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
The owner of premises abutting a sidewalk crossing is the prima facie owner and responsible party for maintaining that crossing and the adjacent sidewalk pavement, and must indemnify the city against related claims.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Richmond City Code Sec. 24.175(b): "The owner of any premises abutting that portion of public street right-of-way...shall be the prima facie owner and responsible party for the maintenance of the sidewalk crossing, whether permitted or not, and adjacent section of sidewalk pavement thereof." Owners also maintain carriage walks, driveway aprons, and must keep vegetation from obstructing the sidewalk. |
| City / public agency | Residents report hazardous sidewalks to the city via 311 or RVA311.com. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 5, 2026.
The owner of any premises abutting that portion of public street right-of-way...shall be the prima facie owner and responsible party for the maintenance of the sidewalk crossing, whether permitted or not, and adjacent section of sidewalk pavement thereof.
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 Richmond, VA?
The property owner. Richmond City Code Sec. 24.175(b): "The owner of any premises abutting that portion of public street right-of-way...shall be the prima facie owner and responsible party for the maintenance of the sidewalk crossing, whether permitted or not, and adjacent section of sidewalk pavement thereof." Owners also maintain carriage walks, driveway aprons, and must keep vegetation from obstructing the sidewalk.
What does the city cover in Richmond, VA?
Residents report hazardous sidewalks to the city via 311 or RVA311.com.
What is this based on for Richmond, VA?
This verdict is sourced to City of Richmond: Sidewalk Maintenance (Code Sec. 24.175(b), owner duty) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- City of Richmond: Sidewalk Maintenance (Code Sec. 24.175(b), owner duty)official · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- City of Richmond, VA 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.