| Repair | Who pays | The rule |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk Trash / Junk Removal | City | San José offers free curbside Junk Pickup by 311 appointment, up to 12 items, but excludes glass, mirrors, construction debris, and hazardous waste. |
| Sewer Lateral | Shared | San Jose owners pay for the upper sewer lateral, but Public Works repairs the lower lateral (property line to main) free after the owner files a repair-order form. |
| Sidewalk Repair | Property owner | In San Jose the property owner maintains the sidewalk, park strip, and curb and gutter next to the lot (SJMC 14.16.2200), backed by California S&H Code 5610. |
| Storm Season: Free Sandbags | Third party | Valley Water offers free-filled sandbags to Santa Clara County residents from November 1 through April 15, with a San Jose site on Senter Road. |
| Tree Roots | Property owner | In San Jose the owner is responsible for both the street tree and the sidewalk, so tree-root sidewalk damage is the owner’s cost either way. |
| Water Service Line | Shared | In most of San Jose, San Jose Water owns the line to the meter coupling; the customer owns from the meter to the house. |
Bulk Trash / Junk Removal
San José provides no-cost curbside "Junk Pickup" by 311 appointment (up to 12 items per request, same day as your regular collection), and excludes glass, mirrors, construction debris, hazardous waste, and bed-bug-infested items.
San José's Junk Pickup program is available at no cost for single-family homes and multi-family complexes. Both property owners and renters can use the service.
Source: Junk Pickup
Sewer Lateral
San Jose owners legally own the whole lateral to the main, but the city repairs the lower segment for free once you show the defect is not on your side.
for the repair of a sewer lateral running from his property line to the sewer main in the city street.
Sidewalk Repair
San José: the property owner pays, SJMC §§14.16.2200-2270 put the sidewalk, park strip, and curb on the owner.
As in many cities, San José's Municipal Code, all property owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, park strip area, and curb and gutter adjacent to their property.
Source: San José DOT: Sidewalks & Curb Ramps (owner responsibility, SJMC §§14.16.2200-2270)
Storm Season: Free Sandbags
San Jose residents can get free-filled sandbags through Valley Water, with a listed site at the City Central Service Yard, November 1 to April 15.
Valley Water offers free-filled sandbags for residents of Santa Clara County.
Source: Sandbag distribution sites
Tree Roots
San Jose: the owner is responsible for both the street tree and the sidewalk, so tree-root sidewalk damage is the owner’s cost.
The property owner of a lot or portion of a lot adjacent to or fronting on any portion of a street shall maintain and replace, if necessary, any street trees, shrubs, hedges or other landscaping adjacent to or fronting on the subject property... maintenance of street trees... includes, but is not limited to:...
Source: San Jose Municipal Code § 13.28.400 (owner maintains adjacent street trees incl. critical root zone)
Water Service Line
In most of San Jose, the water utility (San Jose Water) owns the line up to the meter outlet coupling; the customer owns everything from there to the house.
San Jose Water Responsibility – SJW is responsible for the pipes that bring water from the water main located under the street, all the way to the meter outlet coupling.
Source: Who’s Responsible for What: SJW to the meter outlet coupling
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