Owner Responsibility
Per the City of San Ramon’s Municipal Code, it is the responsibility of the property owner(s) to adjoining sidewalks to maintain those sidewalks. Adjoining property owners are responsible for injuries or property damage resulting from failure to maintain the sidewalk in a non-dangerous condition.
Damage Requiring Repairs
The City will require repairs when the sidewalks have any of the following conditions: 1) a 1/2-inch or greater vertical offset; 2) a 5/8-inch or greater opening or crack; 3) a heave of more than 4 inches in 4 feet; 4) a sag of more than 4 inches in 8 feet; or 5) if other dangerous conditions, extensive damage, or other conditions inhibiting the function of the sidewalk, curb or gutter exists.
Making Repairs
Property owners may undertake the repairs to the sidewalk with their own contractor. Any property owner wishing to do this must first obtain an Encroachment Permit. All repairs must be done to City of San Ramon standards and are subject to inspection.
Encroachment Permit Applications can be found here:
http://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/departments_and_divisions/public_works/permit_center
City of San Ramon sidewalk standards can be found here (click on concrete):
http://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/departments_and_divisions/public_works/engineering/development_engineering/
Cost Sharing
The City of San Ramon will share 50 percent of the cost of replacement of sidewalks if City crews or contractors make the repairs. Because the City does not want to repair the same sidewalk repeatedly, the City will pay for 100 percent of the cost of repair of the sidewalk if a tree on private property causes the damage and the property owner has the tree removed at the property owner’s expense. Currently, the City is conducting minor repairs such as grinding at the City’s expense. Damage caused by trees owned by the City will be repaired at the City’s expense.
ADA Upgrades
Repairs to, or replacement of, sidewalks made solely to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be entirely paid for by the City.
Municipal Code and Legal Authority
The Chapter 22 of the California Streets and Highways Code requires that “owners of lots or portions of lots fronting a public street 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 in the use of those works or areas.” The Code sets forth the mechanisms by which the City may notice and require repairs to be undertaken or assess property owners for the costs of the repairs, if undertaken by the City.
The section of the Municipal Code pertaining to sidewalks can be viewed here:
https://library.municode.com/ca/san_ramon/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITCCODELAUS_DIVC6PUWOFLCO_CHVISIDRRERE
Sidewalk Repair Program Brochure