Bothell, WA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Responsible party
- Property owner directly abutting the sidewalk
- Duty covers
- Repair, renewal, maintenance, removal of obstructions, landscaping
- Minimum sidewalk width
- Not less than five feet
- Required material
- Cement concrete or porous concrete
- City-built projects
- Council resolution sets whether the owner pays in whole or in part
- General civil penalty
- Maximum $250.00 per day under BMC 11.20.010
Summary
In the City of Bothell, Washington, the owner of property directly abutting an improved sidewalk carries the duty, burden and expense of repairing, renewing and maintaining it, removing obstructions, and maintaining any landscaping along it. When the city itself builds or repairs sidewalks, the City Council decides by resolution how much of the cost the abutting owner pays.
Whenever any street, lane, square, place, or alley in the city has been improved by the construction of a sidewalk and/or landscaping along either or both sides thereof, the duty, burden, and expense of repair, renewal, maintenance, and removal of obstructions from such sidewalk and maintenance of the landscaping shall be the responsibility of the property owner directly abutting upon said sidewalk.
Full Breakdown
Bothell Municipal Code § 17.16.040 applies whenever any street, lane, square, place or alley in the city has been improved by a sidewalk and/or landscaping along either or both sides. The abutting owner bears the repair, renewal and maintenance of the sidewalk, the removal of obstructions from it, and the maintenance of the landscaping. The section was last amended by Ordinance 2348 in 2021.
The rest of Chapter 17.16 sets the standard the work must meet. BMC 17.16.010 requires construction to follow the Bothell Design and Construction Standards and Specifications. BMC 17.16.020 requires sidewalks to be cement concrete or porous concrete and not less than five feet wide, except for pathways. BMC 17.16.030 allows temporary asphalt concrete pathways along existing streets where the public works director approves them as consistent with the comprehensive plan.
When the city undertakes construction, reconstruction or repair of sidewalks, gutters, curbs or driveways across sidewalks, BMC 17.16.050 has the City Council proceed under Chapter 35.68 RCW. The procedure starts with a council resolution stating whether the cost will be borne by the abutting owner in whole or in part, or requiring the owner to build the improvement at their own cost and expense. Under BMC 17.16.060, where a stretch not longer than one block lacks a sidewalk or has an unfit or unsafe one, and the street at both ends is improved and in good repair, the council can find the work necessary by resolution and the duty and expense devolve on the directly abutting property under Chapter 35.69 RCW.
Work that occupies the public sidewalk is also a right-of-way matter. BMC 17.20.010 requires a public area use permit to use any public sidewalk, and BMC 17.20.020(E) routes construction uses to right-of-way invasion permits under Chapter 17.08 BMC.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 17.16 prints no penalty of its own. The general enforcement section, BMC 11.20.010, sets a maximum civil penalty of $250.00 per day for each violation of the code, running from the date set for compliance until compliance is achieved. The director can also assess the city's investigation and correction costs, plus administrative costs billed at 15 percent of total costs, and the violator is liable for damage to public or private property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the City of Bothell repair the sidewalk in front of my house?
Do I have to maintain landscaping next to the sidewalk?
What standard must a repaired sidewalk meet?
Who pays for a missing section of sidewalk on my block?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bothell
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Sidewalk Repair in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle sidewalk repair.