What sidewalk repair actually costs in San Diego
Most contractors make you call to get a number. Here's ours up front: typical residential repairs run $4,000–$11,000 all-in for the construction, driven almost entirely by square footage. The City's own permit fee sits on top, at cost.
One recent job, start to finish — demolition, graded base, formed edges, rebar reinforcement, and the pour. That's what the square-footage price buys.
Our construction pricing
| Work | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sidewalk replacement | $32 / sq ft | Demolition, haul-off, base prep, new concrete to City spec (SDG-159), matched joint pattern, broom finish. |
| Small-job minimum | $4,000 | Jobs of 125 sq ft or less bill at the flat minimum — fixed costs (crew, equipment, permit process) dominate small pours. |
| Driveway approach | $35 / sq ft | Thicker pour and heavier reinforcement for vehicle load. |
| Surveyor — monument certification | $800 | Licensed-surveyor certification the City requires on every permit. Passed through at the locked rate. |
| Surveyor — monument reset | +$1,200 | Only when a survey monument falls inside the repair area — includes the surveyor's return trip after cure and final certification. |
The City's permit & inspection fee — explained straight
Every legitimate sidewalk repair in the public right-of-way needs a City of San Diego permit, and the City charges for it. For a standard residential repair (under 150 linear feet), the City's combined permit, inspection, and administrative fees come to roughly $3,500. That money goes to the City — we pass it through at cost, with zero markup, and it appears as its own line on your estimate so you can see exactly what's ours and what's the City's.
Beware of quotes that don't mention the permit at all. Unpermitted right-of-way work leaves the City's case on your property open — which was the whole point of fixing it.
Managing the City process is real work — permit pull, packet preparation and submittal, pre-construction meeting, inspection coordination, closeout certification. We normally charge $1,200 for it. Request an estimate and accept within 30 days and that fee is fully waived. (To be clear: this is our fee we're waiving — nobody can waive the City's.)
Always included, no upcharge
- Site prep, saw-cut, demolition, debris haul-off and disposal
- Base preparation and compaction to City standards
- Forms, reinforcement, pour and finish — matched to your existing joint pattern
- ADA cross-slope verification (under 2%)
- City closeout certification filing — the paperwork that actually closes your case
- Cleanup, final walkthrough, and a 2-year workmanship warranty
What can add cost (we'll flag it in the estimate, never after)
- Curb and gutter replacement (separate scope)
- Tree-root removal beyond routine root pruning
- Subsurface surprises — utilities, large root masses, soft ground
- Curb ramps or underdrains — these push the job into the City's plan-review permit tier (roughly $6,600 in City fees instead of ~$3,500), and we'll tell you before anything moves
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No charge for the estimate. No pressure. If you decide not to hire us, you've at least learned what the work should cost.