Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Simi Valley, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Simi Valley or are thinking about moving there, sidewalk & pedestrian rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Simi Valley has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of sidewalk & pedestrian rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Encroachment Permits

Simi Valley requires an encroachment permit from the Director of Public Services before anyone builds, places, or moves anything in a public right-of-way, from curbs and driveways to signs, fences, and street trees. Doing the work without one is a misdemeanor under Municipal Code section 7-1.205. A narrow agricultural exemption lets abutting farmers use the unpaved shoulder for crops without a permit.

Key details: Permitting authority: Director of Public Services. Violation: Misdemeanor under SVMC 7-1.205. Application: Written, on city forms, plus hold-harmless statement. Trenching threshold: CAL-OSHA permit required over 5 feet deep. Traffic delay limit: Denied if delay exceeds 15 minutes at peak hours.

Doing any of the listed encroachment work, from building a driveway to erecting a fence or removing a street tree, without a permit is a misdemeanor under section 7-1.205. Unpermitted encroachments that fall under the narrow agricultural exemption but interfere with traffic or drainage lose that protection and become subject to removal, and to the civil penalties in California Streets and Highways Code sections 1481 through 1485, which the city enforces through the Director of Public Works.

This is one of the stricter rules in Simi Valley's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Obstruction Rules

Simi Valley Municipal Code Section 7-1.106 defines an "encroachment" as any obstruction, pole, fence, structure or object placed on, over, or across a City street or right-of-way, and Section 7-1.205 requires a permit from the Director of Public Services before anyone blocks travel on a street or erects a post, sign, or structure in the right-of-way.

Key details: Governing law: "Encroachment Law of the City of Simi Valley". Permit issuer: Director of Public Services, Sec. 7-1.205. Sidewalk rule: No encroachment across any sidewalk, Sec. 7-1.248. Serious delay standard: 15+ minutes during peak traffic hours. Penalty: Misdemeanor; separate offense each day.

Section 7-1.205 makes doing any of the listed acts, including blocking travel on a street or erecting a structure in the right-of-way, without a permit a misdemeanor on its own. Section 7-1.269 separately makes it a misdemeanor to perform permitted work while failing to comply with any condition of that permit or with the chapter's requirements, and treats every day the violation continues as a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Simi Valley'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 Simi Valley is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Simi Valley 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.