Default rule and exceptions
Kansas City's spot repair program used to be paid by assessments on adjoining owners. The City says that, because of the GO Bonds, it forgave outstanding assessments and will no longer assess home owners for sidewalk repair; repairs are made through the City's inspection cycle, and a 311 report does not bring an automatic repair. Code § 64-243 still says an owner may not let the sidewalk, curb, drive approach or gutter remain out of repair, and § 64-246 makes owners and occupants remove ice and snow within a reasonable time after a storm.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Remove ice and snow within a reasonable time after a storm ends (§ 64-246). The code duty not to let the sidewalk remain out of repair (§ 64-243) is still on the books, but the City says it no longer assesses home owners for sidewalk repair. |
| City / public agency | Inspects sidewalks on a citywide cycle and repairs them through the GO Bond sidewalk program without assessing home owners. |
| Exceptions | A 311 report does not result in an automatic repair; the City works through its inspection cycle.; New sidewalk where none exists (a gap) may be funded up to 50% with GO Bonds, with a 50% match from other funds that can include adjacent property owners. |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Oct 1, 2026.
Because of the GO Bonds, KCMO forgave any outstanding assessments and will no longer assess home owners for sidewalk repair.
Our spot repair program was previously supported by assessments on adjoining property owners.
any concerns about sidewalks, curbs or driveways can still be reported to 311. This does not result in an automatic repair!
sidewalk projects in these areas may be funded up to 50% with GO Bonds with a 50% match from other funds
No owner of any house, building, lot or premises shall permit or allow the sidewalk, curbing, drive approach or guttering in front or alongside of such house, building, lot or premises to be or remain out of repair or suffer or allow the same to be or remain above or below the established grade.
It shall be the duty of all persons owning or occupying any real property, fronting upon any street, boulevard or highway, to remove from the sidewalks in front or alongside of such property all ice and snow within a reasonable time after cessation of a storm depositing such ice or snow.
City rules rest on state law. Read Missouri's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sidewalk repair in Kansas City, MO?
The city / utility. Remove ice and snow within a reasonable time after a storm ends (§ 64-246). The code duty not to let the sidewalk remain out of repair (§ 64-243) is still on the books, but the City says it no longer assesses home owners for sidewalk repair.
Are there exceptions in Kansas City, MO?
A 311 report does not result in an automatic repair; the City works through its inspection cycle.; New sidewalk where none exists (a gap) may be funded up to 50% with GO Bonds, with a 50% match from other funds that can include adjacent property owners.
Is there any cost help for sidewalk repair in Kansas City, MO?
The City says it forgave outstanding sidewalk assessments and will no longer assess home owners for sidewalk repair (GO Bond sidewalk program).
What is this based on for Kansas City, MO?
This verdict is sourced to Sidewalk Backlog and 6 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Sidewalk Backlogofficial · verified-official · accessed 2026-10-01
- Sidewalk Backlogofficial · verified-official · accessed 2026-10-01
- Sidewalksofficial · verified-official · accessed 2026-10-01
- Sidewalks (gaps in sidewalks)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-10-01
- Kansas City Code § 64-243 (owner must keep sidewalk/curb/gutter in good repair)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-09
- Kansas City Code § 64-246 (owner/occupant duty to remove ice and snow)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-09
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