Sidewalk Repair

The State Highway Code (5611) and the local Public Works Code (Article 15, Sec. 706), DPW Order 177,525, requires property owners to maintain the sidewalk adjacent to their property to a condition acceptable to the Director of Public Works. This responsibility includes making repairs as needed when a sidewalk is damaged. Damage on the sidewalk for which a property owner is responsible for include, but are not limited to the following: 

Missing pavement

Raised / sunken / uneven pavement

Holes or cracks in the pavement

Missing sewer vent covers

When such repair and improvements are required, a Sidewalk Repair Permit is required by the Public Works Code. San Francisco Public Works encourages all property owners to take a close look at the sidewalk adjacent to their property. If you believe it is damaged and choose to make the repairs immediately, please contact a reputable concrete contractor. Please note that you or your contractor are required to secure the necessary permits prior to commencing repairs; please contact the Bureau of Street-Use and Mapping at 628-271-2000 for more information.
 

• If you will be performing voluntary repairs, with no improvements or repairs to the grading, curb, curb ramps/curb return, gutter, driveway curb cut or roadway, a voluntary sidewalk repair permit can be issued both online and at our counter at the Permit Center located at 49 South Van Ness, 2nd Floor. To apply for a sidewalk repair permit online, please complete our [online form].  

As an alternative to replacing your sidewalk with gray concrete, you may instead turn your sidewalk into a glorious garden with a Sidewalk Landscaping Permit from BUF. Public Works may allow sidewalk landscaping through permits issued by the Bureau of Urban Forestry (BUF). In addition to planting trees, this permit allows property owners to convert a portion of the sidewalk in front of their property into an attractive landscaped area. Sidewalk landscaping looks great, provides habitat, reduces flooding, and enhances property values. To apply for a sidewalk landscaping permit please contact BUF at 628-652-8733, or visit our page.
 

NOTICE TO REPAIR PROCESS

There are 2 ways you could possibly receive a Notice to Repair (NTR) : 

• SF Public Works - Bureau of Street Use & Mapping receives a complaint regarding damaged sidewalk 

• SIRP (Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Program) is scheduled to assess your neighborhood for damaged sidewalk 

1. Public Works inspector assesses your sidewalk for damage and marks area with white “X’s” or dots in need of repair 

2. A general notice is posted on your property stating repairs are required 

3. You will receive a “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 

4. Work must be commenced within 30-Days of NTR date 

5. Determine if you or a hired contractor will commence work 
   a. Please note : A California State Licensed Contractor (A or C-8) with a $25,000 City Street Excavation Bond must be selected if work is required to the curb and/or roadway/gutter area. For your convenience, we maintain a list of concrete contractors meeting the requirements here: https://sfpublicworks.org/services/concrete-contractors 
   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. 

6. If you would like to apply for a Sidewalk Repair Permit in response to a Notice to Repair (NTR), please complete our online form. After the form is submitted, you will receive an invoice at the email provided or will be contacted if additional information is required.

7. 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 

8. Complete work within permitted time 

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

10. SF Public Works Inspector will re-inspect to make sure all work has been completed and to code.
     

Permit Requirements

 If work to be performed on sidewalk only: 

• Sidewalk Repair Permit 

• Street Space permit (for construction parking/staging) 

• Board of Appeals surcharge 

• Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) Parking Meter fee (applicable where meters are present) 

• Any changes in approved sidewalk repair permit shall be subject to a fee. If expired, the permit shall be considered null and void 

If work to be performed on Sidewalk + Curb replacement, including driveway and/or existing encroachments: 

• A property owner must hire a California State Licensed Contractor (A or C-8) with a $25,000 City Street Excavation Bond before applying for a Street Improvement (SI) Permit. This bond is required for the excavation of the roadway that results from replacement of an existing damaged curb. Please note that without a licensed bonded contractor, a permit cannot be processed or issued. Click here for a list of Concrete Contractors that is provided for the convenience of the recipient; no recommendation is inferred of implied. 

• Street Improvement Permit: The base fee includes processing, a minimum two (2) hours of inspection (additional fees may apply) and a Board of Appeals surcharge. Any changes in approved Street Improvement permit shall be subject to additional fees. If expired, the permit shall be considered null and void. 

• For repair of sidewalks above or adjacent to existing sub-sidewalk basements, or other encroachments, a Street Improvement and Minor Sidewalk Encroachment (MSE) Permit shall be required. A Street Improvement permit base fee, a Minor Sidewalk Encroachment processing fee (existing encroachments ONLY), a Board of Appeals surcharge, plus an annual assessment fee shall be required. If the existing sub-sidewalk basement requires any structural work or upgrades, a building permit from the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) at 49 South Van Ness must be applied for prior to applying for the Street Improvement and Minor Sidewalk Encroachment Permits. 

• For existing encroachments that do not require reconstruction or modification, a Minor Sidewalk Encroachment permit is required. 

• For any other permits that may be required by BSM inspector or to answer any questions about the Permit Process, please call our office at 628-271-2000 . 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

• Application

• Fee Schedule

• Inspection and Enforcement 

• Permit Processing Guidelines for NTR and Authorized Use 

• 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 • Bureau of Street-Use & Mapping 
49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 300 • San Francisco, CA 94103 
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