San Leandro Municipal Code Ch. 5 Substandard Residential Driveways

It shall be the policy of this City Council to encourage property owners to upgrade residential driveway approaches not meeting current City standards whenever City streets are reconstructed.

The City Engineer shall have the sole discretion to determine if an existing driveway is substandard and meets the prerequisites necessary to qualify under this program.

The cost of replacement of substandard driveways approaches will be on an equal share basis between the City and the qualifying property owner. The property owner will be given the option to either pay his share of the driveway replacement cost upon completion of the work or defer payment of his share to the City for up to one year after completion and thereafter payments can be made over a period of five years at an annual interest rate of six percent. Qualifying low-income property owners may be eligible to receive grant funds, if available. Property owner participation in the City's program to upgrade substandard residential driveways shall be on a voluntary basis.

If the property owner elects to complete his driveway approach construction utilizing the property owner's contractor, the rebate for the cost of the work will be 50% of the total cost to the property owner, or 50% of the current unit cost of the City's Annual Sidewalk Repair Program, whichever is less. Receipts must be provided for all reimbursable costs.

Whenever the City undertakes street reconstruction, the City will inspect residential driveways within the limits of construction. A driveway will be eligible under this program when it does not conform to the current City standard; and, where the pavement elevation at the gutter has been significantly lowered in the course of street reconstruction.

Driveways altered by the construction of non-permitted concrete, asphalt, wood, or other unauthorized materials will not qualify under this program, unless the conditions found in the aforementioned paragraph also exist.

All residential properties will receive written notice containing details of the upcoming street reconstruction.

Property owners will also be advised whether or not the replacement of their driveway qualifies for cost sharing under this program.

Property owners will also be informed that following the completion of the street reconstruction work, that use of appurtenances in the street gutter (e.g., wood, concrete, or metal ramps) to adjust for grade differences between the street and driveway will not be allowed in accordance with San Leandro Municipal Code, Section 5-1-200. This notification is necessary to minimize the potential for flooding and pavement water damage as a result of gutter blockage.

Eligibility for this cost-sharing program is for a limited time. The eligibility period for this program is as follows:

(a) Start of Eligibility Period. Twelve months prior to the award of the associated street rehabilitation project construction contract.

(b) End of Eligibility Period. Three months after the initial acceptance of the associated street rehabilitation project construction contract.

This program may be suspended by the City Manager when insufficient funding is available for its implementation.

Editor's Note: Former Title 12, Chapter 13, Public Works: Substandard Residential Driveways, was editorially renumbered to be Title 8, Chapter 5, Engineering and Transportation: Substandard Residential Driveways, during the 2005-06 republication. Legislative history for former Title 12, Chapter 13: Resolution No. 2001-34, 02/20/2001 [§§12.13.100-12.13.400]

(Resolution No. 2011-149, 07/18/2011 [§§8.5.200-8.5.600]; Resolution No. 2005-156, 11/21/2005 [§§8.5.100-8.5.500]; Res. No. 2024-061, 6/17/2024 [§§8.5.100-8.5.500])