# Sidewalk Repair in Knoxville, TN: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Knoxville the abutting owner must maintain and repair the adjoining sidewalk or the city does it and liens the property (Code 23-42).

**Who pays:** owner

Knoxville makes it the abutting owner’s duty to maintain and repair the adjoining sidewalk, not done within 10 days of notice and the city does it and files a lien.

**Boundary:** It is the duty of the abutting owner (or agent) to maintain and repair the adjoining sidewalk/driveway. On failure, the director of public service notices the owner; if not completed within 10 days the city makes the repairs and the cost becomes an enforceable lien (§ 23-42). Construction carries a parallel owner duty (§ 23-41).

**Property owner:** Maintain and repair the adjoining sidewalk/driveway; complete noticed repairs within 10 days.

**City / agency:** Director of public service issues notice/specs; on default the city repairs and files an enforceable lien.

## Sources
- [Knoxville Code § 23-42: responsibility for repairs](https://library.municode.com/tn/knoxville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH23STSI_ARTIICORESIDR_S23-42RERE) — "It shall be the duty of the abutting property owner, or his agent, of any house or property, to maintain and repair sidewalks or driveways adjoining his property, and if an abutting property owner or his agent fails to repair or maintain the sidewalk or driveway adjoining his property the director shall notify the owner, and if the repairs are not completed within ten (10) days the director shall cause the necessary repairs to be made and the cost of such repairs shall be a lien against the abutting property" (accessed 2026-09-12)
- [Knoxville Code § 23-41: responsibility for construction](https://library.municode.com/tn/knoxville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH23STSI_ARTIICORESIDR_S23-41RECO) — "It shall be the duty of the abutting property owner, or his agent, of any house or property, to construct sidewalks or driveways adjoining his property, and if the abutting property owner or his agent fails to construct sidewalks or driveways adjoining his property, the director of public service shall cause written notice to be given such property owner or agent requiring him to construct such sidewalks or driveways" (accessed 2026-09-12)

_Last verified 2026-09-27. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/knoxville-tn-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._