Redwood City, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- Abutting property owner or occupant
- Repair deadline
- 30 days after City notice
- Appeal window
- 15 days to City Council
- Nonpayment result
- City repairs, then liens the property
- Lien collection
- Added to property tax bill each August
Summary
Redwood City puts sidewalk upkeep on the property owner, not the City. Section 29.38 makes the owner or occupant of property fronting a public street responsible for maintaining the abutting sidewalk, and if an owner ignores a City repair notice, the City Engineer can do the work and place a lien on the property to recover the cost.
Sec. 29.38. - RESPONSIBILITY FOR SIDEWALK: It is the duty and responsibility of the owner or person in possession of the property abutting or fronting on a public street, right-of-way or City property to care for and maintain the sidewalk on the right-of-way or City property which abuts such property. Sec. 29.41. - REQUIRED NOTICE: When any portion of any walkway is out of repair or in condition to endanger persons or property or in condition to interfere with the public convenience in the use thereof (except as to those conditions created upon, under or along such walkway by the City...) the City Engineer, in the manner provided in this Chapter, shall notify the owner or person in possession of the property abutting or fronting on that portion of area of the required repairs or corrections to repair and/or correct.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Zoning Code: Supplement 29 | City Code: Supplement 61 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
38 places the duty and responsibility to care for and maintain the sidewalk directly on the owner or person in possession of the property abutting or fronting it, whether the property faces a public street, right-of-way, or other City property. 41 requires notice to that owner or occupant describing the needed repairs, unless the City itself caused the damage. 42 sets the notice's required form: it must specify the work, materials, and manner of repair, give the owner thirty days to complete it, and warn that the owner may instead appeal in writing to the City Council within fifteen days.
44 requires the City Engineer to mail a duplicate notice to the owner of record within three days of posting. 45, heard under Chapter 1 of the Code. 47 directs the City Engineer to do the work directly. 50, with the same delinquency penalties as unpaid taxes. 34 makes whoever removes a parkway tree responsible for repairing any curb, gutter, or sidewalk damage the removal causes.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a posted repair notice is not itself criminal, but it triggers cost-shifting: after thirty days without repair, or after a failed appeal, the City Engineer performs the work and Section 29.48 bills the owner directly. Section 29.49 converts an unpaid bill into a lien against the property, collected the following tax year under Section 29.50 with the same interest and delinquency penalties the County applies to unpaid property taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for fixing a cracked sidewalk in front of my Redwood City home?
What happens if I get a sidewalk repair notice from the City Engineer?
Can the City put a lien on my house for a sidewalk repair?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redwood City
California rules heatmap·Compare Redwood City to another location·View the California sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.