Chapter 12.08 — CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE

Article I Curbs, Gutters, Sidewalks and Paving

It is declared to be the policy of the City that curbs, gutters, sidewalks and paving be installed along the street line or lines of any lots or parcels improved with construction or erection of any dwelling or other building, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

It is further declared to be the policy of the City that curbs, gutters, sidewalks and paving be installed along the street line or lines of any lot or parcel used for commercial, industrial, multiple-residential or any business purpose whatsoever, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Prior code § 12-6.1; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The provisions of this chapter are minimum requirements, and wherever any ordinance or resolution or determination of the City, its City Council, officers or agents, requires additional improvements of a higher degree or grade, such ordinance, resolution or determination shall control.

(Prior code § 12-6.2; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have the meaning specified in this chapter unless, from the context, a different meaning is intended:

"Street" means any public street, highway or public way; any street, highway or way open to public use.

"Street line" means the line of any street, as defined in this section, as established by any official map or plat, or by any public agency, or by recorded deed or subdivision map, or by the City Engineer.

(Prior code § 12-6.3; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The City Engineer may, on his or her own initiative, and shall, within 60 days of a written request by any abutting property owner, establish a street line for such abutting property along any street in the City. Such street line shall prevail for all purposes of this chapter. (Prior code § 12-6.4; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Every person, constructing or erecting any dwelling or other building in the City shall, prior to occupying such dwelling or other building, or permitting any other person to occupy the same, construct or cause to be constructed, curbs, gutters and sidewalks along the entire street line of the affected property as provided in this chapter, or post the required bond, cash or security as

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 12.08.050

§ 12.08.090

provided in Sections 12.08.050 to 12.08.090, inclusive. Every person owning, occupying, leasing or utilizing any lot or parcel utilized for commercial or industrial purposes, and every person owning any lot where are situated more than two rental units of any kind or nature, shall, not later than September 1, 1963, construct or cause to be constructed curbs, gutters, sidewalks and paveouts along the entire street line of the property so owned, occupied, leased or utilized, not so improved to City specifications and standards, or post the required bond, cash or security, as provided in this chapter. It is the intent of this provision that the responsibility for such construction shall rest upon the owner in all cases and, in addition, in the case of commercial or industrial property, upon the person or persons occupying, leasing or utilizing the property, or any portion.

(Prior code § 12-6.5; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

All work and improvements shall conform to grades established by the City by ordinance, resolution or minute order of the City Council, or by order of the City Engineer.

All work and improvements shall conform to standard specifications of the City, subject to administrative variations authorized by law. (Prior code § 12-6.6; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Except as provided in Sections 12.08.080 and 12.08.090, cement curbs, gutters, sidewalks and paving shall be constructed along the entire street line of lots and parcels upon which such dwellings or other buildings shall be erected or constructed, or where commercial, industrial or multiple-residential uses are maintained.

Duplication of existing curbs, gutters or sidewalks, properly located and meeting City standards, is not required. Where only a portion of a large frontage is directly affected, and, in the opinion of the City Engineer, traffic conditions, drainage conditions and other factors affecting the public welfare do not require construction of some or all of such improvements on the remainder of the property, he or she may, under appropriate conditions, waive such improvements as to all or any part of such portion of the property. Location of improvements shall be subject to approval of the City Engineer.

(Prior code § 12-6.7; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

In a Residential-Agricultural Zone, this chapter does not require curbs, gutters and sidewalks for a distance greater than 100 feet along the line of any street upon which the lot or parcel built upon abuts, if such lot or parcel contains one-half acre or more, and only one single-family dwelling is erected or constructed on such lot or parcel. In all other cases, the City Engineer shall determine the nature, extent and time of installation of improvements, if the public welfare does not, in his or her reasonable judgment, require complete installation of all required improvements. (Prior code § 12-6.8; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

In Manufacturing Zones, this chapter does not require sidewalks, except where a commercial or residential use is maintained, but cement curbs and gutters, and paving shall be constructed

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES

§ 12.08.090

§ 12.08.130

in accordance with official grades and specifications along the street line of any private road or street upon which the lot or parcel built upon abuts.

(Prior code § 12-6.9; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

In lieu of construction of required curbs, gutters or sidewalks, the owner, builder, or other person, may, if the City Engineer finds that deferring such improvements is in the public interest, post with the City a sufficient bond, or deposit cash or other security, which bond, cash or security are approved as to amount, form and all other matters by the City Engineer, to guarantee installation of such improvements within such period as the City Engineer shall specify.

Such guarantee shall not in any case be less than 125% of the estimated cost of required cement curbs and gutters, paving, and sidewalks, and shall be conditioned to pay or release such sums to the City prior to issuance of final approval and acceptance of such dwelling or other building, if such improvements have not been constructed as required.

This section shall not apply in any case where a total of less than 40 linear feet each of curbs, gutters, paving and sidewalks are required by this chapter to be installed, unless the City Engineer determines that the public welfare so requires.

(Prior code § 12-6.10; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; amended during 2008 republication; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The Building and Safety Division shall deny final approval and acceptance of any such dwelling or building, and withhold approval of public utility connections, unless the required curbs, gutters, paving and sidewalks have been completed, or, when permitted by this section, a bond, cash or security to guarantee such construction have been posted with the City and approved by the City Engineer.

(Prior code § 12-6.11; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

This chapter shall not require immediate installation of such sidewalks along the frontage of a single-family residence in any Residential or Residential-Agricultural Zone where the City Engineer determines and finds, upon application for exception in such form as he or she may reasonably require, that:

• A. None of the streets upon which the subject lot or parcel abuts is a primary, secondary or major street, either existent or as proposed in any general or precise plan adopted or being prepared by the City Council, or by the Planning Commission of the City; and

• B. No adjoining lot or parcel is improved with sidewalks; and

• C. Substantially all of the built-up lots and parcels within 500 feet of the lot or parcel, and abutting upon the same street, do not have sidewalks upon such street; and

• D. The character of the neighborhood is such that it is not reasonably to be contemplated that sidewalks will become customary within five years from such application.

• (Prior code § 12-6.12; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 12.08.130

§ 12.08.160

This chapter shall not require immediate installation of curbs, gutters, paving or sidewalks along the street line of a single-family residence in any zone where the City Engineer determines and finds, upon application for exception in such form as he or she may reasonably require, that of the lots and parcels fronting upon the same street within 350 feet of the subject property, measured along the line of the street, more than 55% of the frontage is built upon and unimproved with curbs, gutters and sidewalks, or whichever the applicant seeks not to be required to install at the usual time; provided that, immediate installation of such sidewalks, curbs, paving and gutters are required by this chapter in all cases, unless:

• A. The owner of the lot or parcel proposed to be built or erected upon shall, prior to obtaining a building permit for, or final approval of such building or construction, deposit with the City Clerk a dedication to the City of an easement for a public road, or widening of a public road, along the street lines of such lot or parcel, satisfactory in form and area to the City Engineer, if such road or widening is planned or proposed for future development by the City or its appropriate officers; the receipt and use of a final acceptance and approval of any building or dwelling by the owner, or any party acting pursuant to the ownership of such owner, shall be sufficient consideration to make such offer to dedicate irrevocable, and subject to acceptance by the City at any later time, at its sole election; and

• B. The City Engineer shall determine that deferring installation of such improvement or improvements will not be contrary to the public welfare, by reason of factors of traffic control, drainage control, street design, street maintenance, or like matters; and

• C. An adequate bond, cash deposit or other security for the installation of improvements has been posted with the City, upon the terms and conditions specified in Section 12.08.100.

• (Prior code § 12-6.13; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

This chapter shall not require installation of any particular improvement as to any particular property, or portion, nor the posting or maintenance of any particular guarantee of installation, where the City Council determines, after favorable recommendation by the City Engineer, that such requirement would impose an unusual hardship upon the property owner because of the nature of the neighboring development, or for other proper reasons would not carry out the policy of this chapter, but in such cases the City Council may require other appropriate guarantees. (Prior code § 12-6.14; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

A fee shall be charged by the City Engineer for each application for an exception under this chapter. Such fee shall be in accordance with the fee schedule established by the City Council and adopted by resolution. No application shall be processed without payment of the required fee. A separate application is required for each building permit affected.

(Prior code § 12-6.15; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; amended during 2008 republication; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

An exercise of discretion by the City Engineer under this chapter, not including the fixing of

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES

§ 12.08.160

§ 12.08.160

fees or deposits, or the amount of any security otherwise required, shall be subject to review by the City Council, which shall, by resolution, establish a procedure for hearing such appeals upon reasonable notice to the applicant and to the City Engineer. The determination of the City Council shall be final and binding upon all parties.

(Prior code § 12-6.16; Ord. 1493 § 1, 1999; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/NO4978 on 2026-07-07

City of Norwalk, CA § 12.08.170

STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES

§ 12.08.210