A concrete walkway lasts when it's built on compacted soil and a base, sloped to shed water, jointed at regular intervals and kept away from constant irrigation. In the City of San Diego, property owners are responsible for many repairs to the public sidewalk in front of their property, and a right-of-way permit is required for that work.
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Walkways are narrow slabs, which makes them the first concrete to show movement. Around San Diego, lifted sidewalk panels from street trees, sunken walks next to planters, and cracked steps on hillside lots are some of the most common repair requests. They're also a liability issue, because an uneven edge is easy to trip on.
Common walkway projects
- New front walks from the driveway or street to the door
- Side-yard paths for trash bins and access
- Garden paths through drought-tolerant landscaping
- Steps and landings on sloped lots
- Replacing lifted or broken public sidewalk in front of the house
Building a walk that stays flat
The soil is compacted, a base is placed, and the walk is poured with a slight cross-slope so water sheds off. Control joints are tooled at regular intervals, often roughly as far apart as the walk is wide, so cracks form in straight lines. Isolation joints separate the walk from the house, steps and driveway. On expansive clay, keeping irrigation off the walk and away from its edges does as much good as anything in the slab itself.
Who fixes the public sidewalk?
In the City of San Diego, the answer surprises many owners. The City's Transportation Department says that, under California Streets and Highways Code, property owners are responsible for repairing the sidewalk in front of their property, while the City handles damage from heat expansion, City utility work, grade subsidence and trees within the right-of-way. Normal wear, age and damage from private trees fall to the homeowner. The City notes that a right-of-way permit is required for all sidewalk repairs, and Development Services lists curb, gutter and sidewalk replacement up to 150 linear feet as Rapid Review work. Other cities in the county set their own policies, so check with your city before you replace a public sidewalk.
Tree roots
Street trees and mature yard trees lift a lot of San Diego sidewalks. Cutting big roots can harm or destabilize a tree, and street trees are often regulated by the city. Options include rerouting a private path, ramping or grinding a small offset, or replacing a panel with a root barrier. Ask an arborist before cutting large roots.
Steps
Steps need consistent riser heights and tread depths. Steps that serve a required exit, or with more than a few risers, may need handrails under the building code. Ask whether your steps need a permit.
Repair or replace?
- Hairline cracks are usually cosmetic.
- Sunken panels can often be lifted. See concrete repair and leveling.
- Small offsets can sometimes be ground down to remove the trip edge.
- Broken or heaved panels are usually replaced joint to joint.
Questions to ask
- What base and thickness will you use?
- How will you handle tree roots and irrigation near the walk?
- For a public sidewalk, will you pull the right-of-way permit and build to the city's standard drawings?
- Will the new panels match the old ones? (Exact matches are hard.)
Have a trip hazard or a new path in mind? Request a walkway contractor.
See how it works
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house in San Diego?
In the City of San Diego, property owners handle repairs from normal wear, age and private trees, citing state Streets and Highways Code, while the City handles damage from heat expansion, City utility work, grade subsidence and trees in the right-of-way. Other cities set their own policies.
Do I need a permit to repair a public sidewalk?
In the City of San Diego, yes: a right-of-way permit is required for all sidewalk repairs, and replacement up to 150 linear feet can go through Rapid Review. Other cities run their own permits.
Can a lifted sidewalk panel be ground down instead of replaced?
Often, if the offset is small and the panel is otherwise sound. Larger offsets, broken panels or panels still being pushed by roots are usually replaced joint to joint.
Sources and further reading
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)
- California Contractors State License Board: C-8 Concrete Contractor
- CSLB: License requirement for minor work increases to $1,000 (AB 2622)
- County of San Diego General Plan Update EIR: Geology and Soils (expansive soils)
- City of San Diego Development Services: Information Bulletin 165, Public Right-of-Way Permits
- City of San Diego Transportation Department: Sidewalk maintenance responsibility
- City of San Diego Stormwater
- California Department of Water Resources: Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
- County of San Diego: Excavation Permit Brochure (DigAlert notice)
- DigAlert: Underground Service Alert of Southern California (811)