# Who Pays for Sidewalk Repair in Atlanta? Usually the Owner | Who Pays the Repair?

> Atlanta makes the owner repair the sidewalk on notice or pay the City's bill. Where funding exists the City repairs, including ATLDOT's major-street sidewalk project.

**Who pays:** owner

Atlanta: the owner repairs on notice or is billed, but where City funding is available the City repairs sidewalks on a prioritized basis.

**Boundary:** The abutting property owner must repair a damaged sidewalk on notice from the Department of Transportation, or the department repairs it and assesses the owner. Where City funding is identified and available, the City performs repairs on a prioritized basis, except damage caused by the owner.

**Property owner:** Atlanta Code of Ordinances Sec. 138-14(d): "it is the obligation of the abutting property owner to repair such sidewalk upon notice from the department of transportation." If ignored: "the department of transportation is authorized to make such repairs and assess the abutting property owner for costs incurred."

**City / agency:** The city performs discretionary repairs "upon a prioritized basis until the funding is exhausted" when funding exists and the damage isn't owner-caused, but per the same section "the absence of city funding shall not excuse the abutting property owner." No public cost-share program exists as of this research.

**Exceptions:** Where City funding is identified and available, the City performs repairs on a prioritized basis (not for owner-caused damage); ATLDOT's Sidewalk Repair on Major Streets project repairs sidewalks along high-priority corridors identified in the City's sidewalk inventory.

## Sources
- [Atlanta Code of Ordinances Sec. 138-14 (sidewalk repair duty, notice-and-bill mechanism)](https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORATGEVOII_CH138STSIOTPUPL_ARTIINGE_S138-13AFSIWIRI-W) — "it is the obligation of the abutting property owner to repair such sidewalk upon notice from the department of transportation." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Atlanta Code of Ordinances Ch.138](https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta) (accessed 2026-08-19)
- [Atlanta Code of Ordinances § 138-13: Sidewalks: obligation of owner](https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORATGEVOII_CH138STSIOTPUPL_ARTIINGE_S138-13AFSIWIRI-W) — "provided however that where funding is identified, applicable and available for implementation of repairs by the city, except where damage is determined to be directly attributable to action(s) of the abutting property owner or agents, contractors, or employees of the abutting property owner, shall be undertaken by the city upon a prioritized basis until the funding is exhausted." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Atlanta Code of Ordinances Sec. 138-14 (sidewalk repair duty, notice-and-bill mechanism)](https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORATGEVOII_CH138STSIOTPUPL_ARTIINGE_S138-13AFSIWIRI-W) — "the department of transportation is authorized to make such repairs and assess the abutting property owner for costs incurred." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Atlanta Code of Ordinances Sec. 138-14 (sidewalk repair duty, notice-and-bill mechanism)](https://library.municode.com/ga/atlanta/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORATGEVOII_CH138STSIOTPUPL_ARTIINGE_S138-13AFSIWIRI-W) — "the absence of city funding shall not excuse the abutting property owner." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sidewalk Repair on Major Streets - Atlanta Department of Transportation](https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/sidewalk-repair-on-major-streets/) — "Completion of sidewalk repairs along high priority corridors as identified in the city’s sidewalk inventory." (accessed 2026-10-03)

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