California Streets and Highway Code section 5610 requires that property owners whose lots are adjacent to any portion of a public street maintain the sidewalks and various private improvements in the public Right of Way. The new County of Tulare Curb & Sidewalk Reimbursement Program (CSRP) is envisioned to financially assist property owners in residential areas with installing or making repairs to curbs, sidewalks, ADA ramps, and driveway approaches abutting their properties.
The appeal of this cost-sharing approach is that it will empower the residential property owners to take action rather than wait years for the County to identify funding and personnel to implement the repairs or installation. Furthermore, the County will limit the CSRP to only existing residential areas (i.e. residential areas zoned as R-A, MR, R-0, R-1, R-2, and R-3). For the moment, this CSRP will exclude new construction/developments and commercial properties. A re-evaluation of the commercial properties within the County will follow in the future.
Additionally, applications for the CSRP will be processed as received and reimbursements will be made on a first-come, first-served basis until funds allocated for the year have been exhausted. Any additional questions, please contact the County's Public Works branch by emailing us at EncroachmentPermits@tularecounty.ca.gov or calling us at (559) 624-7073.
Please see the steps of the process for the program below.
Application: The property owner will need to fill out the County Curb & Sidewalk Reimbursement Program Application (Click Here) and submit it to EncroachmentPermits@tularecounty.ca.gov.
Pre-Approval: The County will complete a pre-construction inspection of the project and give a pre-approval letter with plans. The pre-approval package will also include an explanation of potential costs that are eligible to be reimbursed based on the type of work, requirements for property owners for selecting contractors, and steps for the reimbursement process.
Permits: County encroachment permits will still be required for the project. Property owners must inform their contractors to obtain valid permits before proceeding with the work. Moreover, please note, contractors working on these improvement projects would be required by Labor Code section 1720 to pay prevailing wages to their employees working on the projects.
When applying for the encroachment permits, the property owners will need to include the pre-approval letter, an estimate, and construction plans to EncroachmentPermits@tularecounty.ca.gov. Once a permit is issued, an Approval letter will be mailed to the property owner. Applicants who have received approval of their applications and have obtained the necessary encroachment permits may proceed with the work at their earliest convenience.
Construction: Once construction is completed, the property owner will pay the contractor. The property owner will then provide the following to the County: an email with proof of payment (receipt), an invoice from the Contractor, the property owner’s W-9, and a copy of the Approval letter to RMA-AP@tularecounty.ca.gov.
Reimbursement: The County will complete a post-construction inspection at the property. Upon a successful inspection, the County will then process the request for reimbursement and sends the applicant a letter that includes the finalized application. A reimbursement check will be mailed to the property owner within approximately 6 weeks.
Reimbursable Types of Work:
Curb and Gutter - $25 per linear ft.*
Sidewalk - $15 per linear ft.*
ADA Ramp - $1,400 per ramp (gutter not included) *
*Total reimbursement work shall not exceed $4,000
Before:
After:
