City Home Rules

Sidewalk repair in St. Louis, MO: who pays and how the city helps

Missouri · Last checked November 2026

Cost-share program

St. Louis splits sidewalk repair costs 50/50 with owners through its 50-50 Sidewalk Program, funded ward by ward. Damage from city tree roots is repaired at no cost to the owner.

Cost split: Owner pays 50%, city pays 50%

Key facts

Who pays
Owner 50%, city 50%. Funded by each alderman's ward capital money.
Tree root damage
Slabs damaged by roots of a city tree are repaired 100% by the city.
Wait
The waiting list can be long, depending on ward funds and demand.

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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.

  1. Check whether the slab is on the city's list of hazards, or report it and ask for an inspection.
  2. Ask whether a cost-share program is open this year. Most have a small budget that runs out early.
  3. Read the program rules before you hire anyone. Some cities only pay if their own contractor does the work.
  4. 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 St. Louis home rules

More in Missouri and nearby

Sources

Last checked November 2026. Programs open, close and change funding every year. Confirm with the city before you hire anyone. Report a change.