Default rule and exceptions
The director of public works keeps the sidewalks in repair as a city function (§ 42-7). A person who damages a sidewalk pays the city an estimated repair cost and "the director shall repair the same", the city, not the abutter, performs the repair (§ 42-21). Owners are assessed only for improvements/new construction, capped at $8/linear ft (§ 42-5).
Permit required: yes.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | No general repair-the-abutting-walk mandate. Owners pay a benefit-based assessment (max $8/linear ft) for new/replacement work; anyone who damages a sidewalk reimburses the city’s estimated repair cost. |
| City / public agency | Director of public works keeps sidewalks in repair and performs the actual repair (recovering estimated cost from whoever caused the damage). |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 13, 2026.
Any person damaging any sidewalk shall, when required by the director of public works, pay to the city treasurer such an amount as shall be estimated by the director to be necessary to repair the damage and the director shall repair the same.
Whenever the director of public works shall, in keeping the sidewalks in repair, find it necessary to repave the same, and the owner of any property abutting on the sidewalk desires to have a more expensive sidewalk than that proposed, then the director shall, if he deems it expedient, put down the more expensive sidewalk
The assessment upon the abutting property owner or owners when making, constructing, improving, replacing or enlarging walkways or sidewalks shall be measured by the peculiar benefits to such abutting property owner or owners resulting from the improvements but in no event more than eight dollars ($8.00) per lineal foot.
City rules rest on state law. Read Virginia's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sidewalk repair in Norfolk, VA?
The city / utility. No general repair-the-abutting-walk mandate. Owners pay a benefit-based assessment (max $8/linear ft) for new/replacement work; anyone who damages a sidewalk reimburses the city’s estimated repair cost.
Do I need a permit to repair the sidewalk in Norfolk, VA?
Yes. The rule on record requires a permit for sidewalk work in the public right-of-way.
What is this based on for Norfolk, VA?
This verdict is sourced to Norfolk City Code § 42-21: city repairs, charges whoever damaged the walk and 3 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Norfolk City Code § 42-21: city repairs, charges whoever damaged the walkofficial · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-12
- Norfolk City Code § 42-7: director keeps sidewalks in repairofficial · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-12
- Sec. 42-5. Sidewalk Improvements: Assessments Forordinance · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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