# Sidewalk Repair in Denver, CO: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Denver repairs sidewalks citywide under the Denver Deserves Sidewalks program, funded by a recurring service charge on every property owner; owners still clear snow and ice.

**Who pays:** city

Denver: the City repairs sidewalks under the "Denver Deserves Sidewalks" program, funded by a recurring service charge on every property owner (owners still clear snow).

**Boundary:** Under the 2022 "Denver Deserves Sidewalks" ordinance (Denver Revised Municipal Code Ch. 49 Art. VI Div. 5), sidewalk construction, reconstruction and repair is performed by the City, funded by a recurring sidewalk service charge paid by every property owner. This replaces the historic model in which each abutting owner arranged and paid for their own repair. Snow and ice removal remains an owner/occupant duty (§ 49-551).

**Property owner:** Pay the citywide sidewalk service charge (tiered by frontage) that funds the program (§ 49-147). Remove snow and ice from adjoining sidewalks immediately after every snowfall (§ 49-551(a)).

**City / agency:** The City performs sidewalk construction, reconstruction and repair citywide under a master plan funded by the service charge (§§ 49-145, 49-146).

## Sources
- [Denver Revised Municipal Code Ch. 49 Art. VI Div. 5: Sidewalk Program & Sidewalk Fund (city-performed repair, service charge)](https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH49STSIOTPUWA_ARTVISICUGUDR_DIV5SIPRSIFU) — "Historically, each owner of a lot or parcel of real property adjacent to the sidewalk within the city was responsible for the construction, reconstruction and repair of the sidewalk abutting their property. To create a comprehensive, integrated, and accessible sidewalk network, while also reducing the burden on individual property owners... this division promulgates and sets forth a sidewalk service charge to be paid by the owners of every lot or parcel of land within the city, the revenues from which shall be dedicated to construction, reconstruction and repair of sidewalks... to be performed by the city." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Denver Revised Municipal Code § 49-551 (owner duty to remove snow and ice)](https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH49STSIOTPUWA_ARTXVSARE_S49-551CLSI) — "The owner, occupant or agent of the owner of any building, property, or vacant lot in the city is required to maintain the sidewalks, the parking and the curbs... and to remove snow and ice from adjoining sidewalks immediately after every snowfall." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Denver's Sidewalk Program](https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Department-of-Transportation-and-Infrastructure/Programs-Services/Sidewalks) — "Historically, sidewalks were the sole responsibility of adjacent property owners. Now sidewalks will be managed by the City like streets are with citywide funding to build, widen, and repair sidewalks." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalk Service Charges & Billing](https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Department-of-Transportation-and-Infrastructure/Programs-Services/Sidewalks/Sidewalk-Service-Charges-Billing) — "Property owners can apply for a rebate on their sidewalk fee based on income and household size." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalk Service Charges & Billing](https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Department-of-Transportation-and-Infrastructure/Programs-Services/Sidewalks/Sidewalk-Service-Charges-Billing) — "All property owners will pay the flat sidewalk fee, regardless of the status of sidewalks adjacent to their property." (accessed 2026-10-03)

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