# Sidewalk Repair in Buffalo, NY: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Buffalo the abutting owner keeps the sidewalk in repair, but the City repairs street-tree-root damage at its own expense.

**Who pays:** owner

Buffalo: the abutting owner keeps the sidewalk in repair, but the City repairs street-tree-root damage at its own expense.

**Boundary:** Buffalo City Code Ch. 413 Art. VII makes it the duty of the abutting owner or occupant to keep the sidewalk in front of the premises in repair. A notable exception: where a City street-tree root damages the sidewalk, the Department of Public Works repairs it at the sole expense of the City. Snow must be cleared before 9:00 a.m. (Art. VIII).

**Property owner:** Keep the abutting sidewalk in repair (Art. VII); remove all snow and ice before 9:00 a.m. (Art. VIII).

**City / agency:** Where a City street-tree root causes the damage, DPW repairs the sidewalk and Parks removes the tree/root, both at the sole expense of the City. Otherwise the City does the work after 20-day notice and assesses the cost.

**Exceptions:** City street-tree root damage: repaired by DPW at the sole expense of the City.

## Sources
- [Buffalo City Code Ch. 413 Art. VII (owner duty to keep sidewalk in repair; tree-root City-expense carve-out)](https://ecode360.com/13626617) — "It shall be the duty of such owner or occupant to keep in repair the water, sewer and gas service pipes serving his premises, the sidewalks in front thereof and the driveways into the same and to install drains connected with the sewer on open land prevent unusual and dangerous accumulations of water and ice upon sidewalks, roadways and public places." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Buffalo City Code Ch. 413 Art. VIII (owner snow and ice removal before 9:00 a.m.)](https://ecode360.com/13626640) — "It shall be the duty of every owner or occupant of any premises abutting any public street to remove, before 9:00 a.m., all snow and ice which may have fallen upon the sidewalk abutting said premises." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Buffalo City Code § 413-48(E): Maintenance of sidewalks; penalties for offenses](https://ecode360.com/13626617) — "where any sidewalk lying between the street line and the curb is damaged by reason of trees or roots of such trees situated on City-owned lands, said sidewalk shall be reconstructed or repaired by the Department of Public Works at the sole expense of the City" (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-09. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/buffalo-ny-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._