# Who Pays for Sidewalk Repair in Fort Worth? The Owner | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Fort Worth a defective sidewalk is declared a nuisance the abutting owner must repair within 30 days of notice, or face a misdemeanor.

**Who pays:** owner

Fort Worth: a defective sidewalk is a nuisance the abutting owner must repair within 30 days of notice, or face a misdemeanor.

**Boundary:** Fort Worth Code § 30-1(b) declares a defective, unsafe or hazardous sidewalk a nuisance and makes it the duty of the abutting owner (or agent/tenant) to construct, reconstruct or repair it within 30 days of the public works director’s notice; failure is a misdemeanor. Damaging the sidewalk during ROW work is a separate offense (§ 30-20).

**Property owner:** Construct, reconstruct or repair the abutting sidewalk within 30 days of the director’s notice (§ 30-1(b)); do not damage the public sidewalk during ROW work (§ 30-20).

**City / agency:** Enforcement is by notice and misdemeanor citation; the code puts the repair duty and cost on the abutting owner.

## Sources
- [Fort Worth Code § 30-1 (defective sidewalk is a nuisance; owner must repair on 30-day notice)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-28403) — "Any sidewalk, parkway, driveway or curb which has become or is defective, unsafe or hazardous is declared a nuisance. It shall be the duty of the owner or the agent in charge, or the tenant, of the property abutting on any street ... along which a sidewalk, curb or driveway is ordered by the director of the department of public works to be constructed, reconstructed or repaired within 30 days from the receipt of notice from the director of public works, to construct, reconstruct or repair such sidewalk, curb or driveway. The failure ... shall be a misdemeanor." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Fort Worth Code § 30-20 (offense to damage public street/sidewalk during work)](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-74149) — "A person commits an offense if he, performs, authorizes, directs, or supervises construction, excavation, any type of cutting or opening, or any work whatsoever in, on or along any public street, alley, sidewalk or public ground and: (1) Damages the public street, alley, sidewalk or public ground beyond what is incidental or necessary to the performance of the construction ..." (accessed 2026-09-09)

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