# Sidewalk Repair in Lincoln, NE: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Lincoln repairs sidewalks along public streets, a duty the City took on after the 1990 and 1992 elections. Owners still clear snow and ice by 9 a.m.

**Who pays:** city

Lincoln: the City repairs sidewalks along public streets, a duty it took on after the 1990 and 1992 elections. Owners who hire their own contractor can get part of the cost back when funds are available. Snow and ice are still the owner's job.

**Boundary:** The City of Lincoln says that, as a result of the November 1990 and May 1992 elections, sidewalk repair along the public street systems is the City's responsibility, funded through the General Fund or Street Construction budgets. The code (§ 14.80.100) still makes it unlawful to let an abutting sidewalk become dangerously defective, and snow and ice clearing stays an owner duty (§ 14.80.110).

**Property owner:** Clear snow and ice by 9:00 a.m. the morning after a snowfall (§ 14.80.110). The code duty not to let the sidewalk become dangerously defective (§ 14.80.100) is still on the books, but the City says sidewalk repair along public streets is its responsibility.

**City / agency:** Repairs sidewalks along public streets through its Sidewalk Repair Program, funded through the General Fund or Street Construction budgets.

## Sources
- [14.80.100 Uncovered Opening or Defective Sidewalk; Emergency Repairs.](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/lincoln-ne/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=9773) — "It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to leave uncovered any opening in any sidewalk or suffer the same to be left or kept open, or suffer any sidewalk in front of his/her or its premises to become or continue to be so broken or otherwise defective as to endanger life or limb." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [14.80.110 Snow and Ice Removal.](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/lincoln-ne/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=9774) — "the Director of Transportation and Utilities may have the walks cleaned and report the cost thereof to the City Council who shall assess the cost thereof against the abutting real estate ... Such assessment shall be a lien upon such real estate" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sidewalk Management](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/LTU/Transportation/AMP/Sidewalk) — "As a result of the November 1990 and May 1992 elections, sidewalk repair along the public street systems is the responsibility of the City of Lincoln." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalk Management](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/LTU/Transportation/AMP/Sidewalk) — "The Sidewalk Repair Program is funded through the City's General Fund or Street Construction budgets." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalk Management](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/LTU/Transportation/AMP/Sidewalk) — "When funds are available, the City offers a limited sidewalk reimbursement program for property owners who wish to hire a contractor to repair the sidewalk." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalk Management](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/LTU/Transportation/AMP/Sidewalk) — "City will reimburse up to $3 per square foot for mud jacking and up to $10 per square foot for sidewalk replacement." (accessed 2026-10-03)

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