Sidewalk Repair

Your responsibility for the sidewalk

To empower San Francisco property owners with clear, accessible guidance on their responsibility to maintain safe, compliant sidewalks, promoting public safety, accessibility and community stewardship. 

Under the California Streets and Highways Code, Section 5610, Public Works Code Section 706, and Public Works Order No. 177,525, property owners must keep the sidewalk next to their property in good condition and repair it when it's damaged. Damage you're responsible for may include but is not limited to:

• Missing concrete pavement
• Raised, sunken, or uneven concrete pavement
• Holes or cracks
• Missing sewer vent covers
• Around tree basins if the tree is not a City tree

Sidewalk Repair Permits

You need a Sidewalk Repair Permit for any sidewalk repair work. Sidewalk repair work shall  shall not include the following and subject to a Notice of Violation up to $1,000 per day: 

We encourage property owners to check the sidewalk next to their property. If it's damaged, you can hire a concrete contractor to make sidewalk repairs. You or your contractor are required to obtain a permit before work begins. For more information, email  PublicWorksPermits@sfdpw.org

Voluntary sidewalk repairs

If you're repairing the sidewalk on your own (not in response to a City notice), you can get a  Sidewalk Repair Permit online or application assistance is available in person at the Permit Center, 49 South Van Ness Avenue, 2nd Floor.

Permeable Options in Non-ADA path of travel 

 As an alternative to replacing your sidewalk with concrete, you can turn part of it into a garden with a Sidewalk Landscaping Permit from the Public Works  Urban Forestry . Through this permit you may be granted permission to plant trees or install a garden in the sidewalk area. Sidewalk gardens look great, provide habitat for birds and pollinators, absorb stormwater to help reduce flooding, and can increase property values. To apply, visit sfpublicworks.org/services/sidewalk-landscaping-permit-application-and-approval-process or call BUF at 628-652-8733. 

To apply, visit the Permits Portal or call BUF at 628-652-8733.

A Special Sidewalk can be obtained for non-City Standard materials tested for slipping
 

NOTICE TO REPAIR PROCESS

There are 2 reasons you may have received a Notice to Repair (NTR) :

• San Francisco Public Works Permits and/or Inspections receives a public complaint regarding damaged sidewalk 

• SIRP (Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Program) is scheduled to assess your neighborhood for damaged sidewalk if the program is active. 

• The following is a summary of the Notice to Repair Process: 

  1. Public Works inspector assesses your sidewalk for damage and marks area with white  dots in need of repair 

  2. A general notice is posted on your property stating repairs are required and action is not required until the official notice is mailed out with how much to repair. 

You will receive an official Notice to Repair via USPS Mail that states: 
a. Total Square Footage (SF) and/or Linear Footage (LF) required for repair  
b. Permits required for work to be performed 

Work must be completed within 30-Days of the NTR date.

Determine if you or a hired contractor will commence work.  
a. Please note: Some NTRs require a Street Improvement permit to complete work. Street Improvement work must be completed by a qualified concrete contractor. Please see the Street Improvement page for more information.   
b. If notice is part of the SIRP program, you have the option of having the City Contractor perform the work. Simply select that choice on the letter and return it within 30 days of receipt. 

4. If you would like to apply for a Sidewalk Repair Permit in response to a Notice to Repair (NTR), please register and apply using the new Public Works Permits Portal

a. If the contractor applies for the Sidewalk Repair permit on behalf of the property owner, they will need to provide either a copy of the NTR letter that was mailed to the property owner or a Certificate of Authorized Agent for verification. 

5. If the defects are minor and approval is attained from a SF Public Works Inspector, you may choose to make the repairs yourself by utilizing the instructions per DPW Order 177,526. While a permit is not required for minor repairs, the repairs will be inspected and if the repairs are deemed to be unacceptable, the damaged section will be replaced and an invoice will be sent to you.

6. Complete work within permitted time.

7. Contact inspector to notify them that work has been completed. 

8. A San Francisco Public Works Inspector will re-inspect to make sure all work has been completed and to code. 

9. The difference between the two (2) permits is Street Improvement requires form work inspection of the curb/driveway areas to ensure City Standards are met before pouring concrete. 
 

If work to be performed on Sidewalk + Curb replacement, including driveway and/or existing encroachments then a Street Improvement Permit will be required. 

Sidewalk Repair Inspections 

For any other permits that may be required by an inspector or to answer any questions about the Permit Process, please call our office at 628-271-2000 or publicworksinspection@sfdpw.org. Please have your NTR number and/or property address available. 

• For any questions about the Inspection Process (e.g. 30-day extensions, existing defects, colored dots etc.), please call or email the District Inspector whose name appears on your Notice 

For your convenience, Public Works inspectors have marked the defective sections of your sidewalk with color-coded dots. Different colored dots denote who is responsible for the repairs:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Apply
• Fee Schedule
• Inspection and Enforcement
• Greening Resources
  • Benefits of Greening (pdf)
  • Sidewalk Landscaping
  • Tree Planting 
     

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information or clarification on any of the permit requirements, please contact us at:
San Francisco Public Works • Infrastructure and Street Activation 
49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 300 • San Francisco, CA 94103 
Email: PublicWorksPermits@sfdpw.org Phone: (628) 271-2000

San Francisco Public Works • Permit Center 
49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 200 • San Francisco, CA 94103 • Map

Processing Hours:
•Please visit https://sf.gov/location/permit-center for operating hours of the Permit Center. 
• Closed on official holidays