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

Section 32-24(a) requires an owner to repair and maintain any sidewalk fronting their property so it will not endanger persons or property and will not interfere with public safety or convenience, and § 32-24(b) spells out that duty to include sweeping, cleaning, grinding, removal and replacement, filling of parking strips, and removing weeds, debris and overgrown shrubs. Two exceptions in § 32-24(c) relieve the owner where a third party's permitted work (such as an encroachment permit holder) created the condition, or where a City-planted or City-maintained tree or its roots caused the damage.

Under § 32-25, when the Public Works Director has actual notice of a defective sidewalk, the Director must serve written notice to repair, by personal service, first-class mail to the address on the last equalized assessment roll, or both mail and personal service on an occupant; if served by mail, a second notice must follow within 30 days if the first goes unanswered. The owner then has 90 days from service to commence the repairs under § 32-26, and once started, repairs must proceed diligently without interruption.

If the owner fails to commence or complete repairs in time, § 32-27 lets the Public Works Director have the City perform the work and bill the owner for the full cost, including administrative and inspection costs; unpaid invoices after 30 days can become a special assessment lien against the property. Separately, § 32-28 makes the responsible property owner directly liable to any member of the public who is injured or suffers property damage because the owner failed to keep the sidewalk in a safe, nondangerous condition as required by § 32-24.

, meaning the City can use either track. Article 4 was substantially restructured by Ordinance 3695 in 2025, which also repealed the former transfer-inspection requirement at old § 32-29.