Sidewalk & Tree Maintenance / Liability

Property Owner Responsibilities

Under Section 5610 of the California Streets and Highway Code The property owner is responsible for maintaining the:

  • Frontage along a public right-of-way to maintain the sidewalk area
  • Street trees and other landscaping growing along the frontage
  • The public right-of-way adjacent to the property
  • Includes any park or parking strip between the property line and the street line

Maintenance obligation will include, but not be limited to

  • Sidewalk surfaces, curbs and gutters
  • Removal of weeds and debris
  • Tree root pruning and installing root barriers
  • Pruning and trimming of trees, shrubs, ground cover and other landscaping within the sidewalk area and planting strips.

If a property owner fails to maintain the sidewalk area, the City can perform the work and proceed to collect the cost from the property owner.

The Sidewalk and Tree Maintenance and Liability can be found in Chapter 12.18 of the Half Moon Bay Municipal Code