Hialeah, FL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Hialeah places the duty to keep abutting sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters safe on the property, not the city, under Sec. 82-91 of the Code of Ordinances. It is unlawful for any owner, occupant or agent to allow the sidewalk, driveway or curb and gutter abutting or contiguous to the property to remain unsafe, dangerous or detrimental for its intended purpose. The section makes inspection an affirmative duty: the owner, occupant or agent must inspect the sidewalk, driveway and curb and gutter for unsafe conditions and, when a defect turns up in the public right-of-way, must immediately notify the city in writing.

What happens next depends on who caused the damage. If the city's investigation finds the owner, occupant, agent or a third party didn't cause it, the city repairs the defect at no charge. If the city determines the owner, occupant, agent or a third party did cause the damage, that person must either repair or replace it themselves, built to the same standards required for new sidewalk, curb or gutter construction, or pay the city to do the work. A property owner who fails to notify the city of a defect caused by a third party loses the right to later blame that third party in a liability claim.

If nobody repairs, replaces or pays, the city assesses the cost against the property owner, and that assessment becomes a lien against the property if it isn't paid within 30 days, enforced the same way as other Code or state-law property liens.