Washington County, MD Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Section 1-503 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Washington County, Maryland lets the County Commissioners require installation and maintenance of sidewalks along public streets and highways outside incorporated towns, at the cost of the abutting property or its owner. The Commissioners may compel an owner "by fine or otherwise" to pave, repair, or maintain sidewalks or footways and to set curbs and lay gutters in front of them. Before the County does any grading, paving, curb-setting, gutter-laying, or repair itself, it must notify every affected owner and give 30 days to complete the work under County direction.

If the owner fails or refuses by the deadline, the County can perform the work itself and assess the exact cost against the property. " The Treasurer then notifies the owner of the amount and collects it the same way property taxes are collected, meaning unpaid sidewalk work can ultimately be enforced through the tax lien process. This subtitle traces back to 1957 Code section 194 (1951, ch. 503) and was last amended in 2008 (ch. 308), and it exempts incorporated municipalities within the county, which set their own sidewalk rules under their separate town codes (Hagerstown, Boonsboro, Williamsport, Smithsburg, Funkstown, and Hancock).