Who must repair the sidewalk in front of my house?

Who is responsible, city by city

The strip of sidewalk between your yard and the street usually belongs to the public right-of-way. That does not mean the city fixes it. In most of the cities we cover, local code puts repair on the owner of the property next to it.

City	Who repairs the sidewalk	Help with cost	Source
Columbus, OH	Property owner, for repairs and upkeep such as snow removal (City Code 905.06)	None found for repairs; the city may add sidewalks during road projects	[1]
Cleveland, OH	Property owner, for the sidewalk, apron, curb and gutter that abut the property (Ordinance 505.11)	50/50 Sidewalk and Tree Damaged Sidewalk programs	[2][3]
Cincinnati, OH	Property owner, per Municipal Code Chapter 721	2026 pilot pays for emergency repairs in set neighborhoods	[4][6]
Chicago, IL	We could not confirm from a city source who is legally responsible	Voluntary Shared Cost Sidewalk Program	[7]
Houston, TX	Property owner, for existing sidewalks (Code Sections 40-83 and 40-84)	City program builds new sidewalks, not repairs	[8]
Dallas, TX	Property owner, for sidewalks and drive approaches	50/50 cost share on residential sidewalks	[9]
San Antonio, TX	Property owner (Code Section 29-11)	Sidewalk Rebate Program, up to $3,000	[10]
Austin, TX	The city, in select rights-of-way that include sidewalks	Not needed for city-maintained walks	[11]

Two notes. Houston's FAQ is dated July 2018^[8], so check the current Chapter 40 before you rely on it. Austin's page does not say which sidewalks fall outside its "select" rights-of-way^[11]. Report damage through Austin 3-1-1 and ask.

Help paying: cost share and rebate programs

These programs change every year, and some run out of money. Here is what each city says now.

• Chicago. You apply through 311 on a first-come, first-served basis. CDOT estimates an average mid-block property owner pays about $1,000 to $2,400. Seniors 65 and older and owner-occupants with disabilities may get a 50% discount. Corner lots are billed for both sides^[7].
• Dallas. The city splits existing residential sidewalk replacement 50/50. You pay 100% of any drive approach. The city says it takes two to three months to assess and quote, then three to nine months after payment to finish^[9].
• San Antonio. Public works assesses the sidewalk and sends an estimate. You have 15 business days to accept it, then 60 business days to have a licensed contractor of your choice do the work. The rebate is capped at $3,000, and city inspections and permit fees are free for participants^[10].
• Cleveland. The city reports more than 86,452 square feet of sidewalk installed or repaired in 2024 under its 50/50 Sidewalk and Tree Damaged Sidewalk programs^[3]. Call the city for current terms.
• Cincinnati. The 2026 pilot funds emergency repairs for owner-occupied homes in Avondale and Roselawn until the money runs out. It keeps no waiting list. After that, owners pay under the regular process^[6].

What counts as a hazard

Cities set their own lines. Cincinnati's inspectors flag a block when^[5]:

• One block is raised or sunken more than 5/8 inch from the next block.
• The surface is badly damaged or pitted, or has cracks or gaps.
• A dip is likely to hold water, which turns to ice, or mud.

Cincinnati's pilot treats an edge offset of 2.5 inches or more as an emergency^[6]. Other cities use other numbers, and some do not publish one. If a neighbor or mail carrier has tripped, do not wait for a notice.

Notice periods matter too. San Antonio's code gives owners 30 days after written notice from public works to make the repair^[10]. Cincinnati says that if an owner does not complete required work, the city does it and bills the owner for the cost and fees^[4].

How sidewalk repairs are done

You have three common options. Your city may limit which ones it accepts.

Problem	Typical fix	Watch out for
Small lip between two sound panels	Grinding the high edge	Some cities only accept full replacement
Whole panel sunk, but intact	Lifting (mudjacking or foam)	Works only if the soil under it has stopped moving
Broken, heaved or crumbling panel	Full panel replacement	Needs a permit in most cities

City standards can decide this for you. Cincinnati says the only acceptable repair for a condemned block is full replacement from joint to joint to city specification^[5]. Cleveland requires full slab repairs, joint to joint, with a broom finish. Its 2009 fact sheet calls for 4-inch-thick residential sidewalks and 6-inch residential drive walks and aprons, on a compacted 2-inch sand or gravel base^[2]. Check your own city's current detail drawings before you pour.

Permits and trees

Most cities want a permit for work in the right-of-way. Cleveland requires a sidewalk permit for any repair or replacement in the right-of-way and may require a pre-pour inspection^[2]. Its fact sheet says permits are not issued from November 15 to February 1 without approval of a cold-weather plan^[2].

Tree roots are a common cause of lifted panels. In Cleveland, the city's Division of Urban Forestry must grind roots of tree-lawn trees before the sidewalk is repaired. Roots from trees on private property are the owner's job to remove^[2]. Do not cut roots of a street tree without asking your city first.

Myth: "It's city property, so the city has to fix it"

For most of the cities above, that is wrong. The sidewalk sits on public land, but code in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio puts repair on the abutting owner^{[1][2][4][8][9][10]}. Austin is the exception in our list^[11]. If you are buying a house, ask whether the city has sent any sidewalk notices.

When to call a pro

• You received a written repair notice with a deadline: get a contractor who knows your city's permit and spec rules.
• The sidewalk is lifted by a tree root: call the city first, then a contractor.
• Panels keep sinking after past repairs: the soil or drainage needs a look before more concrete goes down.
• You plan to join a cost share or rebate program: confirm whether the city or you must hire the contractor.