# Sidewalk Repair in Chula Vista, CA: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Chula Vista's code makes the owner liable for the sidewalk, but the City has been replacing sidewalks and slicing trip hazards with Measure P money since 2020.

**Who pays:** depends

Chula Vista: the code makes the abutting owner liable for sidewalk upkeep, but the City has been replacing sidewalks and slicing trip hazards with Measure P money since 2020. Report the spot to Public Works before you pay for a repair.

**Boundary:** Chula Vista Municipal Code § 12.12.070 makes abutting persons liable for the proper maintenance of sidewalks as required by California Streets & Highways Code § 5610, and provides that if the City has to perform the maintenance a lien is imposed to cover the cost.

**Property owner:** Maintain the fronting sidewalk (CVMC § 12.12.070; CA S&H § 5610).

**City / agency:** The Street Maintenance Section maintains streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Sidewalk replacement under Measure P began in March 2020, and contractors sliced sidewalk edges at thousands of locations to fix heaves and trip hazards. If the City performs the maintenance on owner default, the code allows a lien (§ 12.12.070).

**Exceptions:** The City's pages do not say whether owners are still billed or liened for sidewalk repairs. Ask Public Works first.

## Sources
- [Chula Vista Municipal Code § 12.12.070 (owner liable for sidewalk maintenance; lien on City performance)](https://chulavista.municipal.codes/CVMC/12.12.070) — "Said persons shall also be liable for the proper maintenance of street lines and sidewalks, as required by Section 5610 of the Streets and Highways Code of the state of California. In the event that ... the City is required to perform such maintenance, a lien shall be imposed to cover the cost of such work." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [California Streets & Highways Code § 5610 (owner duty to maintain fronting sidewalk)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=5610) — "The owners of lots or portions of lots fronting on any portion of a public street or place when that street or place is improved ... shall maintain any sidewalk in such condition that the sidewalk will not endanger persons or property" (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Sidewalks](https://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/public-works/measure-p/projects/sidewalks) — "After a thorough sidewalk study and evaluation, sidewalk replacement/repaving began in March 2020." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalks](https://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/public-works/measure-p/projects/sidewalks) — "In quadrant 1, the contractor serviced 2,731 locations and in quadrant 2, there were 1,733 locations where sidewalk edges were sliced to repair sidewalk heaves and trip hazards." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Street Maintenance](https://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/public-works/operations/street-maintenance) — "The purpose of the Street Maintenance Section is to provide asphalt and concrete structure (street, sidewalks, curbs and gutters) maintenance, and litter removal and weed/trash abatement services to the public so they can have safe, clean, and functional right-of-ways." (accessed 2026-10-03)

_Last verified 2026-10-03. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/chula-vista-ca-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._