# Sidewalk Repair in Indianapolis, IN: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Indianapolis code puts sidewalk repair on the Department of Public Works, as far as practicable; private sidewalk work needs a permit.

**Who pays:** city

Indianapolis: the City Code puts repair and maintenance of sidewalks on the Department of Public Works, as far as its facilities make practicable; it has no duty to fix every slight crack unless ordered or the need is evident.

**Boundary:** Indianapolis Code 645-605 says the Department of Public Works shall repair and maintain the streets, sidewalks and public places of the city in a reasonably safe condition so far as the extent and the facilities available make practicable. The department has no duty, except when so ordered or when the need is evident, to repair every slight and trivial defect, uneven place and crack. Anyone repairing a sidewalk under a private contract needs a permit from the division of construction and business services first (645-607). The Mayor's Action Center takes requests at 317-327-4622.

**Exceptions:** Slight and trivial defects, uneven places and cracks: the department has no duty to repair them except when so ordered or when the need is evident (645-605).

## Sources
- [Sec. 645-605, Construction and Repair (Indianapolis Code)](https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH645PURI-W_ARTVICORE_S645-607SI) — "the department of public works shall repair and maintain the streets, sidewalks and public places of the city in a reasonably safe condition so far as the extent thereof and the facilities available therefor render practicable" (accessed 2026-11-02)
- [Sec. 645-605, Construction and Repair (Indianapolis Code)](https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH645PURI-W_ARTVICORE_S645-607SI) — "there shall be no duty, except when so ordered or when the need is evident, on the part of the department of public works and the city employees to repair every slight and trivial defect, uneven place and crack in the pavements, sidewalks" (accessed 2026-11-02)
- [Sec. 645-607, Sidewalks (Indianapolis Code)](https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH645PURI-W_ARTVICORE_S645-607SI) — "No person shall remove, construct, reconstruct, establish, alter or repair any sidewalk within the city under a private contract, without first obtaining a permit therefor from the division of construction and business services and paying the required fees, as authorized by this Code." (accessed 2026-11-02)
- [Request Indy](https://www.indy.gov/activity/request-indy) — "Call 317-327-4622 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to talk with someone in the Mayor's Action Center." (accessed 2026-11-02)

_Last verified 2026-11-02. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/indianapolis-in-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._