Corvallis, OR Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- adjoining property owner
- Compliance deadline after order
- 60 days
- Maximum daily fine
- $250 per day
- Lien interest rate
- 10 percent per year
- Appeal deadline
- 10 days, $50 fee
- Hearing scheduled within
- 96 hours of request
Summary
In the City of Corvallis, the owner of any land adjoining a public street must construct, repair, and maintain the sidewalk and driveway approach along that frontage under Municipal Code Section 2.15.020. The City Manager can order overdue repairs, and owners who ignore a repair order face a $250-per-day fine and a lien for the City's repair cost.
1)All owners of land adjoining any public street in the City shall construct, reconstruct, repair, and maintain in good condition the sidewalks and driveway approaches within the public right-of-way in front of, along, or abutting the property owner's land in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. Construction, reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of sidewalks and driveway approaches is declared to be a routine obligation of the adjacent property owner and deemed necessary to protect the health and safety of persons in the City. ... 1)General liability. It is not only the duty of all owners of land within the City to keep in repair all sidewalks and driveway approaches existing in front of, along, or abutting upon their respective lots or parcels of land or parts thereof, but the owners are hereby declared to be liable for all damages to whomsoever resulting or arising from their fault or negligence in failing to keep any sidewalk or driveway approach in repair.
Full Breakdown
Section 2.15.020 of the Corvallis Municipal Code makes construction, reconstruction, repair, and maintenance of the sidewalk and driveway approach fronting a lot a routine obligation of the adjoining property owner, not the City of Corvallis. The City Manager periodically inspects sidewalks citywide, and where a hazard is found may issue a repair order under Section 2.15.090. That order must be served by personal service or certified mail, state the work required, and give the owner 60 days to complete it; it must also warn that noncompliance can bring a $250-per-day fine, City-performed work at the owner's expense, and a lien.
If the owner misses the deadline, Section 2.15.100 lets the City Manager complete the repair and bill actual costs, and Section 2.15.110 turns an unpaid bill into a lien against the property that accrues interest at 10 percent a year and outranks other liens. An owner can appeal either the repair order or the cost determination to a hearings officer within 10 days by filing a written appeal with a nonrefundable $50 fee, per Sections 2.15.120 through 2.15.140; that appeal is heard within 96 hours and can then go to City Council under Chapter 1.11.
Section 2.15.170 separately makes every owner civilly liable for damages caused by a failure to keep the sidewalk or driveway approach in repair, and owners enrolled in the sidewalk utility fee program must give prompt written notice of any defect so the City Manager can prioritize the repair.
Violations & Fines
Failing to complete a City Manager repair order within 60 days exposes the owner to a fine of up to $250 per day under Section 2.15.180, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, plus the cost of any City-performed repair and a property lien accruing 10 percent annual interest under Section 2.15.110. Section 2.15.170 additionally makes a negligent owner liable for injuries the defective sidewalk causes to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to fix a broken sidewalk in Corvallis?
What happens if I ignore the City's repair order?
Can I appeal a sidewalk repair order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Corvallis
Compare Corvallis to another location·View the Oregon sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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