Encroachments in Susanville’s public right-of-way

Public streets and rights-of-way are shared spaces managed for transportation, utilities, drainage, emergency access, and essential maintenance. In Susanville, these areas may include travel lanes, sidewalks, alleys, parkways, planting strips, and other land reserved for public infrastructure.

An encroachment occurs when a private improvement, object, activity, or structure extends into or occupies that public space. Fences, retaining walls, landscaping, signs, construction materials, driveway features, utility-related work, and temporary obstructions can all affect the City’s ability to maintain facilities and keep routes safe.

The City’s policy on encroachments into the public right-of-way is intended to protect public access while giving property owners a clear path for requesting approval. Before installing or placing anything near a street, sidewalk, drainage facility, or utility corridor, residents and contractors should contact the City of Susanville Public Works Department to determine whether a permit or written authorization is required.

Why the right-of-way matters

A public right-of-way is more than the paved portion of a street. It provides room for sidewalks, street trees, stormwater flow, underground utilities, water and natural gas facilities, roadway repairs, and emergency response. Its exact width and boundaries can vary by location, subdivision, recorded easement, or public improvement plan.

Keeping this area available supports routine work and future projects. For example, crews may need access to a water service connection, gas line, drainage inlet, or sidewalk panel. Residents seeking background on utility infrastructure can review the difference between a water main and a service line before planning improvements near a utility corridor.

What may be considered an encroachment

An encroachment may be permanent, temporary, above ground, or below ground. Common examples include a portion of a building, porch, awning, fence, wall, irrigation system, sign, planter, driveway alteration, or landscaping that occupies public land. Construction equipment, dumpsters, materials, and temporary barriers can also require authorization when they interfere with public access.

The presence of an item on or near a property frontage does not establish private ownership of the underlying land. A property owner may be responsible for maintaining a sidewalk or landscaped area while the land remains within the public right-of-way. Property records, surveys, subdivision maps, and City files may be needed to identify the boundary accurately.

Review, permits, and written authorization

Before beginning work, an applicant should provide enough information for Public Works staff to evaluate the location and potential effects. Depending on the project, this may include a site plan, dimensions, construction details, photos, utility information, traffic or pedestrian controls, and a description of the requested use.

Approval may include conditions concerning setbacks, visibility, drainage, accessibility, materials, restoration, insurance, indemnification, inspection, or future removal. A permit for construction does not automatically authorize occupation of public property, and approval from another agency may not replace a City encroachment permit. Applicants should verify every approval that applies to their project.

The City may require an encroachment agreement when an improvement is intended to remain in the right-of-way. Such an agreement can define the owner’s maintenance duties, responsibility for damage, access rights, and the City’s ability to remove or modify the improvement when public work requires it.

Situation	Why review may be required	Common considerations
Fence, wall, or landscaping near the street	May narrow the sidewalk or limit visibility	Location, height, sight distance, maintenance
Sidewalk, driveway, or curb work	May affect accessibility, drainage, or roadway structure	Grades, approved materials, restoration
Utility excavation	May disturb water, gas, stormwater, or communications facilities	Utility locates, traffic control, inspections
Construction staging or a dumpster	May block travel, parking, or pedestrian routes	Duration, barriers, access, cleanup
Permanent private improvement	May occupy land needed for public use	Encroachment agreement, removal, liability

Protecting access and public safety

Any authorized use of the right-of-way must preserve safe movement for pedestrians, people using mobility devices, bicyclists, drivers, and emergency personnel. Sidewalks should remain continuous and usable, while objects near intersections and driveways should not obstruct sight lines.

Work around utilities requires special care. Excavation, posts, footings, irrigation lines, and paving can damage buried infrastructure or prevent future repairs. Applicants should arrange required utility locating and follow applicable construction and traffic-control requirements before breaking ground.

Stormwater is another important consideration. A wall, driveway alteration, landscape feature, or fill placement can redirect runoff toward a neighboring property or block a drainage path. Public Works review helps identify conditions that could increase flooding, erosion, icing, or pavement damage.

Responsibilities after approval

The person receiving authorization is generally responsible for keeping an approved encroachment safe, clean, and in good repair. Maintenance obligations may include removing debris, repairing damaged surfaces, controlling vegetation, preserving drainage, and keeping signs or barriers visible. If an improvement becomes unsafe or interferes with public work, the City may require corrective action.

Approval is not necessarily permanent or transferable. A change in ownership, a new construction project, a roadway improvement, or a change in public need may affect the authorization. Property owners should keep copies of permits and agreements and disclose them during a sale or renovation.

A property owner may also be responsible for promptly reporting damage or unsafe conditions affecting a sidewalk, utility area, or drainage facility. Questions about water service, conservation, and infrastructure should be considered alongside the City’s annual water quality report, which explains important information about the municipal water system.

Steps to take before starting work

Early coordination can prevent delays, redesign, and unexpected restoration costs. A contractor or resident should avoid relying on assumptions about the curb, sidewalk, or property line. When the proposed work is close to public improvements, written confirmation from Public Works is the safest way to determine the applicable process.

Use these steps as a practical starting point:

• Check the proposed location against a current survey, parcel map, or recorded easement.
• Contact the City of Susanville Public Works Department before placing materials or beginning excavation.
• Ask whether an encroachment permit, building permit, traffic-control plan, utility review, or agreement is required.
• Arrange utility locating and identify water, gas, stormwater, electrical, and communications facilities.
• Keep sidewalks, accessible routes, drainage paths, and emergency access open throughout the work.

Residents who observe a dangerous obstruction, damaged public facility, blocked sidewalk, or urgent utility concern should use the City’s current Public Works contact and emergency reporting channels. For non-emergency projects, submitting plans before construction gives staff time to review safety, access, drainage, and maintenance issues.

If you are planning an improvement near a Susanville street, sidewalk, alley, or utility corridor, contact Public Works early, provide clear site information, and obtain the required authorization before work begins. Proper coordination protects public infrastructure, reduces disruption, and helps ensure that private improvements remain compatible with the City’s long-term needs.