Walkways, Paths & Steps in Los Angeles

Front walks, side-yard paths and concrete steps in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley: the line between your walkway and the city sidewalk, safety details for steps, and what to ask contractors.

Your walkway vs. the city sidewalk

This difference matters for both permits and responsibility. A walkway on your own lot, from the sidewalk to your front door or along the side of the house, is private. The City of LA municipal code exempts walks not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement from needing a building permit. (LAMC 91.106) The public sidewalk in front of your home is in the right-of-way: repairs there need a Bureau of Engineering A-Permit, (BOE permit manual) and under LAMC 62.104 the owner of the lot is responsible for keeping it safe. (LAMC 62.104) If you are dealing with the public sidewalk, see concrete and sidewalk repair, which covers the City's rebate program.

What a walkway job involves

A typical job is removing the old walk, compacting a base, setting forms with a slight cross slope so water runs off, pouring and finishing. Steps add forming work and need consistent riser heights so people don't trip. Ask about edges along lawns and planting beds, and how the new walk will meet the porch and the public sidewalk.

Steps

Steps are where walkway jobs go wrong most often. Uneven riser heights are a trip hazard even when the difference is small. If your porch is high enough to need several steps, ask whether a handrail is needed and who decides. Steps attached to a porch or raised more than 30 inches above grade may be outside the permit exemption that covers simple walks. (LAMC 91.106)

Safety details worth asking about

• A textured (broom) finish for grip when wet.
• Gentle slope away from the house so water doesn't pond at the door.
• Even step heights and a handrail where steps need one.
• A smooth, level joint where the walk meets the public sidewalk.

Roots near the walk

Trees near the walk are a common cause of lifting. Roots from a street tree in the parkway need a StreetsLA root pruning permit before anyone cuts them. (StreetsLA)

What your walkway quote should spell out

• Length and width of the walk, and the number of steps with their riser height.
• Removal of the old walk and haul-off.
• Finish, and any border or color.
• How the walk ties in at the porch and at the public sidewalk, and that no work in the public sidewalk is included without an A-Permit.
• Whether a handrail is included.

The full checklist that applies to any concrete job, plus payment and cancellation rules, is in Before you sign.

How a request works: with your consent it goes to one independent contractor with an active CSLB license, never a list. Free, no obligation. Details.

FAQ

Related projects

• Driveway Replacement & New Driveways
• Concrete Patios
• Stamped & Decorative Concrete
• Concrete & Sidewalk Repair
• Driveway cost guide

Local guides

Permit offices and local rules differ by neighborhood. Read the guide for your area:

• Hancock Park
• Fairfax & Beverly Grove
• Mid-City
• West Hollywood
• Mid-Wilshire