# Who Pays for Sidewalk Repair in Newark? The Owner, Not the City | Who Pays the Repair?

> Newark makes the owner, lessee or occupant maintain the sidewalk and curb at their own expense. The City says it does not do sidewalk repairs or cover the cost.

**Who pays:** owner

Newark: the owner, lessee or occupant must pave and maintain the abutting sidewalk and curb at their own expense, and clear snow within 12 daylight hours.

**Boundary:** Newark Revised General Ordinances § 29:3-1 requires any owner, lessee or occupant fronting on a street to pave and maintain the abutting sidewalk and curb in good repair at their own charge and expense. Snow and ice must be cleared within 12 daylight hours (Ch. 29:17). On default the City repairs and assesses the cost (§§ 29:3-2/29:3-3).

**Property owner:** Pave and maintain the abutting sidewalk and curb in good repair at the owner’s own expense (§ 29:3-1); clear snow and ice within 12 hours of daylight (Ch. 29:17).

**City / agency:** On owner failure the Director notices the owner and the City repairs within 30 days, assessing the cost against the property (§§ 29:3-2, 29:3-3).

**Exceptions:** The City says it does not perform sidewalk repairs or cover the cost (Rooted in Newark street tree program).

## Sources
- [Newark Revised General Ordinances § 29:3-1 (owner duty to pave/maintain sidewalk at own expense)](https://ecode360.com/36671763) — "Any person owning, leasing or occupying any house or other building, or vacant lot, fronting on any street in the City shall, at his or their charge and expense, well and sufficiently pave and maintain in good repair, in accordance with this Title and the regulations of the Director, the sidewalk, including the authorized installations thereon and therein, and the curb of the street in front of such house, building or lot." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Newark Revised General Ordinances Ch. 29:17 (owner/tenant snow and ice removal, 12 daylight hours)](https://ecode360.com/36671815) — "The owners or tenants of lands abutting or bordering upon the sidewalks and gutters of public streets, or public places in the City, are hereby required to remove all snow and ice from the travelled portion of the sidewalks and from the gutters within 12 hours of daylight after the same shall be formed or fall thereon." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Rooted in Newark](https://www.newarknj.gov/611/Rooted-in-Newark) — "Please note that the City does not perform the sidewalk repairs or cover the cost." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Rooted in Newark](https://www.newarknj.gov/611/Rooted-in-Newark) — "The City does not take direct responsibility for maintain sidewalks or preventing roots from entering damaged pipes." (accessed 2026-10-03)

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