Sidewalk repair in Seattle, WA: who pays and how the city helps
Washington · Last checked November 2026
Seattle property owners must maintain and repair the sidewalk next to their property, and need a Street Use Permit to install new concrete.
Cost split: Owner pays
Key facts
- Responsibility
- Owners maintain adjacent sidewalks and planting strips, repair cracks and damage, and keep them clear of snow and ice.
- Permit
- A Street Use Permit is required for new concrete sidewalk.
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How it works
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.
- 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.
Other Seattle home rules
Compare other cities
- Grass Valley Reimbursement program
- Los Angeles Owner pays
- Salinas Cost-share program
- Salt Lake City Cost-share program
- Dallas Cost-share program
- West Milton Cost-share program
Sources
Last checked November 2026. Programs open, close and change funding every year. Confirm with the city before you hire anyone. Report a change.