This paper presents the feasibility of a lateral mode piezoelectric oscillator to detect damages in civil infrastructures. The lateral mode oscillator sensor is composed of an electronic feedback oscillator circuit and a piezoelectric lateral mode vibrator to be attached to a structure of interest. Damage to the structure causes a change in the impedance spectrum of the structure, which results in a corresponding change of a resonant frequency of the structure. The oscillator sensors can instantly detect the frequency change in a very simple manner. Feasibility of the piezoelectric oscillator sensor was verified in this work with a sample aluminum plate where artificial cracks of different lengths and number were imposed in sequence. Validity of the measurement was confirmed through comparison of the experimental data with the results of finite element analyses of a plate with cracks.