Columbus, IN Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Section 13.04.120 of the Columbus Municipal Code puts sidewalk repair on the abutting owner. Subsection A requires an owner or the owner's agent, within thirty days after receiving a written or printed notice of a defect in the concrete or stone sidewalk, curb or gutter adjoining the real estate, to cause the repair to be made to the approval of the city engineer. Subsection B describes the defects: broken, insufficiently drained, raised or lowered from grade, uneven not level, or a part higher or lower than any adjoining part, to the extent of one inch or more. After thirty days written notice from the board of public works and safety, the owner is liable and assessed the apportioned cost of the improvement in proportion to the lineal front footage for the entire length of the improvement.

The city engineer sets the yardstick. Section 13.04.110 directs the city engineer to maintain standards for inspection and construction of sidewalks, curbs and gutters and to give those standards to all contractors and property owners making improvements, with recommendations going periodically to the board of works for acceptance or change.

Owners also carry a drainage duty. Section 13.04.130 requires every owner of real estate abutting a street with paved sidewalks to keep the sod or soil next to each side of the sidewalk at a level not less than one inch nor more than three inches lower than the sidewalk surface, or to dig and keep open a ditch or drain on each side. Under 13.04.140, if an owner neglects or refuses, the city engineer or designee causes the work to be done after five days' notice and charges the owner. The expense becomes a lien upon the real estate and the city controller collects it according to law.

Downtown has its own split. Section 12.12.020 says the city perpetually maintains the downtown streetscape district, including landscaping, but daily sidewalk maintenance such as removal of snow, ice, other debris or natural obstructions, sweeping and weed removal falls on the landowner adjacent to the sidewalk or right-of-way. The district, per 12.12.010, is Washington Street between Second Street and Seventh Street, excluding sidewalks adjacent to the Courthouse, the Commons and between Sixth and Seventh Streets on Washington Street.

Section 13.04.100 separately makes it unlawful to build or maintain trapdoors, gratings or openings through a sidewalk into a basement, cellar or excavation, with an exception for existing openings remodeled under the direction of the chief of the fire department.