Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in Ventura County, CA (2026)

3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 6 cities in Ventura County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Ventura County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Sidewalk Repair

Owners of unincorporated county lots that front or underlie a sidewalk must repair and maintain it themselves and cover all repair costs.

Ventura County Sidewalk Repair Duty

Some Restrictions

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 12701(a)

The owners of lots or portions of lots adjacent to, fronting on, or underlying any portion of sidewalk including parking strips, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters, and persons in possession of such lots by virtue of any permit or right, must repair and maintain such sidewalk and pay the costs and expenses of any repair or maintenance.(b)For the purposes of this Section, maintenance and repair of si...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Obstruction Rules

County law bans placing or maintaining any encroachment that blocks a right-of-way, denies public use of a sidewalk, or blocks sightlines for traffic safety.

Ventura County Sidewalk Obstruction Rule

Some Restrictions

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 12303

No encroachment of any nature may impede or obstruct the right-of-way, deny any person the use of the right-of-way, or impair the sight distance for safe pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Encroachment Permits

Before building, changing, or repairing anything in an unincorporated Ventura County road right-of-way, from a driveway approach to a buried cable, you need an encroachment permit from the county Road Commissioner. Working without one is a misdemeanor with liability for county costs.

Ventura County Right-Of-Way Encroachment Permit

Significant Restrictions

Ventura County Ordinance Code § 12200(a)

Except as otherwise provided in this Division, it is unlawful for any person to do any of the following without first obtaining a permit from the Commissioner:(1)Make or cause to be made any encroachment, including any excavation, in any highway;(2)Place, change, or renew an existing encroachment in any highway;(3)Place, construct, or repair any curb, gutter, sidewalk, driveway approach, paveme...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗