# Sidewalk Repair in Albuquerque, NM: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Albuquerque the owner or occupant must keep the sidewalk, drive pad and curb ramp clean, clear of snow and in good repair, or the city does it and liens the lot.

**Who pays:** owner

Albuquerque puts sidewalk repair on the abutting owner, occupant, or agent, with a notice-and-cure process and a foreclosable lien behind it.

**Boundary:** Sidewalks, drive pads, and curb ramps abutting the property must be kept clean (including ice and snow) and in good repair by the owner, occupant, or agent in charge; on default after notice the city performs the work and liens the property.

**Property owner:** Albuquerque Code Sec. 6-5-5-18(A): "All sidewalks, drive pads and curb ramps shall be kept clean from rocks and other obstructions, including ice and snow, and in a state of good repair by the owner, occupants, or agents in charge of the abutting property."

**City / agency:** On owner default the city steps in: per Sec. 6-5-5-18(F), "the cost of such repairs or maintenance or removal of obstruction shall constitute a lien against such property and shall be foreclosed in the same manner provided by law for the foreclosure of municipal liens." New-construction defects within 1 year go to the bonded contractor/owner under Sec. 6-5-5-9.

**Exceptions:** Defects within 1 year of construction: bonded contractor/bonded owner must repair on notice or forfeit bond (Sec. 6-5-5-9); After notice, the owner has 90 days to complete the repairs (City staff, September 2025).

## Sources
- [Albuquerque Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-5-5-18 (owner duty + city lien)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuquerque_nm/0-0-0-115872) — "All sidewalks, drive pads and curb ramps shall be kept clean from rocks and other obstructions, including ice and snow, and in a state of good repair by the owner, occupants, or agents in charge of the abutting property." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Albuquerque Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-5-5-9 (1-year bonded-construction defect duty)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuquerque_nm/0-0-0-115811) (accessed 2026-09-06)
- [Albuquerque Code of Ordinances Sec. 6-5-5-18 (owner duty + city lien)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuquerque_nm/0-0-0-115872) — "the cost of such repairs or maintenance or removal of obstruction shall constitute a lien against such property and shall be foreclosed in the same manner provided by law for the foreclosure of municipal liens." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Frequently Asked Questions - City of Albuquerque](https://www.cabq.gov/municipaldevelopment/frequently-asked-questions) — "The City’s Sidewalk Ordinance requires that all property owners be responsible for maintenance, repair, and liability of the sidewalk in front and on each side of their property." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Frequently Asked Questions - City of Albuquerque](https://www.cabq.gov/municipaldevelopment/frequently-asked-questions) — "The City ordinance states that sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Greater Albuquerque Active Transportation Committee Meeting Minutes, September 8, 2025](https://onbase.cabq.gov/publicaccess/api/Document/12188440/) — "The property owner has 90 days to complete the repairs." (accessed 2026-10-03)

_Last verified 2026-10-03. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/albuquerque-nm-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._