If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Compare local pros on AngiFor concrete, yard, tree, and foundation work, get a few quotes first.
Partner link. Who Pays the Repair? may earn a commission if you request a quote or sign up, at no cost to you. It never changes who we say pays.
Default rule and exceptions
Owners of land abutting any street must construct, reconstruct, and maintain the adjoining sidewalk in good repair.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Portland City Charter Section 9-407: "It is the duty of all owners of land abutting any street in the City to construct, reconstruct and maintain in good repair the adjoining sidewalks." |
| City / public agency | If an owner does not comply with a repair notice, the City may perform the work and assess the cost against the property. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 5, 2026.
It is the duty of all owners of land abutting any street in the City to construct, reconstruct and maintain in good repair the adjoining sidewalks.
City rules rest on state law. Read Oregon's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sidewalk repair in Portland, OR?
The property owner. Portland City Charter Section 9-407: "It is the duty of all owners of land abutting any street in the City to construct, reconstruct and maintain in good repair the adjoining sidewalks."
What does the city cover in Portland, OR?
If an owner does not comply with a repair notice, the City may perform the work and assess the cost against the property.
What is this based on for Portland, OR?
This verdict is sourced to Portland City Charter Sec. 9-407 (abutting-owner sidewalk duty) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Portland City Charter Sec. 9-407 (abutting-owner sidewalk duty)official · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- City of Portland Oregon official government siteofficial · research-cited · accessed 2026-09-05
Spot an error? Challenge this record
Found an out-of-date code section, a wrong verdict, or a better primary source? Tell us. Corrections that check out are applied, with the change shown in history. That is our standing policy.