Los Banos, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Any work in a street, alley or public right-of-way
- Governing section
- § 7-2.01, Permits: Required
- Bond required
- Cashier's/certified check or bond, § 7-2.04
- Bond exemption
- 5-year licensed contractors and franchised utilities
- Maintenance period
- 1 year after work completion, § 7-2.11(e)
- Enforcement
- City Inspector can revoke permit, stop work
Summary
Los Banos requires anyone doing work in a public street, alley or right-of-way, including private encroachments, to get a permit first under § 7-2.01, post a bond or certified check under § 7-2.04, and maintain the disturbed area for a year after completion under § 7-2.11.
It is unlawful for any person to perform any work within the right-of-way of any street, alley, or other public property unless a permit for the proposed work shall have first been obtained from the City. ... Before any permit required by the provisions of this chapter shall be issued to any person, firm, or corporation, other than a public utility having franchise rights within the City or a contractor having had a City business license in force five years before the date of the application for such permit, the applicant shall deposit with the City Clerk a bond, cashier's check, or certified check, in an amount approved by the Director of Public Works, as a guarantee for the faithful performance of the work specified in the application.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4356507; v3 updated 2025-03-05).
Full Breakdown
01 makes it unlawful to perform any work within the right-of-way of a street, alley or other public property in Los Banos without first getting a permit from the City, which is the City's general mechanism for private encroachments into the public right-of-way. 02, must include the applicant's name and address, the name and contact information of the person actually doing the work, a dimensioned map showing the location and depth of the work, the proposed start and completion dates, and a statement of why the work needs to go where proposed; a public utility doing emergency work may file the application on the next working day instead.
03. 04 requires the applicant to post a bond, cashier's check or certified check with the City Clerk in an amount the Director of Public Works approves, unless the applicant is a franchised public utility or a contractor who has held a City business license for the preceding five years; the deposit stays on file for a full year after the work is done to cover maintenance and repair. 11 sets the technical standards: cuts must be as straight as possible, excavated material must be truck-hauled off site, backfill must meet the City's Improvement Standards and Specifications, and the permittee remains responsible for maintaining the repaired surface for one year after completion.
Violations & Fines
The City Inspector can revoke a street or alley work permit and stop construction outright for noncompliance with any of the chapter's provisions or the permit's specifications, under § 7-2.06. A permittee who varies from the terms of an issued permit commits a willful violation under § 7-2.05, and under § 7-2.10 the permittee must reimburse the City for the full cost of any repairs to public property made necessary by the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to dig up the sidewalk or street in front of my Los Banos property?
Does Los Banos require a bond for street work?
How long am I responsible for the street after the work is done?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Banos
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Banos to another location·View the California sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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