Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Santa Clara, CA (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for Santa Clara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
Owners of lots fronting an improved Santa Clara street must keep the abutting sidewalk safe and free of conditions that endanger people or interfere with public use, under City Code Section 12.30.180. If an owner ignores the superintendent of streets' repair notice, the City repairs the walk itself and places a lien on the property for the cost.
Santa Clara Sidewalk Repair Responsibility Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 12.30.180 (Duty of abutting property owners to maintain sidewalks)
The owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place, when that street or place is improved or if and when the area between the property line of the adjacent property and the street line is maintained as a park or parking strip, shall maintain any sidewalk in such condition that the sidewalk will not endanger persons or property, and maintain it in a condit...
Obstruction Rules
Santa Clara bars placing merchandise displays, piled boxes or other obstructions on any sidewalk so as to impede foot traffic, and bars defacing sidewalks with drawings or lettering, under City Code Section 12.30.010. Goods actively being delivered or removed are exempt as long as they clear the sidewalk within twenty-four hours.
Santa Clara Sidewalk Obstruction Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 12.30.010(a),(b) (Obstructing or littering, defacing or damaging, etc., prohibited)
No person shall place (or cause to be placed) any obstruction on any sidewalk within the city so as to impede the travel thereon or to obstruct the same in any way, either partially or wholly, by the placing of merchandise on display, piling boxes, etc., or who shall damage or deface the sidewalks by drawing, symbols, lettering or caricatures of any kind. This section shall not be construed to ...
Encroachment Permits
Anyone who wants to cut, open or excavate a Santa Clara street, curb, gutter, driveway, sidewalk or other public right-of-way, or install pipes, conduits or utility structures there, needs an encroachment permit from the City Engineer under Section 12.25.030. Applicants must show a valid business license, cover engineering, inspection and pavement fees, and may need a performance bond.
Santa Clara Right-of-Way Encroachment Permits
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 12.25.030 (Encroachment permit)
An encroachment permit ("permit") shall be required of any person seeking to use or make cuts, openings or excavations in or under the surface of any street, curb, gutter, driveway, sidewalk or any other portion of the public right-of-way or City easement for the repair, installation, removal, or construction of any pipe, conduit, duct, tunnel, vault, wire, cable, utility structure, utility cab...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Clara city rules.
Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Santa Clara County →