Rancho Cordova's Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sidewalk & pedestrian rules a little differently. In Rancho Cordova, California, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Encroachment Permits

Anyone laying pipes, drains, or conduits, or cutting, excavating, or obstructing a Rancho Cordova street or road right-of-way, must first get an encroachment permit from the road commissioner (the public works director). RCMC § 12.08.020 makes unpermitted right-of-way work unlawful, and § 12.08.030 sets a $75 minimum processing fee before any permit issues.

Key details: Permit issuer: Road commissioner (public works director). Minimum processing fee: $75.00 per permit. Deposit refund window: 180 days after work completion. General deposit cap: $25,000 in lieu of per-job deposit. Work start deadline: Within 30 days of issuance.

Working in the right-of-way without a permit is a misdemeanor under RCMC § 12.08.160(A), and § 12.08.160(C) adds administrative civil penalties of $2,500 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for a third or subsequent violation. A permittee who fails to call for a required inspection faces separate fines of $1,000, $2,500, and $5,000 for first, second, and third violations. Violators also owe the city's enforcement expenses, and an uncorrected encroachment is a public nuisance the road commissioner may abate through court action (§ 12.08.150).

Obstruction Rules

Rancho Cordova bans obstructing any street, sidewalk or public right-of-way with signs, posts, structures, or recreational items like basketball hoops, soccer goals and skate ramps under RCMC § 12.13.020. Merchants may still use the sidewalk in front of their premises to receive or deliver goods, and the Department of Neighborhood Services enforces the rest of the chapter.

Key details: Governing section: RCMC § 12.13.020. Enforcing agency: Department of Neighborhood Services. Removal notice, owner known: 8 hours after posting notice. Removal notice, owner unknown: 72-hour notice on item. Penalty: Misdemeanor plus civil penalties.

RCMC § 12.13.080 declares every violation of the chapter a public nuisance. A violator is liable for civil penalties and is separately guilty of a misdemeanor, and the chapter states that all remedies are cumulative, so the city's election of one remedy, such as summary removal of the obstruction, does not bar it from also pursuing civil penalties or misdemeanor prosecution for the same blocked sidewalk or street.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Rancho Cordova actively enforces its obstruction rules requirements.

The Bottom Line

Rancho Cordova's sidewalk & pedestrian rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Rancho Cordova is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Rancho Cordova can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.