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

Section 276-6G of Chapter 276, Streets, Roads and Sidewalks, sets the maintenance split for pedestrian facilities built under the County's Road Ordinance. Subsection (2)(b) puts hiker-biker paths and subdivision sidewalks located within the County right-of-way, when designed and built to the 1995 Road Ordinance or a later revision, in Charles County's hands to maintain. Subsection (2)(c) shifts snow and ice removal from those same hiker-biker paths and sidewalks back onto the abutting property owners, their homeowners' association, or another County-approved association, regardless of who maintains the underlying pavement.

Inside the Urban Road Standards District, subsection (2)(a) goes further: if any part of a pedestrian travel way sits outside the right-of-way and its easement, or carries amenities such as street furniture, dining tables, or benches, the abutting owner or HOA is responsible for maintaining the entire travel way and everything on it, under an easement agreement executed with the County. A related rule in the Subdivision Regulations, Section 278-77, requires sidewalks built as part of a Development District subdivision to be maintained by the homeowners' association or the individual property owner, except where the County or the state specifically takes on that duty. Failing to comply with any Chapter 276 maintenance requirement is punishable under Section 276-29.