San Luis Obispo County, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Issuing authority
- County Engineer
- Legal basis
- Streets & Highways Code Ch. 5.5
- Security required
- Bond, cash, or CD deposit
- Fee waiver threshold
- Work under $50 estimated cost
- Cure period for defects
- 5 days
- Appeal deadline
- 5 days after denial notice
Summary
San Luis Obispo County requires a written encroachment permit before anyone digs, builds, or places anything in a county road right-of-way. The county engineer issues these permits under County Code Section 13.08.010, applying the state Streets and Highways Code's encroachment rules to excavations, driveway cuts, and other private work touching county-maintained roads and sidewalks.
The county engineer may issue written encroachment permits in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 1450) of Division 2 of the Streets and Highways Code.
Full Breakdown
Section 13.08.010 authorizes the county engineer to issue written encroachment permits under Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 1450) of Division 2 of the Streets and Highways Code. Anyone excavating, transporting oversize or overweight loads, removing or trimming roadside trees, or making any other encroachment on a county road must first file a written application under Section 13.08.030, describing the work, its location, and its estimated duration and cost. The county engineer can require a site plan (Section 13.08.040) and, under Section 13.08.050, a satisfactory surety bond, cash deposit, or certificate of deposit sized to guarantee compliance with the permit's conditions.
Section 13.08.055 sets a filing fee by board resolution, but the county engineer may waive it for government agencies, nonprofit organizations, individual tree-trimming applications, or work estimated to cost less than fifty dollars. Once the engineer approves an application and accepts security and the fee, a written permit issues under Section 13.08.060; if the engineer instead denies it, any security is returned and the applicant may appeal. Work must proceed with due diligence and warning signs meeting Caltrans' Manual of Traffic Control (Section 13.08.070), and all construction must conform to the board's adopted improvement specifications (Section 13.08.075).
Violations & Fines
If permitted work isn't finished properly, the county engineer gives written notice under Section 13.08.090; failure to fix the defect within five days lets the engineer cancel the permit or complete or remedy the work and deduct the cost from the applicant's security. If the security runs short, the applicant must reimburse the county for the excess upon written demand (Section 13.08.100). Permittees indemnify the county against claims arising from the work under Section 13.08.130.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues encroachment permits in San Luis Obispo County?
Do I need to post a bond for an encroachment permit?
Can the filing fee be waived?
What happens if I don't fix defective work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Luis Obispo County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Luis Obispo County to another location·View the California sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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