Hamburg Village, NY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Section 203-26(A) puts the cost of installing and repairing required sidewalks on the respective property owners in the Village of Hamburg. A property that adjoins more than one public street splits the burden: the owner pays only for the sidewalk along the longer street right-of-way line, and the Village pays for the sidewalk along the shorter one. Subsection (B) goes beyond money. The owner or occupant of any premises fronting or abutting a street or highway must repair, keep safe and maintain the abutting sidewalk and keep it free of snow, ice, dirt or other obstruction, and that same person is liable for any injury or damage caused by failing to do so or by negligence in doing it.

Sidewalks are required on all properties along adjoining public streets except properties on so-called dead-end streets (§ 203-25). New sidewalks are concrete unless the Board of Trustees authorizes otherwise, installed to a line and grade established by the Department of Public Works (§ 203-23).

When the Village sends a notice to repair or replace, § 203-28 sets the tests. Slabs marked for replacement must be replaced. A sidewalk out of alignment by more than 3/4 inch with the adjacent slab, or with a two-inch drop or rise in 10 feet, must be replaced, although the resident can elect to raise or lower the slab and must advise the Village for inspection. Single or multiple cracks that leave a slab structurally inadequate also require replacement, and cracked slabs next to a removed slab come out if further damage occurs. The Department of Public Works decides which slabs are replaced at its sole discretion. Village contractors replace affected sidewalks and never repair or realign them. A resident who tells the Village he or she will do the work, but has not finished when the Village contractor starts, gets the contractor's work and the bill.