Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Boston

Boston, MA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Citation
Boston Code § 16-18.1
Default repair duty
City-built sidewalks: no owner repair mandate
Owner-built exception
Stone sidewalks built by owner: owner repairs
Related duty
Owner pays to fill sidewalk excavations, §11-6.27
Related duty
Owner must cut sidewalk grass, §16-12.19 ($15 fine)

Summary

Boston Code § 16-18.1 bars using a sidewalk in a way that causes more than ordinary wear unless the abutting owner built it of granite or stone to Public Works Department standards: in which case that owner, not the city, must keep it in repair.

No person shall use a sidewalk for any purpose which subjects it to more than ordinary wear, or injures the material of which it is composed, unless such sidewalk is, by the owner of the abutting estate, constructed of granite or other stone, in a manner satisfactory to the Commissioner of Public Works, and kept in repair by such owner.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Current through Ordinance 2025 C. 14, passed 11-5-2025).

Full Breakdown

' The only carve-out is a sidewalk the abutting owner built themselves, out of granite or other stone, to a standard the Commissioner of Public Works finds satisfactory; that owner then carries the repair burden going forward. 6(12). 1.

Violations & Fines

Section 16-18.1 does not carry its own fine tag in § 16-32.6, so a violation is enforced under Chapter XVI's general penalty provisions. Related abutter duties carry their own separate fines, $15 for uncut grass under § 16-12.19 (§16-32.6(12)), and city-ordered excavation closure proceeds at the owner's expense under § 11-6.27.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Boston homeowner have to repair the sidewalk in front of their house?
Not under Boston Code § 16-18.1 alone. The ordinance bars anyone from overusing or damaging a sidewalk beyond ordinary wear, but it only shifts the repair duty onto the abutting owner when that owner built the sidewalk themselves out of granite or stone to Public Works Department standards.
Who pays if a hole is dug under a Boston sidewalk?
The owner of the abutting premises does. Boston Code § 11-6.27 requires the Commissioner of Public Works to close and fill any excavation under a sidewalk at the owner's expense if it isn't closed within five days of a Public Improvement Commission order, regardless of whether the excavation was permitted.
Is a Boston property owner responsible for grass along the sidewalk?
Yes. Boston Code § 16-12.19 makes anyone in control of an estate abutting a sidewalk responsible for cutting overgrown grass the city planted there, and a violation carries a $15 fine under § 16-32.6(12).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Boston

Encroachment PermitsSome RestrictionsObstruction RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: BeekeepingSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Pet Store RulesHeavy Restrictions

All Boston rules

Compare Boston to another location·View the Massachusetts sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview

Get notified when Sidewalk Repair in Boston, MA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Sidewalk Repair in Nearby Cities

How other cities in this county handle sidewalk repair.

Chelsea, MA
Some Restrictions