Fresno, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

FMC § 13-217, added in 1965 and last amended in 1997, puts the duty to maintain and repair the sidewalk area on 'the owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place which is improved,' applying the repair standards set out in Chapter 22, Part 3, Division 7 of the California Streets and Highways Code, the state law that lets cities shift sidewalk liability to abutting owners. The city carves out two exceptions once the Director confirms in writing that a condition is hazardous: the city itself repairs sidewalk damage caused by tree roots from trees growing in the street right-of-way, and it repairs gutters, including curbs where the curb and gutter are poured as one monolithic unit.

Outside those two carve-outs, the owner remains responsible for any damage they, their agent, or anyone acting under their direction or control causes to the sidewalk area. The Director of Public Works enforces the repair duty under the same Streets and Highways Code chapter, and when curb or gutter repair is bundled with sidewalk work, the job must be done by a licensed contractor. To keep the mandatory-repair process from becoming a financial barrier, § 13-217 waives the usual permit processing fee, inspection fee, liability insurance, and performance bond otherwise required under §§ 13-206 and 13-207 for sidewalk repairs ordered under this section.