Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in San Francisco, CA (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for San Francisco, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
San Francisco property owners must keep the sidewalk fronting their lot in good repair, and are liable for injuries caused by neglect.
SF Sidewalk Repair Duty Falls on Owner
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Public Works Code § 706(a)
It shall be the duty of the owners of lots or portions of lots immediately adjacent to any portion of a public street, avenue, alley, lane, court, or place to maintain the sidewalks and sidewalk area, including any parking strip, parkway, automobile runway, and curb, fronting or adjacent to their property in good repair and condition. This duty shall include removal of any unpermitted structure...
Obstruction Rules
It is unlawful in San Francisco to obstruct or place obstructions on any public sidewalk or right-of-way without Public Works Department permission, and violations are treated as a public nuisance.
SF Sidewalk Obstruction Prohibited
Significant RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Public Works Code Sec. 723(a)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, without permission from the Department of Public Works ("the Department")... to pile, cap, or otherwise obstruct or place obstructions or encroachments upon, above, or below, any public right-of-way, whether the same be graded or not.
Encroachment Permits
San Francisco requires Board of Supervisors approval for a major street encroachment permit before anyone can occupy the public right-of-way, and there is no appeal of that decision.
SF Street Encroachment Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Public Works Code Sec. 786(a)
The Board of Supervisors by resolution may approve, conditionally approve, or deny applications for a street encroachment permit, also known as a major encroachment permit, to occupy the public right-of-way, as defined in Section 2.4.4 , after the Public Works Director processes the permit application in accordance with the requirements of Sections 786 et seq. The Director’s processing of permi...