Cheektowaga, NY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must repair
- Owner and occupant, jointly
- Town's share if Town repairs
- 40% per 5-ft block
- Owner's assessment term
- 5 annual installments
- First-offense fine
- $25 to $250
- Permit required for new walk
- Yes, from Town Clerk
Summary
Cheektowaga puts the duty to keep an abutting sidewalk in good repair on the owner and occupant jointly, and if they refuse after a Town Board order, the Town can do the work and bill 60% of the cost to the owner in installments.
The owner or occupant of any premises adjoining any street where a sidewalk has been laid shall maintain and keep the sidewalk on such street in good repair and free and clear of snow, ice, dirt and any other material, obstruction or substance. The owner and the occupant shall be jointly and severally responsible for compliance with the provisions hereof. ... Whenever the Cheektowaga Town Board shall have adopted an order pursuant to § 200-a of the Town Law directing the owner(s) of parcels adjoining on any town, county or state highway ... to relay or repair such sidewalks, and the owner neglects or refuses to do so, the Town of Cheektowaga may cause such work to be done. Town Share: 40% of the cost per five-foot linear block. Owner's Share: Balance of expense/cost.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4996449; v35 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 210-14 requires the owner or occupant of premises adjoining a street with a sidewalk to maintain and keep that sidewalk in good repair, with owner and occupant jointly and severally responsible and liable for injuries caused by a failure to keep the walk in safe condition. Where the Town Board formally orders sidewalks relaid or repaired under § 200-a of the Town Law and an owner neglects or refuses, § 210-36 lets the Town do the work itself and apportions the cost: the Town absorbs 40% of the cost per five-foot linear block and the owner pays the balance.
Section 210-37 then assesses the owner's share against the benefited property in five annual installments with interest as provided by state law, so an owner who ignores a repair order still ends up paying through a property assessment rather than an upfront bill. New sidewalk construction itself is separately regulated: § 210-13 requires a written permit from the Town Clerk specifying the slope, grade, width and location before anyone builds, reconstructs, repairs or grades a walk or street.
Violations & Fines
General Chapter 210 penalties in § 210-15 apply to failures to maintain a sidewalk in good repair: a fine of $25 to $250 or up to 15 days for a first offense, $50 to $500 for a second, and $100 to $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense, with fine and imprisonment both available. Where the Town performs court-ordered repair work itself, the owner's 60% share under § 210-36 is assessed against the property and collected over five annual installments with interest under § 210-37, independent of any separate fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to fix a broken sidewalk slab in Cheektowaga?
What happens if I ignore a Town order to repair my sidewalk?
Do I need a permit to fix my own sidewalk in Cheektowaga?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cheektowaga
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How other cities in Erie County handle sidewalk repair.