# Sidewalk Repair in Raleigh, NC: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Raleigh the abutting owner maintains the sidewalk in good repair, but the City takes on damage caused by a right-of-way tree root.

**Who pays:** owner

Raleigh: the abutting owner maintains the sidewalk in good repair, but the City takes on damage caused by a right-of-way tree root.

**Boundary:** Raleigh City Code § 12-1037.1 makes it the duty of every property owner to maintain the abutting sidewalk in good repair and safe condition. Owners/occupants also keep sidewalks clean and clear of snow and ice (§ 12-1037). The City relieves the owner where it finds a right-of-way tree root caused the damage (§ 11-6008).

**Property owner:** Maintain the abutting sidewalk in good repair and safe condition (§ 12-1037.1); keep it clean and free of snow, ice, dirt and debris (§ 12-1037).

**City / agency:** The City assumes repair responsibility where it determines a right-of-way tree trunk or root caused the damage and the owner consents (§ 11-6008).

**Exceptions:** Right-of-way tree-root damage: City relief under § 11-6008.

## Sources
- [Raleigh City Code § 12-1037.1 (owner duty to maintain sidewalk in good repair)](https://library.municode.com/nc/raleigh/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=DIVIICOGEOR_PT12LIRE_CH1STPUWA_ARTBSTUSCL_S12-1037.1RESIDRPROW) — "It shall be the duty of every property owner in the City to maintain in good repair and safe condition, the sidewalk and driveway abutting his property for the safe passage of pedestrians over the same except as otherwise provided in §7-2008." (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Raleigh City Code § 12-1037 (owner/occupant duty to keep sidewalks clean and clear of snow/ice)](https://library.municode.com/nc/raleigh/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=DIVIICOGEOR_PT12LIRE_CH1STPUWA_ARTBSTUSCL_S12-1037CLSIGU) — "It shall be the duty of all occupants or tenants of improved property and of the owners of all vacant property in the City to keep sidewalks, parkways and gutters clean, and to do such cutting, sweeping and scraping as may be necessary to keep such sidewalks clean and free from weeds, grass, snow, ice, dirt and trash, and to render the same passable, comfortable, and sightly" (accessed 2026-09-09)
- [Sec. 11-6008. City Responsibility for Sidewalk Repair and/or Replacement of Sidewalks Raised, Broken, Etc.](https://library.municode.com/nc/raleigh/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=DIVIICOGEOR_PT11TR_CH6STMA_S11-6008CIRESIRERESIRABRET) — "The City determines that the raised, broken, or uneven sidewalk was caused by tree trunks located in the right-of-way or by the roots of said tree; and ... The property owners of tree trunks located partially in the right-of-way, including the roots of said trees, consent to repair or replacement of the sidewalk" (accessed 2026-09-27)

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