If the repair is yours to pay
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Default rule and exceptions
Spokane Municipal Code 12.01.010 requires every owner and occupant to keep the sidewalk area in good and safe condition and repair at all times; if a violation is not corrected the Director may repair it at the owner’s and/or occupant’s sole expense and liability. Snow and ice clearing is also an owner/occupant duty (SMC 12.02.010).
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Property owner | Keep the sidewalk area in good and safe condition and repair (SMC 12.01.010); keep it free and clear of snow and ice, and do not push private snow into the right-of-way (SMC 12.02.010). |
| City / public agency | If the owner does not correct the condition, the City may repair it at the owner’s and/or occupant’s sole expense and liability (SMC 12.01.010). |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 9, 2026.
Every owner and occupant of premises shall keep the sidewalk area, including tree grates adjacent to any portion of the real property (including corners), in good and safe condition and repair at all times. ... If the violation is not corrected, the Director or their designee may proceed to remove or repair the condition, at the owner's and/or occupant's sole expense and liability.
Owners and occupants of premises shall keep the sidewalk areas adjacent to any portion of the real property (including corners) free and clear of snow and/or accumulations of snow or ice. No snow or ice from private premises shall be plowed into or placed in or on the streets or other areas of the public right of way, parks or other public property.
City rules rest on state law. Read Washington's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for sidewalk repair in Spokane, WA?
The property owner. Keep the sidewalk area in good and safe condition and repair (SMC 12.01.010); keep it free and clear of snow and ice, and do not push private snow into the right-of-way (SMC 12.02.010).
What does the city cover in Spokane, WA?
If the owner does not correct the condition, the City may repair it at the owner’s and/or occupant’s sole expense and liability (SMC 12.01.010).
What is this based on for Spokane, WA?
This verdict is sourced to Spokane Municipal Code 12.01.010 (owner/occupant duty to keep sidewalk in safe repair) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Spokane Municipal Code 12.01.010 (owner/occupant duty to keep sidewalk in safe repair)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-09
- Spokane Municipal Code 12.02.010 (owner/occupant snow and ice removal)official · verified-official · accessed 2026-09-09
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