Contra Costa County, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- Abutting "adjacent owner," not the county
- Legal basis
- Sts. & Hy. Code Div. 7, Pt. 3, Ch. 22
- Adopted by
- Ordinance No. 2008-24 (Sept. 23, 2008)
- Consequence
- Owner liable for injury/damage caused
- Multiple owners
- Jointly and severally liable
Summary
Owners of property abutting a public sidewalk in unincorporated Contra Costa County, not the county, carry the legal duty to keep that sidewalk safe. If the sidewalk falls into disrepair and someone is hurt, the abutting or "adjacent" owner is personally liable for the injury.
1016-2.004 - Duty to maintain owed to public. An adjacent owner owes a duty to members of the public to maintain the sidewalk abutting the adjacent owner's property in a condition that does not endanger the public. ... 1016-2.006 - Adjacent owner's liability. If an adjacent owner's failure to maintain the sidewalk abutting the property results in a condition that is a danger to the public, and a person suffers injury or damage while on the sidewalk, the adjacent owner is liable to the injured person for the injury or damage caused by the dangerous condition.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Ordinance Code: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
002(a) as the owner of a lot fronting a sidewalk with a maintenance duty under Streets and Highways Code Chapter 22 of Part 3 of Division 7, to maintain the abutting sidewalk in a condition that does not endanger the public. 006 then converts that duty into direct civil exposure: if the owner's failure to maintain the sidewalk creates a dangerous condition and a person is injured or suffers damage while on it, the owner is liable to that person for the resulting harm. 008 makes them jointly and severally liable, meaning an injured party can pursue any one owner for the full amount rather than dividing the claim.
This liability scheme, adopted by Ordinance No. 2008-24 on September 23, 2008, exists separately from the county's power to abate obstructions itself; it governs who bears the cost and the risk of a broken, cracked, or heaved sidewalk slab rather than assigning the county a repair obligation of its own.
Violations & Fines
There is no separate fine schedule tied to the repair duty itself; the consequence is civil liability. An adjacent owner who lets a sidewalk fall into a dangerous condition is liable for injury or damage suffered by anyone hurt on it under Section 1016-2.006, and where multiple owners share the parcel, each is jointly and severally responsible for the full judgment under Section 1016-2.008.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to fix a cracked sidewalk in unincorporated Contra Costa County?
What if someone trips on my sidewalk and gets hurt?
My property has two owners. Are we both on the hook?
Does the county ever pay for sidewalk repairs instead?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Contra Costa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Contra Costa County to another location·View the California sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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