The San Diego City Council approved this week a new campaign to accelerate sidewalk repairs that includes notifying thousands of property owners they are responsible for repairs near their properties, waiving a $2,200 permit fee and streamlining a bureaucratic approval process.
The goals of the campaign include encouraging property owners to help cover an estimated $238 million in needed repairs and reducing city payouts to people injured by crumbling sidewalks.
The notices of responsibility the city will begin sending out to property owners this winter will alert them that they are responsible for damaged sidewalk that could lead to an injury lawsuit — but no enforcement actions against those owners are planned.
City officials say they hope people will be spurred to act when they become aware of the damaged sidewalks, the temporary fee waiver through June 2026 and the streamlined approval process, which will let them self-certify their repairs.
Because sidewalks may seem like just as much a public responsibility as roads, storm drains and other parts of the public right of way, many property owners are unaware state law has a special designation for sidewalks that makes adjacent property owners responsible for repairs.
The city has set aside $300,000 to pay the full cost of repairs when notices of responsibility are issued to property owners in areas designated communities of concern. Officials say the money should cover 60 such sidewalk repairs.
The specific neighborhood designations created controversy Monday when the council approved the new campaign.
Three council members — Sean Elo-Rivera, Monica Montgomery Steppe and Vivian Moreno — voted against the campaign based on concerns about which neighborhoods are being included. While many of them are low-income, as expected, some others like Old Town are not.
The council approved the campaign 5-3 with Raul Campillo absent.
City officials are delaying until at least 2026 more drastic measures under consideration, such as a possible city law making property owners liable for sidewalk-related injuries and requiring that adjacent sidewalks be in good condition before properties can be sold.
Residents with questions about damaged sidewalks can call (619) 527-3941, visit sandiego.gov/safesidewalks or send an email to safesidewalks@sandiego.gov.
