# Sidewalk Repair in Detroit, MI: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Detroit the property owner is responsible for keeping the adjacent sidewalk in good repair; the City replaces sections damaged by a City-planted tree under its Tree Guarantee Policy.

**Who pays:** owner

Detroit: the property owner pays, the City requires owners to keep the adjacent sidewalk in good repair, with free City replacement only for damage from a City-planted tree.

**Boundary:** Abutting property owner is responsible for the adjacent sidewalk. The City of Detroit DPW Sidewalk Program page states owners must keep the adjacent sidewalk in good repair, free of hazards, and clear of standing water; for ordinary wear-and-tear repair the owner hires a contractor and pulls a permit.

**Property owner:** Clean and maintain the abutting sidewalk in good repair (DPW Sidewalk Program). Clear snow and ice from the contiguous sidewalk (Detroit City Code § 43-13-4). Ordinary repair is owner-arranged and permitted.

**City / agency:** The City may replace sidewalk sections damaged by the roots of a City-planted tree located between the curb and sidewalk under its Tree Guarantee Policy, if certain criteria are met.

**Exceptions:** Tree Guarantee Policy: free City replacement of sections damaged by a City-planted tree between curb and sidewalk, subject to criteria.

## Sources
- [City of Detroit: Sidewalk Program (Department of Public Works)](https://detroitmi.gov/departments/department-public-works/sidewalk-program) — "Did you know that property owners in the City of Detroit are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the sidewalk adjacent to their property?... This includes keeping the sidewalks in good repair, free from hazardous conditions... Sidewalks damaged by roots of trees that are between the curb and sidewalk may be replaced by the City under the 'Tree Guarantee Policy'; however, certain criteria must be met in order for free replacement to occur." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Detroit City Code § 43-13-4 (snow/ice removal duty of owner/occupant on contiguous sidewalk)](https://library.municode.com/mi/detroit) (accessed 2026-09-09)

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