SUMMARY: The City recently took an initial step to align its municipal code with existing State law. This action begins a longer process that will include thoughtful planning, community outreach, and the development of a well-structured approach over the coming years. Staff will connect with the community to explore program and policy options and will return to City Council at a future date with recommendations for consideration.
What has changed about how sidewalks are maintained in the City of Davis?
On April 7, 2026, the Davis City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that would, in accordance with State law, provide that property owners are responsible for the repair and maintenance the sidewalk fronting on their property.
This ordinance amends the City’s code to match Streets & Highways Code Section 5610, which has placed responsibility for sidewalk repair on adjacent owners since 1941. No other components of the City’s sidewalk program, including implementation, timeline or planning, were included in this action.
Other California municipalities, including Oakland, Sacramento, Elk Grove and Vacaville, have ordinances that assign responsibility for the maintenance and repair of sidewalks on adjacent property owners. Most of these ordinances have been in place for many decades. Davis is not the first city to adopt this language into its ordinance; on the contrary, the recent amendment brings Davis into alignment with state law that has been in effect for 85 years.
Please take time to review the information from the April 7 meeting linked below.
Sidewalk Maintenance Ordinance Staff Report April 7, 2026
Sidewalk Maintenance Presentation April 7, 2026
City Council Meeting Video April 7, 2026 (go to minute mark 2:35 to view item)
What does State Law say about sidewalk maintenance responsibility?
Streets & Highways Code Section 5610 says:
“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 or if and when the area between the property line of the adjacent property and the street line is maintained as a park or parking strip, shall maintain any sidewalk in such condition that the sidewalk will not endanger persons or property and maintain it in a condition which will not interfere with the public convenience ….”
Why has Davis maintained sidewalks in the past? Why the change?
The City has traditionally accepted responsibility for maintenance and replacement of sidewalks that front private property. The City can no longer cover these costs due to limited resources.
Cities covering the sidewalk maintenance costs is not common practice in California with most jurisdictions holding adjacent property owners in some capacity responsible for sidewalk maintenance and repairs.
In order to change the City of Davis practice, the City Council directed staff at is August 5, 2025 meeting to draft an ordinance incorporating the State law into the City’s Municipal Code and allowing the City to enforce State law, should they so choose.
When will this take effect? What are the next steps?
Including the ordinance in the municipal code is a preliminary step in this process with outreach and implementation to occur over the next few years, recognizing the time needed to notify residents and develop a thoughtful, well-structured program and plan.
Staff will begin to work on programmatic and policy options for Council consideration, including extensive outreach with the community, and return to City Council at a future date with policy options to consider.
Implementation and enforcement would only begin after policy determination from the City Council (likely during the next two years).
What if a City tree is causing a sidewalk to buckle? Is it still the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain the sidewalk?
At this time, it is undetermined if Council will exempt owners from repair responsibility if a City tree is causing the damage. This is a policy consideration that will be answered as part of the process outlined above in next steps.
What is the current process?
The City’s current inspection and repair program, Sidewalk Accessibility for Everyone (SAFE), remains in place. Sidewalks will be inspected on a five-year rotating schedule based on existing City Council districts with all sidewalks in one district undergoing inspection every fifth year.
All hazards are identified, prioritized and addressed in accordance with the City’s current sidewalk inspections, maintenance policies and resources.
The City also will continue to inspect sidewalks when issues are reported by residents.
Press contact: Barbara Archer, barcher@cityofdavis.org; 530-400-3418
