If the repair is yours to pay
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Default rule and exceptions
Property owners are responsible for maintaining their footways, including repair when cracked or damaged, not just snow and ice.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | City of Baltimore: "According to Baltimore City Code, Article 26, Subtitle 10, property owners are responsible for maintaining their footways." After a notice, the owner can make the repair privately (with a permit) within the time the code allows, or the City does the work and bills the owner. |
| City / public agency | City issues violation notices and, if the owner does not act, performs the repair at the owner's expense. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 27, 2026.
According to Baltimore City Code, Article 26, Subtitle 10, property owners are responsible for maintaining their footways. In addition to keeping sidewalks free from ice and snow, residents are responsible for repairing their sidewalks should they become cracked or damaged.
City rules rest on state law. Read Maryland's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sidewalk repair in Baltimore, MD?
The property owner. City of Baltimore: "According to Baltimore City Code, Article 26, Subtitle 10, property owners are responsible for maintaining their footways." After a notice, the owner can make the repair privately (with a permit) within the time the code allows, or the City does the work and bills the owner.
What does the city cover in Baltimore, MD?
City issues violation notices and, if the owner does not act, performs the repair at the owner's expense.
What is this based on for Baltimore, MD?
This verdict is sourced to City of Baltimore: Sidewalks (owner maintenance duty, Art. 26 Subt. 10) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- City of Baltimore: Sidewalks (owner maintenance duty, Art. 26 Subt. 10)official · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- City of Baltimore official government siteofficial · research-cited · accessed 2026-09-05
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