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Location

Sidewalks in the unincorporated County of San Mateo.

About the Project

Identifying sidewalks with vertical displacements and/or damaged sidewalk requiring removal and replacement.

The Department of Public Works (Department) identified approximately 138 miles of sidewalk with vertical displacement and/or damaged sidewalks requiring removal and replacement with San Mateo County. The Department is in the process of marking these sidewalks and notifying property owners, please see the marking schedule below.

Phase 1 : Timeline

Phase 1 : Markings

Three types of markings will be used: 

Offset markings

These are sidewalks with vertical displacements, generally has an elevation difference of 0.75" - 2.0" between two adjacent surfaces. 

Examples of markings for sidewalk with vertical displacements:

Remove and Replace (R&R) markings 

These are sidewalks with large cracks, damaged surfaces, separations and/or displacements more than 2.0" that will require complete removal and replacement of the identified sidewalk.

Examples of markings for sidewalk requiring Remove and Replace (R&R):

Miscellaneous markings

These are markings at utility boxes, vaults, structures (e.g. electrical, power, cable, communication, water, etc.) with damaged surfaces that belong to the respective utility. 

 Examples of markings for utility lids with damaged surfaces: 

Who is responsible for sidewalk maintenance repair?

• The California Streets and Highway Code places the responsibility for repair and maintenance of sidewalk upon the adjacent property owner. The Section of the code is provided for reference :

California Streets and Highways Code
§ 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 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 in the use of those works or areas save and except as to those conditions created or maintained in, upon, along, or in connection with such sidewalk by any person other than the owner, under and by virtue of any permit or right granted to him by law or by the city authorities in charge thereof, and such persons shall be under a like duty in relation thereto."

Location:
https://california.public.law/codes/ca_sts_and_high_code_section_5610
Original Source:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=SHC&sectionNum=5610

Who will be notified?

• Any property that has been identified as a property adjacent to a damaged sidewalk (e.g. Offset, R&R, etc.) will be notified.

I've received a notification letter in the mail, and the photos in the letter do not match the sidewalk adjacent to my property. Have I received the wrong notification? 

• The two photos provided in the notification letter are samples of markings provided for illustrative effect. The photos show the marking of a location with an "Offset" marking and one with a "Remove and Replace(R&R)" marking. The markings used by the County (white paint with a diagonal hatch pattern) in the effort are different from markings and colors used by other utility companies.

I've received a notification letter in the mail, but I do not see any visible markings on the sidewalk adjacent to my property. Have I received the wrong notification? 

• Phase 1 (Identifying Sidewalks) is active from 1/19/2026 - 4/16/2026. Please email DPW_SidewalkProject@smcgov.org if you have inquiries regarding sidewalk markings adjacent to your property.

Offset Mitigation

The Department will mitigate sidewalks with vertical displacements (e.g. offsets) funded by a one-time fund from Measure A. The offset mitigations (temporary repairs) will be done with no additional cost to the property owner. Contractor for the County will provide 48-hour advanced notification prior to work. More information to come pending completion of Phase 2 (Mitigation) and evaluation of the temporarily repaired locations and collected data.

Phase 2 : Estimated Project Timeline 

Remove and Replace (R&R) sidewalk

Per Streets and Highway Code (SHC) Section 5610, property owners are responsible for the maintenance of sidewalks (see FAQ). 

Sidewalk repairs requiring complete removal and replacement are beyond the scope of the one-time County-funded offset mitigation project and will not be included in the Offset Mitigations. 

To support property owners in this R&R effort, the County will waive the Encroachment Permit fee (approximately $150) when the property owner submits the Sidewalk Notification Letter along with the completed Encroachment Permit Application package online to repair the damaged sidewalk(s). An Encroachment Permit Application is required before any work is done with the public right of way, including repairing damaged sidewalks.

Miscellaneous markings requiring repairs

These are utility infrastructures belonging to the respective utilities and will be repaired by the utilities. 

Public Works Contact

DPW_SidewalkProject@smcgov.org

Why is the County repairing the sidewalk?

• Although repair and maintenance responsibility is with the adjacent property owner, the County is providing a one-time repair as a temporary measure to address specific sidewalk displacements in your area. Once the temporary repair is completed, it is recommended that the property owner make permanent repairs to the sidewalk if needed and to maintain the sidewalk.

What is an "offset" sidewalk and how will it be repaired?

• An offset refers to a vertical displacement between two adjacent sidewalk surfaces measuring between 0.75" - 2.0". The method to be used to mitigate the offset is horizontal saw cutting of the concrete, resulting in a smooth uniform approach and texture. In the second phase of the project, the Department of Public Works will contract SBay Construction Inc and Precision Concrete Cutting to implement a one-time project to repair trip hazards (e.g. offsets) at the identified areas with unincorporated San Mateo County.
• Once the temporary repair is completed, it is recommended that the property owner make permanent repairs to the sidewalk if needed and to maintain the sidewalk. A permanent repair to remove the tripping hazards would be to replace the identified and marked damaged sidewalk area with a new Portland Cement Concrete Sidewalk.
• Example photo of an offset with markings:                                                                  Example photo of a mitigated offset:

What is a "remove and replace" (R&R) sidewalk? How do I repair the sidewalk?

• A Remove and Replace (R&R) refers to the condition of a sidewalk in which vertical displacement is greater than 2" (e.g., cracked, missing pieces, settled, etc.) requiring the complete removal and replacement of the identified sidewalk. A permanent repair to remove the tripping hazards would be to replace the identified and marked damaged sidewalk area with a new Portland Cement Concrete Sidewalk. Sidewalk displacements identified as Remove and Replace (R&R) should be removed and replaced by the adjacent property owner per Streets and Highway Code (SHC) Section 5610. 
• To support property owners in this R&R effort, the County will waive the Encroachment Permit fee (approximately $150) when the property owner submits the Sidewalk Notification Letter along with the completed Encroachment Permit Application package online to repair the damaged sidewalk(s). An Encroachment Permit Application is required before any work is done with the public right of way, including repairing damaged sidewalks.
• Example of markings of sidewalks requiring Remove and Replace (R&R):

Will property owners of addresses with a "R&R" sidewalk be notified?

• Yes, the County will send additional notification(s) to any property with a "R&R" sidewalk to notify the property owner of their maintenance obligations. An initial letter was sent to each property owner identified with a property adjacent to a damaged sidewalk (e.g. Offset, R&R, etc.). More information to come pending completion of Phase 2 (Mitigation) and evaluation of the temporarily repaired locations and collected data.

If I have a marked Remove and Replace (R&R) adjacent to my property, will the County force me to repair the sidewalk at my own expense? What will happen if I elect not to make permanent repair to the sidewalk?

• The County cannot compel property owners to make repairs to their property. Sidewalk repairs performed by property owners would be at the property owners' expense. 

• The County is not able to provide legal advice to property owners as to non-actions. Please consult your legal counsel for advice. The markings and notification to property owners are provided as a courtesy to property owners with damaged sidewalks. The responsibility to maintain and repair sidewalks are with the adjacent property owners, as identified in the Streets and Highway Code, Section 5610.

Can the County recommend a licensed contractor that I can use to repair sidewalk displacements identified as Remove and Replace (R&R)?

• No, the County cannot recommend or suggest any contractor. There are online resources such as Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Contractors State License Board that will generate listings of licensed contractors based on your preferences. Please contact the businesses directly with sidewalk repair inquiries/and or estimates.
• To repair or replace the sidewalk, the work must be performed by a licensed contractor. The work must be in accordance with the encroachment permit requirements set by the County and the licensed contractor must have a C-8 (Concrete Contractor) or A (General Engineering Contractor) license.

How do I apply for an Encroachment Permit to repair the sidewalk?

• You, or your contractor, must apply for an Encroachment Permit Application with the Department of Public Works and provide property owner and contractor information. The application package must be submitted online through the San Mateo County Online Permit Center (Accela). Incomplete applications or applications that are received via mail or e-mail will not be processed and the applicant will be redirected to submit through the online portal.

• Additional information, including County standard details, permit application package instructions, and instructions for submitting online through Accela, can be found here: https://www.smcgov.org/publicworks/permits.

• For questions regarding the permit application process, please email: dpwpermit@smcgov.org.