# Sidewalk Repair in Birmingham, AL: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Birmingham's code puts sidewalk repair on the owner, but the City's Public Works says it maintains and repairs City sidewalks. Report it to 311 first.

**Who pays:** depends

Birmingham: the code tells the owner to repair a broken sidewalk within 10 days of the City Engineer's notice, but the City's Public Works Construction Division says it maintains and repairs City sidewalks, and the City has put money into sidewalk repairs. Report it through 311 before you hire anyone.

**Boundary:** Birmingham General Code § 4-5-11 makes it unlawful for a property owner to let the abutting sidewalk remain in a broken, worn, damaged, defective, unsafe or dangerous condition. The City Engineer notices the owner to repair within 10 days (§ 4-5-12); on failure the City repairs and the council assesses the cost as a lien (§ 4-5-13).

**Property owner:** Do not let the abutting sidewalk remain broken, damaged, defective or unsafe (§ 4-5-11); repair within 10 days of the City Engineer’s notice (§ 4-5-12). Keep it free of snow, sleet and ice (§ 4-5-10).

**City / agency:** The Public Works Construction Division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of City roadways and sidewalks and takes requests through the 311 portal. The City raised sidewalk spending to $1 million in November 2024 and approved $2 million more for sidewalk repairs on March 31, 2026. On owner default under the code, the City repairs and the council assesses the cost as a lien (§ 4-5-13).

**Exceptions:** The City's pages do not say whether it still bills owners for sidewalk repairs. Ask through 311 first.

## Sources
- [Birmingham General Code § 4-5-11 (owner may not allow sidewalk to remain defective)](https://library.municode.com/al/birmingham/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PT1THCOGEOR_TIT4MUSE_CH5STSI_ARTAGEPR_S4-5-11DEUNCOIDGRPL) — "It shall be unlawful for any property owner to allow the sidewalk paving, portions of private driveways built within the public right-of-way, and any sidewalk openings ... located in such paved sidewalks in front, or along the side of his or her property to remain in a broken, worn, damaged or defective condition ... or to permit that sidewalk, driveway, sidewalk opening, streetscape or grass plot to remain in an unsafe or dangerous condition to the traveling public or pedestrians" (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Birmingham General Code § 4-5-10 (occupant duty to keep sidewalk free of snow, sleet, ice)](https://library.municode.com/al/birmingham/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PT1THCOGEOR_TIT4MUSE_CH5STSI_ARTAGEPR_S4-5-10SNICSI) — "It shall be the duty of every occupant or person in possession, charge or control of the ground floor or lower story of any house, building or structure ... situated on, abutting or facing any sidewalk ... to keep the sidewalk so abutting or bordering the premises, whether in front or on the side thereof, free from snow, sleet and ice, so as to afford a safe and convenient passage for pedestrians" (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Birmingham Code of Ordinances § 4-5-11](https://library.municode.com/al/birmingham/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PT1THCOGEOR_TIT4MUSE_CH5STSI_ARTAGEPR_S4-5-11DEUNCOIDGRPL) — "It shall be the duty of the city engineer to give notice of any defective or dangerous condition of any sidewalk, sidewalk opening or vault ... which notice shall also require the property owner to repair or replace the same within ten days of the date of the notice" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Construction Operations Division](https://www.birminghamal.gov/government/city-departments/department-public-works/construction-operations-division) — "The Construction Division of the Department of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance and repair of City roadways, sidewalks, curb & gutter, and storm drainage infrastructure." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Construction Operations Division](https://www.birminghamal.gov/government/city-departments/department-public-works/construction-operations-division) — "The Construction Division responds to citizen requests through the 311 portal." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Mayor Woodfin focuses on Cradle to Career, Infrastructure in Budget Surplus Plan](https://www.birminghamal.gov/news/mayor-woodfin-focuses-cradle-career-infrastructure-budget-surplus-plan) — "Sidewalk Repairs - $2 million: This project will supplement the existing sidewalk budgets to further sidewalk repairs across the city." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Mayor Woodfin Prioritizes Neighborhood Revitalization and Public Safety in Recommended Budget Amendments for Fiscal Year](https://www.birminghamal.gov/news/mayor-woodfin-prioritizes-neighborhood-revitalization-public-safety-recommended-budget-amendments-fiscal-year) — "The amended budget would increase sidewalk spending to $1 million, double funding for traffic calming measures, and add $1.25 million more for the demolition of blighted structures and weed abatement." (accessed 2026-10-03)

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