Sidewalks
Sidewalks are the foundation of an effective pedestrian network. They are critical links in the transportation network providing a range of users access to commercial districts, schools, businesses, government offices, and recreation areas.
Residents of Albany have long been responsible for maintaining in good condition the curb and sidewalk bordering private property. According to California State Law (Streets and Highways Code sections 5600 et seq.) and Albany Municipal Code Chapter XIV, the property owner is responsible for repair and maintenance of the adjacent sidewalk. Compromised sidewalks can be hazardous situations that run the risk of causing injury to the sidewalk user and slip-and-fall lawsuits for property owners and the City.
The City of Albany's Sidewalk and Pathway Repair Policy was updated by City Council in June 2024 (Resolution No. 2024-55).
2024 Measure C
2024 Measure C - Safe and Accessible Sidewalks & Pathways Special Parcel Tax
For many years, the City has not had a dedicated funding source for sidewalk repairs. In November 2024, Albany voters passed Measure C, which extended the term of the previous Sidewalk Parcel Tax for the purpose of publicly funding repairs to the City sidewalks. In addition, Measure C incorporated additional program activities, including sidewalk shaving and recurring sidewalk surveys, as eligible expenditures. The collection of sidewalk parcel tax funds is authorized to run through June 2035.
Resident Sidewalk Repairs
According to California State Law and Albany Municipal Code, the property owner is responsible for repair and maintenance of the adjacent sidewalk. As such, property owners are authorized and encouraged to perform any necessary repairs at their expense.
If a property owner chooses to repair the sidewalk, they will be required to have a licensed contractor perform the work and will be responsible for obtaining a City encroachment permit. See City Standard Specifications and Standard Details for more information about City sidewalk standards.
Residents can also report immediate hazards via the Service Request Portal. Filing a service request does not guarantee that a location will be included in the next round of Sidewalk Program repairs, as project scopes are determined according to pre-set criteria and analyzed for impact within the community at large.
Sidewalk Repair Program
The Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 22000) was created following the passing of Measure P1 in 2016 and is currently funded with the Safe and Accessible Sidewalks & Pathways Special Parcel Tax, passed by Albany voters under Measure C in 2024. The Sidewalk Program consists of three components: surveys, repairs, and shaving
1. Sidewalk Surveys
The Public Works Department conducts a comprehensive Citywide sidewalk survey every five years to identify sidewalk defects. The results of the survey are used to compile a geographic information system (GIS) database, allowing for a data-driven process to scope future repairs, shaving, and other projects. The recurring sidewalk surveys enable staff to maintain an accurate, up-to-date GIS database of sidewalk issues.
2. Sidewalk Repairs
The Public Works Department conducts sidewalk repairs on an annual basis, which typically includes removing damaged concrete and sidewalk defects and then pouring back new concrete.
Repair locations currently follow a prioritization criteria reviewed by Albany's Transportation Commission in March 2026. The criteria prioritizes unsafe sidewalks and sidewalks posing accessibility concerns that were identified during the 2025 Comprehensive Sidewalk Survey. This prioritization utilizes a data-driven approach so that repair locations may provide the most benefit to the community at large. For more information on the current repair phase, visit the City Projects webpage.
Sidewalk-Program-Repair-Map-2026-05.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
3. Sidewalk Shaving
The Public Works Department conducts annual sidewalk shaving in order to extend the life of sidewalks and eliminate tripping hazards. Sidewalk shaving involves "shaving down" vertical offsets up to two inches. This low-cost method of sidewalk improvement is an effective way to make sidewalks more accessible to all with minimal interruption to public access.
The City's sidewalks are divided into five zones of similar size and sidewalk shaving is conducted annually within one Zone per year. Sidewalk-Program-Zone-Map.pdf(PDF, 467KB)