Can people draw on the sidewalk with chalk?

Question

Is it legal to draw with chalk on a sidewalk in front of houses, especially ones that arent your own?
We're just inquiring because the ugly neighbor's kids keep drawing on our sidewalk

Answer 1

I don't know of any city that forbids it. Chalk can be easily washed off so don't get your knickers in a twist over it. Just wash it off.

Answer 2

It isn't legal, but then it isn't illegal either.

Technically, it would be defacing public property, but since the chalk can be washed off it isn't really defacing.

In most cities the city has an easement that allows them to install new utilities and put up a sidewalk. In this case your property line doesn't stop at the street, but at the edge of the sidewalk. But the city only exercises this power if they need to install a new sewer line or repair a water line etc. The problem is that the sidewalk is meant for public use, so those kids have a right to be on it and it is out of your control.

What to do about them is the next question. They might be able to draw chalk drawings on the sidewalk in front of your house, but you have the right to water you lawn when you want to, and local ordinances permit.

I would suggest that you talk with the kid’s parents to have their children go elsewhere and play on their own property, but I get the feeling that you would have tried that already. A neighborhood petition might be possible, but unless other people are mad at them it won’t do much.

The only solution I can think of is bribery. Give the kids a few bucks and ask them to go to the store and get something for you and tell them to use the extra money to buy what they want. At least that will get them out of your hair for a while. Of course if you do this too much then they will catch on and try to hold you hostage. You can contact the police and ask for them to send and officer out talk with the kids about not playing in front of your house, but legally the police can’t do anything more than talk with them. It might be enough to scare them off, for a while, but you don’t have many alternatives.

Sorry, I wish I had better news or an idea of how to get them to stop.

Answer 3

You can get into a fight about this with your neighbor if you want to. Heck, you might even win.

However.

The kid is going to outgrow this in a year or two, and the problem will go away.

If you call a lawyer or the police, the problem will be there until you move out of the neighborhood, and they'll still talk about you after that.

Answer 4

Side walks are public property so i believe those annoying neighbors of yours can...just throw water on the sidewalk and the chalk should wash away

Answer 5

the law varies according to states. i would talk to the neighbors in a mature way and explain to them that their children are drawing on your sidewalk and you would appreciate it if they would stop. if the kids are left outside unsupervised the parents may not even be aware of the problem. if the parents don't take care of the situation i would then call local police and see what you can do to put a end to this.

Answer 6

You really need to know not just the local ordinances, but how uptight the local authorities are. A man in Leeds, UK was charged under the Anti-Social Behaviour act for making art with a pressure washer by only partly cleaning their grimy underpasses. I guess the city council was embarrassed at how it highlighted just how little they were doing to clean the city.

Sometimes it's best to let kids be kids.

Answer 7

Is the neighbor ugly or the kid? And what does that have to do with drawing on the sidewalk?

Answer 8

It's perfectly legal. But if you don't want them writing on your sidewalk, i'd talk to the parents or their children. I hope your sidewalk is chalkfree soon!

Answer 9

Yes, and if someone brings the chalk I'm down for that, even now.

Answer 10

You must live a pretty sad life to even be asking this question. I hate neighbors like you.