# The US Cities Where the City Pays for Sidewalk Repair (Not You)

> In most US cities the homeowner pays to repair the public sidewalk. These are the cities we verified where the city foots the bill instead, with the ordinance or program cited for each.

Updated: 2026-10-03. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/guides/cities-where-the-city-pays-for-sidewalk-repair/ (claims cited to primary sources; see /methodology/).

Short answer: most cities bill you, but 20 of the cities we have verified pay for sidewalk repair themselves. Across our database, about six in ten cities put the cost of the public sidewalk on the abutting property owner. This page is the other side: the places where the city, not the homeowner, is on the hook, each one confirmed against the city's own ordinance or program page.

## The cities where the city pays

- [Austin, TX](/rules/austin-tx-sidewalk-repair/), the owner-maintenance rule was removed from the City Code in 1999; Public Works maintains the network.

- [Denver, CO](/rules/denver-co-sidewalk-repair/), the 2022 "Denver Deserves Sidewalks" program has the city do the work, funded by a fee on every owner rather than a repair bill.

- [Louisville, KY](/rules/louisville-ky-sidewalk-repair/), flipped the default in 2010; Metro Public Works repairs the sidewalk. Proof this is a political choice, not a law of nature.

- [Charlotte, NC](/rules/charlotte-nc-sidewalk-repair/), CDOT's Street Maintenance Division repairs public sidewalks.

- [Nashville, TN](/rules/nashville-tn-sidewalk-repair/), NDOT is "responsible for all aspects" of the city's sidewalks.

- [Durham, NC](/rules/durham-nc-sidewalk-repair/), the Street Maintenance Division repairs existing sidewalks and trip hazards.

- [Winston-Salem, NC](/rules/winston-salem-nc-sidewalk-repair/), the Street Division repairs, replaces and maintains sidewalks.

- [Grand Rapids, MI](/rules/grand-rapids-mi-sidewalk-repair/), the city constructs and repairs public sidewalks; the owner's duty is only driveway approaches and snow.

- [Tampa, FL](/rules/tampa-fl-sidewalk-repair/), maintains its own 825-mile network; the Streets chapter has no owner-repair clause.

- [Jacksonville, FL](/rules/jacksonville-fl-sidewalk-repair/), the city's Right of Way division has repaired sidewalks on city ROW since 2003, except owner-caused damage.

- [Long Beach, CA](/rules/long-beach-ca-sidewalk-repair/), runs its own sidewalk maintenance program covering 1,200+ miles.

- [St. Paul, MN](/rules/st-paul-mn-sidewalk-repair/), the city repairs sidewalks and does not charge owners outside downtown.

- [Aurora, CO](/rules/aurora-co-sidewalk-repair/), the city maintains and repairs sidewalks, curb and gutter; owners handle driveways and snow.

- [Glendale, AZ](/rules/glendale-az-sidewalk-repair/), the Street Maintenance Division repairs existing sidewalks; owner cost applies only to new construction.

- [North Las Vegas, NV](/rules/north-las-vegas-nv-sidewalk-repair/), Nevada state law bars the city from making owners repair an abutting sidewalk except for owner-caused damage.

- [Boise, ID](/rules/boise-id-sidewalk-repair/), a separate special district, not the city itself, handles the repair work.

- [Kansas City, MO](/rules/kansas-city-mo-sidewalk-repair/), the City says that because of its GO Bonds it forgave outstanding assessments and no longer assesses home owners for sidewalk repair. Its code still reads like owner-pays.

- [Lincoln, NE](/rules/lincoln-ne-sidewalk-repair/), sidewalk repair along public streets became the City's job after the 1990 and 1992 elections; owners who hire their own contractor can get part of the cost back when funds allow.

- [Colorado Springs, CO](/rules/colorado-springs-co-sidewalk-repair/), the City says owners are not responsible for maintaining the adjacent concrete; paying half speeds up a high-severity repair.

- [Norfolk, VA](/rules/norfolk-va-sidewalk-repair/), the public works director keeps sidewalks in repair, and whoever damages one pays the City's estimated repair cost.

## Read the fine print before you assume you are covered

Even in these cities the details differ: some cover everything, some only outside a downtown zone, some fund it with a flat fee on every owner, and some still bill you for damage you caused or for new construction. And a "shared" middle group (like San Diego, Chicago and Miami) splits the cost by what caused the damage. If your city is not on this list, assume the bill is yours until you have checked, because in most cities it is.

Find your city's verified rule, with the code cited: [look up your city](/lookup/). The full breakdown of who pays where is in [the data study](/guides/state-of-sidewalk-responsibility/), and if you got a notice, see [can the city force you to pay for sidewalk repair](/guides/can-city-force-you-pay-sidewalk-repair/).