# Sidewalk Repair in Madison, WI: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Madison the City replaces defective sidewalk in its 10-year program at no assessment to the owner (2022 policy). Extra sidewalk you request is on you.

**Who pays:** shared

Madison: when the City replaces defective sidewalk in its Sidewalk Replacement Program, the cost is not assessed to the owner (policy revised in 2022). Extra sidewalk an owner asks the City to replace is paid 100% by the owner, and an owner who repairs on their own can get a rebate of about one third.

**Boundary:** The City works through its districts on a ten-year cycle and replaces defective sidewalk under its Sidewalk Replacement Program; under the 2022 Street Assessment Policy that work is not assessed to the adjacent property. Sidewalk an owner asks to add to the program is paid 100% by the owner, and a drive apron replaced at the owner's request is assessed 100% to the owner. Owners may also repair on their own under MGO 10.09 and be reimbursed about one third of the City's average contract price. Snow and ice are the owner's job by noon the next day (MGO 10.28).

**Property owner:** Pays 100% for additional sidewalk they ask the City to replace and for a drive apron replaced at their request; may repair on their own under MGO 10.09 with a rebate of about one third; removes snow and ice by 12:00 noon the day after it accumulates (MGO 10.28).

**City / agency:** Replaces defective sidewalk under the Sidewalk Replacement Program on a ten-year district cycle and does not assess that cost to the adjacent property (Street Assessment Policy, 2022).

**Exceptions:** Additional sidewalk requested for replacement by the property owner is paid 100% by the property owner.; Drive aprons replaced in the program at the owner's request are assessed 100% to the owner.; New sidewalk (where none existed) is assessed 100%, with grant reimbursement possible under the policy.

## Sources
- [Street Assessment Policy (2022), section 1.2(6) Sidewalk Replacement Program](https://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/documents/6_2%20Street%20Assessment%20Policy%20%282022%29.pdf) — "Sidewalk removed and replaced as part of the Sidewalk Replacement Program shall not be assessed." (accessed 2026-10-01)
- [Street Assessment Policy (2022), drive aprons](https://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/documents/6_2%20Street%20Assessment%20Policy%20%282022%29.pdf) — "Drive aprons removed and replaced as part of the Sidewalk Replacement Program shall be at the request of the property owner and shall be assessed 100% to the property owner." (accessed 2026-10-01)
- [Sidewalk Replacement Notice to property owners, District 2 (May 21, 2026)](https://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/documents/projects/D2%20Notice%20Letters_05212026.pdf) — "the cost of sidewalk sections that are removed and replaced with this program, or sections that have edges that will be saw cut to remove tripping hazards, will NOT be assessed to the adjacent property." (accessed 2026-10-01)
- [Street Assessment Policy (2022), owner-requested sidewalk](https://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/documents/6_2%20Street%20Assessment%20Policy%20%282022%29.pdf) — "Additional sidewalk requested for replacement by property owner shall be paid 100%" (accessed 2026-10-01)
- [Madison General Ordinances § 10.09 (owner repair duty; ~1/3 rebate for owner-initiated repair)](https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOICH1--10_CH10STALSIGU_10.09CORERESITECUGU) — "Property Owner Initiated Repairs or Reconstruction. Subject to any other permitting requirements of these ordinances that may apply, property owners may repair or reconstruct, or cause to be repaired or reconstructed, defective public sidewalks, curbs and/or gutters abutting their property. ... Sidewalk Repair or Replacement Rebate. Once the final work is approved and accepted by the City Engineer, property owners proceeding under subsection (3) shall be reimbursed a portion of the cost ... approximately one-third (⅓) the cost of an average sidewalk and curb & gutter city-wide installation and repair contract prices" (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Madison General Ordinances § 10.28 (owner snow/ice removal by noon next day)](https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOICH1--10_CH10STALSIGU_10.28SNICBERESI) — "The owner of each lot or part of lot shall remove all snow and ice upon the sidewalk abutting the premises which they own not later than 12:00 noon of the day after the snow or ice has accumulated on the sidewalk, regardless of the source of accumulation." (accessed 2026-09-09)

_Last verified 2026-10-01. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/madison-wi-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._