# Sidewalk Repair in Tucson, AZ: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Tucson the abutting property owner must keep the public sidewalk in good repair and is liable to the City for the cost (Tucson Code 25-12).

**Who pays:** owner

Tucson puts sidewalk repair squarely on the abutting owner: owners of property fronting any street or alley must keep the public sidewalk in good repair, and are liable to the City for injuries caused by failing to do so.

**Boundary:** Every owner (or owner’s agent) with property abutting and fronting a plaza, street, or alley must keep the immediately-abutting public sidewalk in good order and repair (Tucson Code § 25-12). The City may notify the owner to repair within 10 days; if the owner fails, the City repairs and the owner is liable for the cost. A permit is required, but no permit fee unless grade/location/dimensions change.

**Property owner:** Keep the public sidewalk immediately abutting the property in good order and repair; complete City-ordered repairs within 10 days of notice; liable to the City for the repair cost and for injury claims arising from disrepair.

**City / agency:** The City (Director of Public Works) may notify the owner, and if the owner fails within 10 days, repair the sidewalk and recover the cost from the owner.

## Sources
- [Tucson Code § 25-12: Repair of sidewalk by abutting owners](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/tucson/latest/tucson_az/0-0-0-18697) — "All owners or agents of owners with property abutting and fronting upon any plaza, street or alley within the corporate limits of the city are required to keep the public sidewalks immediately abutting their property in good order and repair." (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Tucson Code § 25-12: enforcement / City cost recovery](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/tucson/latest/tucson_az/0-0-0-18697) — "The city may, at its discretion, through the director of public works, notify such owner that repairs are necessary to put such sidewalk in good order and such owner shall, within ten (10) days after such notification, under the supervision of the director of public works, complete such repairs, as specified in such notice. If the person fails to make the required repairs, the city may repair same and the owner shall be liable to the cite for the cost of the repairs." (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Tucson Code § 25-12(b): Repair of sidewalk by abutting owners; failure to repair; no permit fee required](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/tucson/latest/tucson_az/0-0-0-18697) — "A permit shall be required to make repairs pursuant to this section. However, there will be no change for such a permit unless it is proposed to make a change in the grade, location or dimensions of the sidewalk." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Tucson Code § 25-12(a): Repair of sidewalk by abutting owners](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/tucson/latest/tucson_az/0-0-0-18697) — "Each owner shall be liable to the city for all losses to the city or recoveries from the city for damages to person or property of others caused by his failure or that of his agents to repair and. keep in good order and reasonably safe condition all such sidewalks abutting and fronting his property." (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-11. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/tucson-az-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._