# Sidewalk Repair in Columbus, OH: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Columbus the abutting property owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing the sidewalk; the city has no general residential snow-shoveling ordinance.

**Who pays:** owner

Columbus: the abutting property owner is responsible for maintaining and repairing the sidewalk (and there is no residential snow-shoveling ordinance).

**Boundary:** Columbus City Codes § 905.06(a) makes the abutting private property owner responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of all sidewalks in the abutting right-of-way. Section 905.11 sets the deterioration criteria (e.g., a half-inch offset or gap) that trigger a repair order.

**Property owner:** Maintain and repair the abutting sidewalk and driveway approach in the right-of-way; do not let it deteriorate past the § 905.11 criteria (§§ 905.06(a), 905.11).

**City / agency:** The City orders repair (30-day compliance under § 905.05) and can perform emergency repair (§ 908.05); enforcement is a misdemeanor (§ 905.99).

## Sources
- [Columbus City Codes § 905.06 (abutting owner responsible for sidewalk maintenance and repair)](https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9STPAPUPRCO_CH905SISHEPADRCORE_905.06SIDRENMARE) — "The abutting private property owner shall be responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of all sidewalks and driveway entrances within the abutting right-of-way or easement for any improved or unimproved street, alley, or other public way within the city, which provides access around, in, or to said private property." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Columbus City Codes § 905.11 (sidewalk deterioration criteria; repair/replacement order)](https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT9STPAPUPRCO_CH905SISHEPADRCORE_905.11COMAVICR) — "No abutting property owner shall allow the condition of the sidewalk, and/or driveway approach within the public right-of-way or easement to deteriorate beyond the criteria herein established. Criteria for ordering the replacement or repair of sidewalks... shall be any or all of the conditions described as follows: Offset of one-half (1/2) inch or greater; Crack which has a gap of greater than one-half (1/2) inch..." (accessed 2026-09-09)

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