Who owns the land between the sidewalk and the curb?

The land is often public property, with maintenance usually being a municipal responsibility. Some municipal authorities, however, require that abutting property owners maintain their respective verge areas, as well as the adjunct footpaths or sidewalks.

What is the area between the street and sidewalk called?

Making a yard and a community more beautiful begins at the curb. But that narrow space between sidewalk and street — sometimes called a boulevard, median, hellstrip, parkway, verge or tree belt — is a gardening challenge. For starters, it’s probably owned by the municipality but falls to the homeowner to maintain.

Do homeowners own boulevard?

It is the duty of Torontonian homeowners to maintain the boulevards adjacent to their homes — unless they can convince the city they should not. This includes making sure the boulevard is litter-free, trimming trees and cutting the grass.

Who owns the parking strip?

A parking or park strip is a narrow strip of land between the sidewalk and the street often used as a right of way for public utilities and traditionally planted with street trees and turf. Although the municipality owns the strip, the homeowner is responsible for its upkeep.

Why is it called the devil strip?

Rita Snook claims the term originated with the Iron Horse: “A ‘devil strip’ is railroad slang for the strip of land between two sets of railroad tracks. A case in point is the term ‘devil’s strip’ for the grass strip between the sidewalk and the curb, which seemed to be used only in Akron, Ohio.”

Does the sidewalk in front of my house belong to me?

In California, municipalities and counties usually own the sidewalks next to private property, but California state law long enacted states that the landowners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk fronting their property in a safe and usable manner.

Do you own the land between sidewalk and street?

Generally, no, but the property owner is responsible for maintenance. This usually includes the side walk (but not the curbing, if present.) Some municipalities have a cost sharing agreement for sidewalk replacement.