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

> In Grand Rapids the City constructs and repairs public sidewalks; the owner’s duty is driveway approaches and clearing snow.

**Who pays:** city

Grand Rapids: the City constructs and repairs public sidewalks; the owner’s duty is driveway approaches and clearing snow.

**Boundary:** The City of Grand Rapids constructs and repairs the City’s sidewalks (official Engineering page). The owner’s codified maintenance/repair duty (Ch. 52, § 4.84) covers only driveway approaches, retaining walls and areaways, not existing sidewalk concrete. Owners must clear snow and ice from adjoining sidewalks within 24 hours (§ 4.89).

**Property owner:** Maintain driveway approaches, retaining walls and areaways (§ 4.84). Clear snow and ice from adjoining sidewalks within 24 hours (§ 4.89).

**City / agency:** The City constructs and repairs public sidewalks; the owner is not charged for existing-sidewalk repair under the code.

## Sources
- [City of Grand Rapids: Sidewalks (City constructs and repairs the City’s sidewalks)](https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/departments/engineering/sidewalks/) — "We construct and repair the City's sidewalks." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Grand Rapids Code § 4.89 (owner/occupant snow and ice removal within 24 hours)](https://library.municode.com/mi/grand_rapids/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIV--STREETS_SIDEWALKS_CH52SI_ART1INGE_S4.89SIBECL) — "The occupant or occupants of every property within the City, or the owner or owners of the property, shall clear any accumulation of ice or snow from the public sidewalks adjoining such property within twenty-four (24) hours of the accumulation or placement of snow or ice on said sidewalks." (accessed 2026-09-09)

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