Santa Clarita, CA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must repair
- The abutting property owner
- Notice-to-repair period
- 5 days from Director's notice
- Penalty for non-compliance
- Misdemeanor
- City repair recovery
- Billed to owner via legal action
- Governing chapter
- Municipal Code Ch. 13.80
- Adopted
- Ordinance 89-20, 8/8/1989
Summary
Property owners in Santa Clarita, not the city, are legally responsible for repairing or reconstructing any sidewalk or curb that abuts their property once it falls out of repair. Ignoring the duty is a misdemeanor, and the city can order the work done and bill the owner.
When any sidewalk or curb constructed on any road, boulevard, street, avenue, lane or alley shall be out of repair or in need of reconstruction shall be the duty of the owner of or other person, in charge of or in control of the property abutting the sidewalk or curb to repair or reconstruct the sidewalk or curb.
Full Breakdown
Santa Clarita Municipal Code Section 13.80.010 places the duty to repair or reconstruct a sidewalk or curb squarely on the owner, or other person in charge or control, of the property that abuts it, whenever that sidewalk or curb "shall be out of repair or in need of reconstruction." Section 13.80.020 makes it unlawful for that owner or person in control to fail to repair or reconstruct the sidewalk or curb once it reaches that condition, an ongoing obligation rather than a one-time notice requirement.
If the owner does not act, Section 13.80.030 lets the Director give notice specifying the manner of repair and the materials to be used; the owner then has five days from that notice to complete the work. If the five days pass without the repair being done, the Director may have city forces or a contractor perform the repair or reconstruction using available city funds, and the resulting expense becomes a charge against the owner that the city can recover through legal action brought in the city's name.
Section 13.80.040 backs the whole chapter with a criminal penalty: any owner, person, firm or corporation that violates any provision of Chapter 13.80, including the basic duty to repair, is guilty of a misdemeanor. The chapter dates to Ordinance 89-20, adopted August 8, 1989, and has not been substantively amended since. A separate chapter, 13.82, covers permits for painting house numbers on curbs and does not affect the repair duty here.
Violations & Fines
Failing to repair a deteriorated sidewalk or curb after notice is a misdemeanor under Section 13.80.040, prosecuted in the city's name. Beyond criminal exposure, the Director can have the repair done by city crews or a contractor once the five-day notice period lapses, then bill the owner for the full cost through a civil recovery action, on top of any misdemeanor prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to fix a broken sidewalk in Santa Clarita, the city or the homeowner?
What happens if I ignore the city's notice to fix my sidewalk?
Is failing to repair a sidewalk a crime in Santa Clarita?
Does the sidewalk repair notice specify how I have to fix it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clarita
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clarita to another location·View the California sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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