# Sidewalk Repair in Lexington, KY: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Lexington the owner repairs the sidewalk, but a city grant can cover 100 percent of the cost for qualifying low-income owner-occupied homes.

**Who pays:** owner

Lexington: the owner is responsible for sidewalk repair, but the city's grant program can cover 100 percent of the cost for qualifying low-income owner-occupied homes that get a repair notice.

**Boundary:** Lexington-Fayette Urban County Code § 17-147 makes it the duty of each owner abutting a sidewalk to repair, at his own expense, all holes, uneven surfaces and other defects. However, the county runs a Sidewalk Replacement Financial Assistance program (Article VI) that can cover 100 percent of the cost for qualifying owner-occupied residential properties notified of a defect.

**Property owner:** Repair defects in the abutting sidewalk at the owner’s own expense on notice from the urban county engineer or code enforcement (§§ 17-147, 17-148).

**City / agency:** The urban county government offers grant assistance covering the cost of qualifying sidewalk replacement (Article VI, §§ 17-162 to 17-165), subject to annual appropriation.

## Sources
- [Sec. 17-147. Required, who is responsible.](https://library.municode.com/ky/lexington-fayette_urban/codes/code_of_ordinances/485367?nodeId=N3Qw8) — "It shall be the duty of each owner of real estate abutting on any sidewalk to repair, at his own expense, all holes, uneven surfaces and other defects in the sidewalk upon which his property abuts" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sec. 17-164. Sidewalk replacement grant program.](https://library.municode.com/ky/lexington-fayette_urban/codes/code_of_ordinances/485367?nodeId=N3Qw8) — "Qualified property owners notified pursuant to section 17-148(a) may receive a grant for one hundred (100) percent of the reasonable cost of sidewalk replacement for their owner-occupied residential property as required by section 17-147." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sec. 17-164. Sidewalk Replacement Grant Program](https://library.municode.com/ky/lexington-fayette_urban/codes/code_of_ordinances/485367?nodeId=N3Qw8) — "Other property owners notified pursuant to section 17-148(a) may receive a grant for up to fifty (50) percent of the reasonable cost of sidewalk replacement for their owner-occupied residential property as required by section 17-147." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Construction project information](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/departments-programs/environmental-quality-public-works/construction-project-information) — "Property owners are responsible for maintaining their sidewalk and street curb." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Utility and repair support programs](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/utility-and-repair-support-programs) — "Qualified low-income owner-occupied properties may receive a 100% grant for the reasonable sidewalk repair and replacement cost for their residential property." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Utility and repair support programs](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/utility-and-repair-support-programs) — "Code Enforcement issues a repair notice to the property owner." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Utility and repair support programs](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/utility-and-repair-support-programs) — "Potential clients must contact our office to schedule an assessment." (accessed 2026-10-03)

_Last verified 2026-10-03. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/lexington-ky-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._