Burlington, WI Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Cost split
- 50/50 owner and City
- State authority
- § 66.0703, Wis. Stats.
- Full-replacement trigger
- 3/4-inch height gap or crack
- Enforcing department
- Department of Public Works
- Permit required for
- any new sidewalk or driveway approach
Summary
Burlington's Department of Public Works inspects sidewalks in Common Council-designated areas every year and orders repairs when a slab fails City standards. When the Council causes a sidewalk to be repaired or replaced, the abutting property owner and the City split the construction cost fifty-fifty under City Code § 274-3, a formula pulled from § 66.0703, Wis. Stats.
The City DPW shall inspect existing sidewalks in locations determined by the Common Council each year. Sidewalks found that do not meet City standards shall be repaired by the City or its agents. Notice of public hearing shall be sent to affected property owners prior to letting of bids to repair such sidewalks. ... Construction costs. When sidewalks are caused by the Common Council to be repaired or replaced, the cost of sidewalk installation will be borne by the property owner and the City on a fifty-percent/fifty-percent basis, per § 66.0703, Wis. Stats.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4997580; v29 updated 2026-07-07; through 07-07-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under § 274-3B, the City DPW runs an annual sidewalk inspection in whatever locations the Common Council designates that year, and any sidewalk found short of City standards is ordered repaired by the City or its agents, with a public hearing notice going to affected owners before bids are let. Outside the inspected areas, a sidewalk can still be repaired mid-year if a citizen complaint, a lawsuit, adjacent construction, or a natural disaster makes it urgent. 0703, Wis. Stats. Subsection B(4) spells out the physical defects that force a repair or replacement order: a three-fourths-inch or greater height difference between adjoining slabs, cracks with openings of 3/4 inch or larger, scaling or cracking that makes a section unsafe, missing pieces, isolated ponding caused by an uneven section, or a sidewalk that no longer meets the required grade or line.
Separately, § 274-3A requires anyone who wants to build or rebuild a curb and gutter, sidewalk, or driveway approach on their own to first get a DPW permit, regardless of who initiated the work. This repair-and-cost regime is distinct from the owner's separate duty to keep grass and trees in the parkway strip presentable under § 274-6, and from the owner's duty to shovel snow and ice off the sidewalk within 18 hours under § 274-9.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 274 violations carry the citywide general penalty set in § 1-4: a first offense forfeits not less than $5 nor more than $500 plus prosecution costs, and a second offense within a year of the first forfeits not less than $10 nor more than $1,000, with jail up to 90 days if the forfeiture and costs go unpaid. Each day a required repair goes undone can count as a separate offense. Where the City itself performs the repair after ordering it, the owner's share of the cost is collected as a special assessment rather than through a court forfeiture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays to fix a broken sidewalk in Burlington?
What sidewalk defects trigger a repair order?
Does the City inspect every sidewalk every year?
Can I repair my own sidewalk instead of waiting for the City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burlington
Compare Burlington to another location·View the Wisconsin sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.