Who owns the sidewalk in front of my house?

While ownership of the sidewalk varies by city, most larger cities claim ownership of the sidewalks on private properties within them. Contact the city to find out whether the sidewalk is owned by the city or property owner and the responsibilities of property owners.

Maintenance of the sidewalk is often left to the property owner, although some cities have programs that help with costs or finding contractors for repairs. The availability of repair funds varies by location and year and could depend on features of the sidewalk or causes for the damage. Liability for damages or accidents on sidewalks also varies between locations.