Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in San Mateo County, CA (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in San Mateo County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Obstruction Rules
In unincorporated San Mateo County, blocking a sidewalk or public right-of-way with an obstruction or excavation is declared a nuisance under Ordinance Code Chapter 1.12. The County can order the obstruction removed within 10 days or abate it directly and bill the owner, with citations, escalating fines and a property lien for noncompliance.
San Mateo County Sidewalk Obstruction Nuisance Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo County Ordinance Code § 1.12.010
A nuisance is anything which (1) is injurious to health, (2) is indecent or offensive to the senses, (3) obstructs the free use of property in a manner that interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property, (4) obstructs the customary free use or passage of any navigable lake, river, bay, stream, canal, basin, public park, square, street, or highway, or (5) is specifically declared...
Encroachment Permits
Unincorporated San Mateo County requires a Public Works permit for fences, sidewalks, driveways or landscaping placed in the county right-of-way, and fines unpermitted encroachments $350 a day.
San Mateo County Right-of-Way Encroachment Permits
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo County Code § 2.54.020
The Director of Public Works, acting as the County Roads Commissioner, may impose on the owner of the property underlying the County's public right of way, fines for encroachments without permit in the public right of way of equal to $350 per day for each day the unpermitted encroachment remains, such fines to commence on the fifth day following the date of mailing of a second notification to s...
Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules by City in San Mateo County
1 cities in San Mateo County have their own sidewalk & pedestrian rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All San Mateo County ordinances
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