Mountain View, CA Property Maintenance: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (2026)
Key Facts
- Snow ordinance
- None - no measurable snow
- Sidewalk liability
- Streets and Highways Code 5610
- Minimum pedestrian width
- 4 feet clear
- Branch clearance
- 8 feet over walk, 14 feet over street
- Trip hazards
- Owner must repair
Summary
Mountain View does not receive measurable snow, so there is no snow-clearing ordinance. Property owners must still keep sidewalks free of obstructions, debris, and overgrown vegetation year-round.
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 condition which will not interfere with the public convenience in the use of those works or areas save and except as to those conditions created or maintained in, upon, along, or in connection with such sidewalk by any person other than the owner, under and by virtue of any permit or right granted to him by law or by the city authorities in charge thereof, and such persons shall be under a like duty in relation thereto.
Full Breakdown
Because Mountain View sits in a Mediterranean climate zone, measurable snowfall is essentially nonexistent and there is no local snow-removal ordinance on the books. California Streets and Highways Code 5610 nevertheless makes abutting property owners responsible for sidewalk maintenance. Mountain View Municipal Code requires owners to keep sidewalks clean of leaves, mud, fallen fruit, trash, and standing water, and to maintain at least 4 feet of unobstructed passage. Overhanging branches must be trimmed to a minimum clearance of 8 feet above the sidewalk and 14 feet above the street. Hazardous sidewalk conditions such as cracks, displaced slabs, or trip hazards should be repaired. The City may issue a Notice to Repair and, after a reasonable time, perform the work and lien the property for costs. In the rare event of frost or hail accumulation, the same clearance expectations apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mountain View ever get snow?
Who fixes a cracked sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mountain View
California rules heatmap·Compare Mountain View to another location·View the California property maintenance overview
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Snow & Sidewalk Clearing in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle snow & sidewalk clearing.