Municipality Requiring I Repair Sidewalk on Property Adjacent to me that I do not Own
Full Question:
Answer:
The responsibility of repairing sidewalks abutting a property is divided up differently according to the local ordinances of each community. Some local areas have sidewalk repair programs top assist a homeowner with the costs of repair. I suggest contacting city hall or
the building department for a copy of the local ordinances.
The following is an examples of local ordinances governing sidewalks:
A. Construction, Maintenance and Repair of Sidewalks, Curbs and Gutters 5202. Property Owners to Construct New Sidewalks, Curbs and Gutters and Thereafter Keep the Same in Good Repair. Whenever the Borough Council shall provide for the laying of a new sidewalk, curb and/or gutter along any public street within the Borough, such sidewalk, curb and/or gutter
shall be constructed and thereafter kept in good repair by the owners of the property abutting the same. (Ord. 11/1/1922, $2; as amended by -Ord. 1959-11, 5/25/1959. 52)5203.
Time Limit for Property owners to Construct or Repair Sidewalks, Curbs and Gutters; Authority for Borough to Do Work at Expense of Property Owner. Whenever any property owner shall fail to construct or repair a sidewalk, curb or gutter, as required by 5201 or 5202 of this Part 2, the Borough shall give written notice to such property owner to have such work of construction or repair done within thirty (30) days from the date of such notice, and, upon failure of any such property owner to have such work completed within such time limit, the Borough may cause the same to be done, under the direction of the Borough Manager, in which case the Borough shall collect the cost thereof, with any additional amount allowed by law, from such defaulting- p.ro p- erty owner, by the filing of a municipal claim or by action in assumpsit. (0;d. 11/1/1k2, 53; as amended by -0;d.
1959-11, 5/25/1959, 53) 5204.
Construction and Reconstruction of Sidewalks. All new sidewalks must be constructed of concrete, or such other permanent material as shall be designated by Borough Council. Where concrete is used, it shall not be less than four inches (4") in thickness and not less than
four feet (4') in width, with a falling grade-toward the curb of three-eighths of an inch (3/8") to the foot, saving the right, however, to the Borough Council, to make provisions for the kind of materials to be used and the width of said sidewalks and gutter, and height of curb, whenever said Borough Council may by Part 2 provide for the grading, paving or repaving of any entire block or street within said Borough; saving also the right to the Borough Council, in the event an established sidewalk is being reconstructed, to require the same to be made of such width as to make the whole sidewalk uniform in width and to be constructed in the manner and
of the kind of material as shall be designated by Borough Council. (-Ord. 11/1/1922, %4)
