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

> In Omaha, state law (Neb. Rev. Stat. 15-734) makes the abutting owner keep the sidewalk safe and free of snow and ice. The city bills if it has to step in.

**Who pays:** owner

Omaha runs on Nebraska's primary-class-city statute: the abutting owner holds the repair duty and, after notice, the injury liability. The city code adds a 24-hour snow clock and a sue-you-back clause.

**Boundary:** Neb. Rev. Stat. 15-734 (which governs cities of the primary class, a class containing only Omaha) charges the abutting owner with keeping sidewalks safe and clear; the city code layers on snow mechanics and an indemnification rule.

**Property owner:** State law: owner "primarily charged with the duty of keeping and maintaining the sidewalks... in a safe and sound condition and free from snow, ice, and other obstructions" (15-734). City code Sec. 34-332(a): "It shall be the duty of the occupant, as well as the duty of the owner... to clear all ice and snow from the sidewalks adjoining the said lot... within 24 hours after the city has declared that snow removal operations on the city's major streets are complete," keeping "a clear area at least four feet in width."

**City / agency:** On default the city acts and bills: Sec. 34-335 lets public works clear after 24 hours' posted notice and levy "a special assessment on such lot or land." Sec. 34-336 is the sharp edge: if an injured person "shall recover damages and costs from the city," then "such owner shall be liable to the city for the amount of damages and costs so recovered, and the city may sue and recover the same at law."

**Exceptions:** Rear-lot sidewalks along designated emergency snow routes: snow duty does not apply (34-332(a))

## Sources
- [Omaha Municipal Code Ch. 34, Art. VI, Div. 3 (Secs. 34-332 to 34-336: snow duty, city removal, indemnification)](https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH34STOTPUWA_ARTVISI_DIV3REOBAC) — "It shall be the duty of the occupant, as well as the duty of the owner... to clear all ice and snow from the sidewalks adjoining the said lot... within 24 hours after the city has declared that snow removal operations on the city's major streets are complete," (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Neb. Rev. Stat. 15-734 (primary-class cities: owner sidewalk duty + liability after notice)](https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=15-734) — "primarily charged with the duty of keeping and maintaining the sidewalks... in a safe and sound condition and free from snow, ice, and other obstructions" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sec. 34-332. Duty to Remove Snow and Ice Accumulations and Other Obstructions](https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH34STOTPUWA_ARTVISI_DIV3REOBAC) — "The aforesaid duty shall not apply to a sidewalk that is both (a) along the rear of the lot, land, or real property, and (b) along a designated emergency snow route or other streets as designated by the public works director." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Omaha Municipal Code Ch. 34, Art. VI, Div. 3 (Secs. 34-332 to 34-336: snow duty, city removal, indemnification)](https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH34STOTPUWA_ARTVISI_DIV3REOBAC) — "a clear area at least four feet in width." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Omaha Municipal Code Ch. 34, Art. VI, Div. 3 (Secs. 34-332 to 34-336: snow duty, city removal, indemnification)](https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH34STOTPUWA_ARTVISI_DIV3REOBAC) — "a special assessment on such lot or land." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Omaha Municipal Code Ch. 34, Art. VI, Div. 3 (Secs. 34-332 to 34-336: snow duty, city removal, indemnification)](https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH34STOTPUWA_ARTVISI_DIV3REOBAC) — "shall recover damages and costs from the city," (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Omaha Municipal Code Ch. 34, Art. VI, Div. 3 (Secs. 34-332 to 34-336: snow duty, city removal, indemnification)](https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH34STOTPUWA_ARTVISI_DIV3REOBAC) — "such owner shall be liable to the city for the amount of damages and costs so recovered, and the city may sue and recover the same at law." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sidewalk and Driveway](https://publicworks.cityofomaha.org/streets-sidewalks/sidewalk-and-driveway/) — "The Omaha Municipal Code (OMC) states property owners are responsible for repairing unsafe sidewalks and deteriorated driveway approaches that can cause damage to city streets." (accessed 2026-10-03)

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