
If the owner responsible for land or a building abutting a paved sidewalk fails to remove the snow which has collected or been deposited upon any such sidewalk, and/or fails remove, or cover with sand or some other suitable substance, within 24 hours after it has formed or appeared, any ice with which the same may be encumbered, in such way as to render such sidewalk safe and convenient for travel within 48 hours, the City may remove such snow or cover such ice at the owner's expense. The cost of such snow and/or ice removal or covering if unpaid by the owner along with the administrative fee assessed may be enforced pursuant to MGL c. 40U.
C. 
The cost of removing snow and ice or covering ice shall be assessed against the owner at a rate which shall be twice the then-current hourly rate paid by the City to the contractor the City hires to remove the snow and ice, with a minimum of one hour to be charged. In addition, the owner shall be assessed a $50 administrative fee for each violation which results in the City's contractor being sent out to remove snow and ice from the sidewalk.
[Ord. No. 972, § I, 11-9-2005]
A. 
It shall be unlawful to place, throw, deposit or discharge or cause to be placed, thrown, deposited or discharged debris, garbage, refuse, and/or rubbish on a public highway or within 20 yards of a public highway, or on any other public land, including sidewalks.
B. 
For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
DEBRIS
Means bits and pieces of rubbish and/or litter, including but not limited to cigarette butts, lottery tickets, rubble and bits of stone, wood, or glass.
GARBAGE
Means the animal, vegetable, or other organic waste resulting from the handling, preparing, cooking, or consumption of food.
REFUSE
Means useless, unwanted, or discarded solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial or commercial activities that is abandoned by being disposed or stored pending disposal.
RUBBISH
Means combustible and noncombustible waste material, except garbage, and includes, but is not limited to, such materials as paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, grass clippings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery, dust, and the residue from the burning of wood, coal, and other combustible material.
C. 
The provisions of MGL c. 270, § 16, enables municipal police officers to enforce the state prohibition of the disposal and/or discharge of debris, garbage, refuse, and/or rubbish on a public highway or within 20 yards of a public highway, or on any other public land.
D. 
Consistent with the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 21D, and MGL c. 270, § 16, if a person is found to be violating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police, or their designee, to provide the alleged violator with a written notice to appear before the Clerk of District Court not later than 21 days after the date of such violation. Both the content and the service of the notice shall comply with the provisions of MGL c. 40, § 21D. The penalty for a violation of this section shall be a fine which is to be assessed in accordance with the fine schedule set forth in Chapter 4 1/2, entitled "Criminal and Noncriminal Enforcement," Section 4 1/2-2. Any person so noticed may either appear and confess to the offense charged or they may mail to the City Clerk the fine so assessed. Any person so noticed may contest the violation by making a written request for a hearing within 21 days of the date of the notice. In the event that any person so noticed fails to appear and/or pay the fine as set forth in the fine schedule in Chapter 4 1/2, then the citing officer may, after receiving such notification from the Clerk of Court, make application for a criminal complaint.
[Ord. No. 1320, § I, 5-13-2025[1]]
When the Director of Public Works determines that a significant snow event has the potential to necessitate large-scale snow removal efforts on City ways, said Director or their designee may implement temporary parking bans or limitations upon City ways as necessary to effectuate efficient snow removal operations. Any such parking bans or limitations shall be communicated to the members of the public through social media, the City's website, the Mayor's office, and any other means the Director or their designee deems appropriate as soon as practicable, but in no event shall such parking bans or limitations go into effect without 12 hours' notice. The Director of Public Works or their designee shall have the authority, for the purpose of enforcing this section, to remove or cause to be removed to some convenient place, including in such term a public garage, any vehicle interfering with such work.
A. 
The owner of any such vehicle so removed shall be liable for the reasonable cost of such removal and storage, and delivery of the vehicle to said owner may be withheld by the Director of Public Works or their designee until such reasonable costs shall be paid. The Director or their designee may waive, in part or in full, any costs assessed under this section upon application for a waiver by the owner of any such vehicle.
B. 
Whenever any vehicle is so removed, the Pittsfield Police Department shall be notified, and such Department shall render all necessary assistance to the Director of Public Works or their designee in enforcing this section.
C. 
Nothing in this section shall supersede the Mayor's authority to declare snow emergency regulations as set out in Sec. 20-24.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 20-22, Informal appeal to Chief of Police, added by R.O. 1947, ch. 24, § 34, as amended, was repealed by Ord. No. 1256, § II, 11-15-2022
[1]
Editor's Note: Ordinance No. 746, § 3, approved 3-9-1994, provided for the repeal of Sec. 20-23, which required the Commissioner of Public Works to have snow removed from sidewalks abutting City property. Such section was derived from R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 36.
[Ord. No. 497, § 1, 11-29-1984; Ord. No. 674, § 4, 5-29-1991; Ord. No. 762, § 1, 9-14-1994; Ord. No. 844, § I, 8-11-1998; Ord. No. 1158, § III, 9-29-2015; Ord. No. 1231, § I, 11-24-2020; Ord. No. 1321, § I, 5-13-2025]
Whenever impending weather conditions threaten to constitute a traffic hazard impairing transportation; the movement of food and fuel supplies; medical care; fire, health and police protection; and other vital facilities of the City, the Mayor or, in the absence of the Mayor, their designee shall declare an emergency period. Whenever such an emergency is declared, the emergency period of time shall begin at either 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. and last no less than 48 hours from the start time. For however long such emergency is in place, all vehicles shall utilize alternate-side-of-the-street parking.
A. 
No driver shall stop, stand or park any vehicle within the limits of the traffic arteries or part thereof which are designated as weather or snow emergency routes by the Traffic Commission; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to passenger vehicles stopped temporarily during the actual loading or unloading of materials. All such arteries shall be identified by appropriate signage.
B. 
For the duration of the snow emergency, "alternate-side-of-the-street parking" shall mean that vehicles shall be allowed to stand or park on the even-numbered side of the street between the hours of 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. of the day bearing an even-numbered calendar date to 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. of the following day, and on the odd-numbered side of the street between the hours of 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. of the day bearing an odd-numbered calendar date, to 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. of the following day.
Notwithstanding the snow emergency declaration, no vehicle shall be parked or allowed to stand where such parking or standing is prohibited by a municipal order or ordinance.
C. 
City off-street parking facilities shall be open and made available for parking free of charge for the duration of the snow emergency at the McKay Street parking deck.
D. 
Except for the designated parking facilities in Subsection C, no person shall park or allow any vehicle registered in their name to park upon any land owned or controlled by the City, which shall include any land owned or controlled by any department of the City, including the School Department, after having been forbidden to do so by the person who has lawful control of said premises on behalf of the City.
E. 
During the entire month of November of each year, the City through its Mayor or their designee shall ensure that a public service announcement program be set forth via radio, television, and newsprint to educate and inform the residents as to these regulations and the consequences of violation.
F. 
Vehicles found in violation of the provisions of this section, except those specifically exempt by law, shall be removed to a convenient place as provided in Section 13-115.1 of this Code, and the owner of the vehicle so removed or towed away shall be liable for the cost of such removal and storage, if any, within the limits set forth in Section 13-117 of this Code. Neither the removal nor storage of a vehicle under the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be service rendered or work performed by the City or the Police Department of the City. The contractor shall bear any and all liability to the owner of such vehicle for any damage caused to it arising out of negligence in the course of such removal and storage.
G. 
Whenever the Mayor, acting pursuant to their authority under this section, declares an emergency period, they shall also have the authority to waive any provisions or requirements of this section in their sole discretion.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 37; Ord. No. 1032, § I, 4-28-2009; Ord. No. 1092, § VIII, 11-25-2014]
A. 
No person shall permit water from the eaves or leader pipes of any building owned or cared for by them to be discharged upon any public street or sidewalk in the City, and from the first day of April to the first day of October in each year between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. and from the first day of October in each year to the first day of April next following, no person shall wash any window or wall of a building in such manner as to cause the discharge of water upon any public sidewalk or walk devoted to the public use.
B. 
If a person is found to be violating the provisions of this section, it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities or their designee, Building Commissioner or their designee, or the Board of Health or its designee to assess a fine to any such person in accordance with the fine schedule set forth in Chapter 4 1/2, entitled "Criminal and Noncriminal Enforcement," Section 4 1/2-2.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Sec. 20-26, which was concerned with sprinkling streets and derived from R.O. 1947, ch. 24, § 38, was repealed 4-10-1985 by Ord. No. 506, § 1.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 39]
No person shall place or pour or cause to be placed or poured any kerosene, naphtha, gasoline, benzine, petroleum, turpentine or other oils, fluids or substances harmful or injurious to asphalt or bitulithic pavement upon or along any such pavement within the streets or highways of the City.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ord. No. 143, § 1, approved 4-28-1971, repealed former Sec. 20-28, derived from R. O. 1947, ch. 24, Sec. 45, pertaining to depositing salt or salt water on paved streets. The section has been reserved to preserve the Code format.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 44]
No person shall give any public address, speech or harangue in any street, public square or public park within the City without a written permit from the Chief of Police. No such permit shall be refused under circumstances which would constitute a denial of the constitutional right of freedom of speech.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 24, § 42]
No person shall be prosecuted for any offense against any of the provisions of this article unless a complaint for the same shall have been instituted and commenced within six months of the time when such offense was committed.