Property Maintenance in San Mateo County, CA (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in San Mateo County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
In unincorporated San Mateo County, the Planning and Building Code Compliance Section enforces property-maintenance standards and abates public nuisances such as accumulated refuse, junk, and deteriorated structures. When a nuisance is confirmed, the owner gets a Notice and Order to Abate with 10 days to correct; if ignored, the County abates and bills actual costs plus 15%.
San Mateo County Property Blight and Public Nuisance
Some RestrictionsCal. Vehicle Code Sec. 22660 (Local Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Authority)
22660. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a city, county, or city and county may adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement and removal, as public nuisances, of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles or parts thereof from private or public property, and for the recovery, pursuant to Section 25845 or 38773.5 of the Government Code, or assumption by the...
Snow & Sidewalk Clearing
Snow sidewalk clearing is not a regular concern in unincorporated San Mateo County's Mediterranean coastal climate, and the County has no dedicated snow-clearance ordinance. On the rare occasions of snow at Skyline Ridge or upper La Honda/Kings Mountain elevations, Caltrans clears State Routes 35, 84, and 92, while property owners are generally responsible for keeping their own driveways and sidewalks (where they exist) passable. Streets & Highways Code §§5610-5618 gives local agencies general authority over abutting-property sidewalk maintenance.
property-maintenance/snow-sidewalk-clearing
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Streets and Highways Code § 5610
5610. 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 co...
Property Maintenance by City in San Mateo County
2 cities in San Mateo County have their own property maintenance rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All San Mateo County ordinances
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