Erie, PA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty holder
- Abutting lot/parcel owner
- City fallback
- City builds it, bills owner + interest
- Notice to resident owner
- At least 10 days before work
- Notice to non-resident owner
- Registered letter, 15+ days ahead
- Max slope allowed
- 1/4 inch per foot
- General penalty
- $300-$1,000 per offense
Summary
Erie puts sidewalk construction and repair squarely on the abutting property owner's shoulders and dime under Section 903.01, requiring safe, paved condition at all times. If an owner won't do the work after notice, the City Engineer can do it and bill the owner, adding interest and penalties.
On every street which now is or hereafter shall be laid out and opened to the public use in the City, it shall be the duty of the several owners of the lots or parcels of land abutting thereon, and they are hereby enjoined and required, at their own expense, to construct and maintain convenient sidewalks in front of and adjoining their respective lots or parcels of land, and to pave the same and keep in good faith and safe condition for the use of pedestrians.
Full Breakdown
01, which places an affirmative, ongoing duty on every owner of a lot or parcel abutting a public street: at their own expense, construct and maintain 'convenient sidewalks' in front of and adjoining their property, pave them, and keep them in good repair and a safe, passable condition for pedestrians. When a residence or other improvement is under construction on a lot, the contractor doing that work shares the same duty concurrently with the owner. 02 backstops this: if an owner fails to build a required sidewalk, the City may construct it itself and charge the cost back to the owner, along with any interest and penalties authorized by law.
03 sets the notice procedure: the City Engineer determines when construction, reconstruction or repair is needed, issues written notice specifying the material required and the timeline, and must serve City-resident owners at least 10 days before the work is to start, or mail non-resident owners by registered letter at least 15 days ahead. 04 requires new or relaid sidewalks to align with the established sidewalk line on that side of the block, as set by the City Engineer. 08: new sidewalks must be Portland cement concrete over a cinder, slag or comparable foundation as site conditions require.
12 at 1/4 inch per foot from the property line to the curb or gutter; a sidewalk built outside that tolerance is declared a public nuisance that the City Engineer can order removed and relaid at the owner's cost plus a 10% penalty. 10.
Violations & Fines
Beyond the direct cost recovery in Section 903.02 for a sidewalk the City had to build itself, Article 903's general penalty in Section 903.99 fines a violator not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 per offense, with imprisonment up to 30 days in default of payment; each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. A sidewalk built out of grade or slope is separately declared a public nuisance under Section 903.07, with removal and relaying costs plus a 10% penalty charged to the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to repair the sidewalk in front of my house in Erie?
What happens if I don't fix my sidewalk after the City tells me to?
How much notice does Erie give before requiring sidewalk repair?
What material must a new Erie sidewalk be made of?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Erie
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