# Sidewalk Repair in Providence, RI: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> Providence directs sidewalk repairs and, on owner non-compliance, does the work and bills the cost plus 10% to the owner’s tax (Code 23-66/23-67).

**Who pays:** shared

Providence runs a directed-repair model: the public works director decides how and when a sidewalk is repaired and notices the owner, if the owner doesn’t comply the city does the work and bills the cost plus 10% onto the owner’s tax.

**Boundary:** The director of public works determines the manner, materials and time for a sidewalk to be built/altered/repaired and notices the abutting owner (§ 23-66). If not done on time the director proceeds at city expense, then certifies the cost plus 10% to the tax assessors who add it to the owner’s tax (§ 23-67). Initiative/specs are the city’s; the ultimate cost lands on the owner.

**Property owner:** Perform the directed construction/repair within the director’s time limit; otherwise bear the city’s cost plus 10%, collected as a tax against the property.

**City / agency:** Director determines specs/timing, notices the owner, and on non-compliance performs the work at city expense first, recovering cost + 10% via tax assessment.

## Sources
- [Providence Code § 23-67: city does the work and taxes the owner cost + 10%](https://library.municode.com/ri/providence/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH23STSIPUPL_ARTIIICORESI_S23-67EFNOTILICORE) — "if the work shall not have been prosecuted according to his directions, he shall, in his discretion, proceed at the expense of the city and execute the directions so given to the owner by him. When the same shall be accomplished, it shall be the duty of the director to certify the expense thereof to the assessors of taxes of the city, together with ten (10) percent in addition thereto" (accessed 2026-09-12)
- [Providence Code § 23-66: director determines specs and notices owner](https://library.municode.com/ri/providence/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH23STSIPUPL_ARTIIICORESI_S23-66NOSICOALRE) — "Whenever the director of public works shall have determined in what manner, of what materials, and within what time any sidewalks shall be built or altered, he shall cause written or printed notice thereof to be personally given to the owner of the adjacent lot, if residing within the city, particularly describing the materials, width, height and manner in which the sidewalk shall be built, or the alteration to be made" (accessed 2026-09-12)

_Last verified 2026-09-13. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/providence-ri-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._