DuPage County, IL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 8-130(C)(2)
- Who's responsible
- The building permit holder
- Duration of duty
- At all times during the life of the permit
- Must stay clear of
- Building materials, rubbish, dirt, snow
- Also required
- Keep adjoining gutters/waterways clear
- Violation fine
- $100-$1,000 per day, Sec. 8-117.4
Summary
While a DuPage County building permit is active, the permit holder, not the county, must keep the abutting street, parkway and sidewalk in a safe condition and clear of building materials, rubbish, dirt or snow, per Building Code Sec. 8-130(C)(2), and must keep the adjoining gutter clear so water and meltwater drain freely.
8-130: - BUILDING OPERATIONS. C.2.Except as otherwise provided in this chapter of this County, the person to whom a building permit is issued shall at all times during the life of the permit, maintain that portion of the street, parkway and sidewalk and a sidewalk abutting upon and adjacent to the lot or tract upon which such building is erected, in a safe condition and clear of all building materials, rubbish, dirt or snow. He shall at no time obstruct the gutter, or waterway of any lot or street so as to prevent the passage of water along the same, and if the gutter shall be shaded or covered so that ice accumulates therein, he shall clear the gutter so as to allow water to pass freely at all times.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' The same subsection adds a drainage duty: the permit holder 'shall at no time obstruct the gutter, or waterway of any lot or street so as to prevent the passage of water,' and if the gutter is shaded or covered so that ice accumulates, must clear it so water can pass freely. The duty is tied to an active permit rather than running with the property indefinitely, meaning it covers the construction period for the specific project, from issuance through completion, rather than imposing a standing year-round sidewalk-repair obligation on every county property owner.
It works alongside the obstruction ban in Sec. 8-130(B), which bars blocking the same sidewalk outright, so a permit holder cannot dump debris on the walk and also cannot let the frontage go unmaintained. Because the duty is phrased broadly to reach the 'street, parkway and sidewalk,' it applies whether the abutting walk is owned by the county, a township road district, or is a public easement across the lot.
Violations & Fines
A lapse in this maintenance duty is enforced under the Building Code's general penalty, Sec. 8-117.4, the same provision that backs the rest of Chapter 8. The Building Official issues a written notice of violation describing the unsafe or obstructed condition and gives the permit holder fourteen days to clear it or file an administrative appeal. Continued noncompliance can bring a court fine of $100 to $1,000, with each day treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to clear snow off the sidewalk during a home addition project?
Does this duty apply once the project is finished?
What if debris blocks the gutter and causes ice buildup?
What's the penalty for letting the sidewalk go unmaintained?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in DuPage County
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