Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Santa Maria, CA

Santa Maria maintains 131 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with sidewalk & pedestrian rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Santa Maria falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Sidewalk Repair

Owners of lots fronting an improved public street must maintain the sidewalk, parkway, curb, gutter and driveway in front of their property under Municipal Code Section 8-6.04. Owners who let a sidewalk go dangerous and someone gets hurt are personally liable for the resulting damages.

Key details: Duty: owner maintains sidewalk/parkway/curb/gutter/driveway. Liability: owner liable for resulting injury (8-6.04). Backup authority: Streets & Highways Code § 5600 et seq.. Water discharge: roof runoff onto sidewalk banned (8-6.05). Modifications: Public Works Director may modify (8-6.09).

Chapter 8-6 doesn't set its own fine schedule; a property owner who lets a sidewalk deteriorate faces two exposures. First, Section 8-6.04 makes the owner directly liable in damages to anyone injured because of the disrepair. Second, like any Municipal Code violation, failing to maintain sidewalk, curb, gutter or driveway can be cited as a misdemeanor or, at the City's discretion, an infraction under Chapter 1-6, carrying fines of $100 for a first offense rising to $500 for repeat violations within a year.

Encroachment Permits

Installing, removing or reconstructing sidewalk, curb, gutter, driveway or underground pipeline in the public right-of-way requires a public improvement/encroachment permit from Public Works under Municipal Code Section 8-6.06. Even painting a curb address number needs one.

Key details: Permit required: sidewalk, curb, driveway, pipeline work (8-6.06). Issuing agency: Public Works Department. Curb numbers: painting address numbers also needs permit. Driveway separation: 20 ft unbroken curb minimum (8-6.07). Driveway width cap: 50% of lot frontage aggregate (8-6.07).

Doing right-of-way work, including driveway, curb, gutter or pipeline installation, without first securing the Section 8-6.06 permit is expressly declared unlawful and treated as noncompliance with the chapter, exposing the responsible party to citation under the Municipal Code's general misdemeanor/infraction penalty in Chapter 1-6. Building a second driveway without the required 20-foot curb separation, or exceeding the 50%-of-frontage width cap, is a separate violation of Section 8-6.07, and Public Works can require the excess curb cut to be closed and restored at the owner's expense.

Obstruction Rules

Unattended property left blocking a Santa Maria street, sidewalk or public right-of-way is declared a public nuisance and can be impounded by the Police Department, the Recreation and Parks Department or a City Ranger.

Key details: Effective date: July 2, 2020 (Ord. 2020-07). Enforcing officials: Police, Recreation & Parks, City Rangers. Owner-unknown posting: 10 calendar days at City Hall. Redemption deadline: 5 days from notice before auction/sale. Vehicles excluded: Chapter does not cover vehicles.

Leaving unattended property that obstructs a street, sidewalk or public right-of-way is a declared nuisance under Section 7-14.01, subjecting the item to City impoundment without a separate citation process. Failure to pay the redemption charges set under Section 7-14.03 within five days of notice results in the property being sold at public auction or destroyed under Section 7-14.04.

The Bottom Line

Santa Maria'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 Santa Maria is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Santa Maria 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.