San Jose finance officials have hit more than 100 property owners with debt claims for failing to pay thousands of dollars for sidewalk repairs outside their homes.
The City Council earlier this month approved potential penalties for 111 properties that owe a total $307,000 in mandatory sidewalk repairs as of May 8 — the number has since shrunk to 82, according to city housing officials. Homeowners have about one year to make the repairs by either hiring city contractors or their own contractors. If they don’t comply, homeowners will be penalized with a lien on their 2025-26 Santa Clara County property tax statements.
“Following council’s approval of staff’s recommendations, a special assessment would be placed on the property tax bill of delinquent property owners to recover sidewalk repair costs,” John Kachmanian, San Jose deputy director of finance, said at the June 17 meeting…