# Sidewalk Repair in Washington, DC: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> DC law lets the District bill abutting owners 50% of sidewalk repair as a lien, but DDOT's 311 repair request lists no owner cost. Both sources quoted.

**Who pays:** shared

DC law says half the cost of a sidewalk repair can be a lien on your property, but new sidewalks built with a street project are free, and DDOT's own 311 service reads like neither applies.

**Boundary:** By DC Code, sidewalk repairs and improvements the District undertakes on request or by Mayor's initiative can be assessed 50% to the abutting owner as a lien (Sec. 9-401.06). But new sidewalks built as part of a street-improvement project are not assessed to the owner at all (Sec. 9-401.04). In practice, DDOT's public sidewalk-repair service is presented as a free 311 request with no cost-to-owner language.

**Property owner:** DC Code Sec. 9-401.06: "One-half of the total cost of the assessment work herein provided for, including the expenses of the assessment, shall be charged against and become a lien upon abutting property."

**City / agency:** DC Code Sec. 9-401.04: "When new sidewalks, alleys, or curbing are required to be laid on streets being improved, no cost shall be assessed against abutting property." Separately, DDOT's public service page for requesting sidewalk repair via 311 does not mention any cost to the resident.

**Exceptions:** New sidewalks built as part of a street-improvement project: District pays 100%, per Sec. 9-401.04; DDOT's current 311 sidewalk-repair service reads as free in practice; the statute allowing a 50% lien (Sec. 9-401.06) may not reflect current operational practice

## Sources
- [DC Code Sec. 9-401.06 (50% lien assessment for sidewalk repair/improvement work)](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/9-401.06) — "One-half of the total cost of the assessment work herein provided for, including the expenses of the assessment, shall be charged against and become a lien upon abutting property." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [DC Code Sec. 9-401.04 (new sidewalks on street-improvement projects: no owner assessment)](https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/9-401.04) — "When new sidewalks, alleys, or curbing are required to be laid on streets being improved, no cost shall be assessed against abutting property." (accessed 2026-09-27)

_Last verified 2026-09-05. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/washington-dc-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._