Sidewalk repair: who pays, city by city
Most US cities make the owner of the adjacent property responsible for the public sidewalk, even though it sits in the public right of way. Some cities share the cost, some reimburse a set rate, and a few, like Denver, now repair sidewalks themselves and charge a fee.
31 cities and utilities in 14 states, each checked against official sources in November 2026.
| City | Rule | Key detail | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass Valley, CA | Up to 50%, max $10,000 a year | Grass Valley reimburses up to 50% of sidewalk repairs ordered under its inspection program, up to $10,000 per | Reimbursement program |
| Los Angeles, CA | Owner responsible, except street tree damage | State law makes Los Angeles owners responsible for adjacent sidewalks, except damage from street tree roots | Owner pays |
| Salinas, CA | City pays half, up to $2,500 | Salinas pays half the cost of curb, gutter and sidewalk repair, up to $2,500, through its 50/50 Sidewalk Repai | Cost-share program |
| San Rafael, CA | City pays 50% of sidewalk, up to $2,000 | San Rafael owners must repair adjacent sidewalks, but the city pays 50% of replacement up to $2,000, plus all | Cost-share program |
| Denver, CO | City repairs; owners pay $150 a year | Since a 2022 vote, Denver repairs sidewalks itself and bills nearly all owners a $150 annual sidewalk fee | City repairs, owners pay a fee |
| Fountain, CO | Owner pays 50% | In Fountain, sidewalks are the owner's responsibility, but the city's 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Program cover | Cost-share program |
| Clinton, IA | Owner pays 50%, or 25% if low income | Clinton, Iowa splits sidewalk repair 50/50, and pays 75% for homeowners who meet HUD income guidelines. | Cost-share program |
| Davenport, IA | Owner pays 50%, city pays 50% | Davenport shares the cost of hazardous public sidewalks 50/50 for one to three unit homes, but only if the cit | Cost-share program |
| Marion, IA | Owner pays, with tax-roll payment options | Marion, Iowa bundles required sidewalk repairs into a city contract and bills owners afterward, with up to 10 | Owner pays, can be assessed |
| Belleville, IL | Owner pays 30%, city pays 70% | Belleville's residential sidewalk replacement program has the city pay 70% and the homeowner 30%. | Cost-share program |
| Chicago, IL | Owner pays a city-set rate per square foot | Chicago's Shared Cost Sidewalk Program lets owner-occupants pay a set rate per square foot, well below private | Cost-share program |
| Itasca, IL | Owner pays 50% | Itasca splits the cost of eligible sidewalk sections 50/50, with a small yearly budget handed out first-come, | Cost-share program |
| Princeton, IL | Owner pays 50% | Princeton, Illinois replaces sidewalks on a 50/50 basis | Cost-share program |
| Woodstock, IL | Proposed in March 2026 | Woodstock proposed a sidewalk cost-share program in March 2026 that would pay most of the cost of hazardous si | Program proposed |
| Columbus, IN | City reimburses $6 per sq ft of sidewalk and $50 per foot of curb | Columbus, Indiana reimburses $6 per square foot of sidewalk and $50 per linear foot of curb | Reimbursement program |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Owner pays 50%, city pays 50% | Fort Wayne's Barrett Law 50/50 program splits the cost of sidewalks, yard-walks, drive approaches and curbs | Cost-share program |
| Goshen, IN | Owner pays 50% | Goshen splits eligible sidewalk replacement 50/50, subject to the sidewalk's condition rating and available fu | Cost-share program |
| Terre Haute, IN | Owner pays 50%, city pays 50% | Terre Haute's 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Cost-Share Program gives the owner a city estimate first, then splits | Cost-share program |
| Topeka, KS | Owner pays 50%, often covered by a city grant | Topeka's 50-50 Sidewalk Repair Program covers an owner share up to $1,000 with a grant, and a deferred loan ab | Cost-share program |
| Minneapolis, MN | Owner pays; can be assessed on taxes | In Minneapolis, owners pay for the public sidewalk next to their property, including damage from tree roots | Owner pays, can be assessed |
| Richmond, MN | City matches 50% | Richmond, Minnesota matches half of a homeowner's sidewalk replacement cost, with two bids required and about | Cost-share program |
| Columbia, MO | City reimburses 50% | Columbia, Missouri reimburses 50% of sidewalk panel replacement, grinding and related driveway work on residen | Reimbursement program |
| St. Louis, MO | Owner pays 50%, city pays 50% | St | Cost-share program |
| Grand Island, NE | Cost share for ADA fixes | Grand Island's Sidewalk Cost Share Program helps owners make non-compliant public sidewalk ADA compliant | Cost-share program |
| Seward, NE | 50% of the city rate, $9.60 per sq ft | Seward reimburses half of what the city would pay for the same sidewalk work, currently $9.60 per square foot, | Reimbursement program |
| North Tonawanda, NY | Owner pays 50% | North Tonawanda launched a "Sidewalk 50/50" pilot in 2026 with $30,000, reimbursing half of eligible residenti | Cost-share program |
| Grove City, OH | Owner pays 50% | Grove City's 2026 Sidewalk Program has owners pay half, with the option to spread it over 20 years interest-fr | Cost-share program |
| West Milton, OH | Village pays up to 50% for new sidewalks | West Milton shares up to 50% of the cost of new sidewalks in designated areas each year, using the village con | Cost-share program |
| Dallas, TX | Owner pays 50% of sidewalk work | Dallas requires owners to keep sidewalks repaired, and its Sidewalk Replacement Program splits residential sid | Cost-share program |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Owner pays 50% (single-family homes) | In Salt Lake City, owners must keep the adjacent sidewalk, drive approach and curb in repair | Cost-share program |
| Seattle, WA | Owner pays | Seattle property owners must maintain and repair the sidewalk next to their property, and need a Street Use Pe | Owner pays |
Step by step
- Check whether the slab is on the city's list of hazards, or report it and ask for an inspection.
- Ask whether a cost-share program is open this year. Most have a small budget that runs out early.
- Read the program rules before you hire anyone. Some cities only pay if their own contractor does the work.
- If you hire your own contractor, get the city permit first and keep the invoice for any reimbursement.
What it costs
Fort Wayne puts a 5-by-5 foot slab at about $550 to $600, and Minneapolis reported an average of $1,255 per property in 2024. Prices depend on slab count, thickness, tree roots and whether a curb or drive approach is included.
Don't see your city? Tell us and we will add it. See all homeowner rules.
Get quotes from a concrete contractor
Tell us about the property. We pass your request to independent local pros who handle this work, or to a buyer who purchases homes as-is. Free, no obligation.