# Sidewalk Repair in San Jose, CA: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> 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.

**Who pays:** owner

San José: the property owner pays, SJMC §§14.16.2200-2270 put the sidewalk, park strip, and curb on the owner.

**Boundary:** Owner maintains the sidewalk, park strip, driveway approach, and curb and gutter adjacent to the front and/or side of their property (SJMC §§14.16.2200-14.16.2270).

**Property owner:** City of San José: "all property owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, park strip area, and curb and gutter adjacent to their property" per Municipal Code §§14.16.2200-14.16.2270; CA Streets & Highways Code §5610 sets the same duty statewide.

**City / agency:** City DOT administers the sidewalk/curb-ramp program and repairs in connection with city projects; routine adjacent-sidewalk maintenance stays owner-side.

## Sources
- [San Jose Forestry (adjacent-owner duty)](https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/transportation/forestry) (accessed 2026-08-19)
- [San José DOT: Sidewalks & Curb Ramps (owner responsibility, SJMC §§14.16.2200-2270)](https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/transportation/streets/sidewalks-curb-ramps) — "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." (accessed 2026-08-22)
- [California Streets & Highways Code §5610 (owner duty to maintain sidewalks)](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 2026-08-21)

_Last verified 2026-09-27. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/san-jose-ca-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._