Property owners in Oakland are responsible for repairing damaged sidewalks adjacent to their property per state and local laws.
If the sidewalk is damaged on your property, you may receive a Notice to Repair issued by the City. If you receive this letter, you must repair the sidewalk within 30 days.
If someone trips in front of your house, you could be sued for damages. Sidewalk defects could also create problems for children, seniors, the blind, wheelchairs and others with special needs. All pedestrians benefit from safe sidewalks.
City permits are required for sidewalk repairs larger than 25 square feet. A licensed contractor should perform all other repairs.
In some limited instances, the damage may be caused by a tree that has been recorded by the City as an official City tree. In these instances, the City is responsible for repairing the damage, and you will not receive a NTR related to this damage.
Posted: July 9th, 2019 9:38 PM
Last Updated: February 15th, 2022 5:19 PM
The DOT Permit Counter is now open to the public at our Permit Center on the 2nd Floor of 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. Customers can continue to access DOT permit services by email at DOTonlinepermits@oaklandca.gov, by phone at 510-238-3199, or in-person by appointment only at our Permit Center (click here to schedule an appointment). Please note: masks are required for entry into City buildings.
NTR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why am I getting a Notice to Repair (NTR)?
A: If the sidewalk is damaged on your property, you may receive a Notice to Repair (NTR) issued by the City. The sidewalk damage may have been identified through:
- Oak311 (the public works call center),
- city staff observations, and/or
- trip and fall incidents.
In addition, you may receive a NTR if your property is:
- along a paving project (see list of streets here), and/or
- not in compliance with the Buy/Sell/Repair ordinance (more info here).
Q: Why am I receiving a NTR now? Why did my neighbor not receive one?
A: The City of Oakland is finally addressing a backlog of sidewalk damage service requests through our Oak311 call center. You may receive a NTR while your neighbor has not (or vice versa) because a compliant was filed about the sidewalk damage at your property specifically.
More information also available in our general Sidewalk FAQs linked here.