Hillsboro, OR Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must repair
- The owner of the property adjacent to the sidewalk
- City notice duty
- The Manager will, but is not obligated to, notify owners
- Notice delivery
- Certified or registered mail, or posted on the property
- Repair deadline
- 60 days after the notice is mailed or posted
- Cap on added expenses
- Administrative, legal and engineering costs up to 15% of construction costs
- Tree clearance over sidewalk
- 8 feet minimum, and 15 feet over the roadway
- Section history
- Ord. 6068, § 1, 2013
Summary
In Hillsboro, the owner of each property must keep the sidewalk next to it in good repair and is liable for injuries and damages caused by a failure to maintain it. The Manager can send a repair notice, and if the work is not finished within 60 days of mailing or posting, the City can do it and bill the owner, with added administrative, legal and engineering expenses capped at 15% of construction costs.
A. Property owners must maintain in good repair all sidewalks adjacent to their property and are liable for injuries and damages incurred as a result of a failure to maintain sidewalks in accordance with HMC 9.16 . B. The Manager will, but is not obligated to, notify property owners of record who fail to conform to the requirements of HMC 9.16.010 (A). C. Notice under HMC 9.16.010 (B) will: 1. Specify the location of the sidewalk to be repaired, the kind of work required, the materials to be used and the time within which the work must be done; and 2. Be delivered by certified or registered mail or be posted in a conspicuous place on the subject property. D. If the repairs are not complete within 60 days after the notice is mailed or posted under HMC 9.16.010 (C)(2), the City may perform the necessary work and assess the property owner(s) for the cost including administrative, legal, and engineering expenses not to exceed 15% of construction costs. (Ord. 6068, § 1, 2013)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
Hillsboro Municipal Code § 9.16.010 puts sidewalk upkeep on the abutting owner, not the City. Subsection A requires property owners to maintain in good repair all sidewalks adjacent to their property, and it makes them liable for injuries and damages that result from a failure to maintain those sidewalks. The duty attaches to the owner whether or not anyone has sent a notice.
Notice is a City option, not a precondition of the owner's duty. Under subsection B the Manager will, but is not obligated to, notify property owners of record who fail to conform. A missing notice therefore does not remove the owner's exposure to a claim from an injured pedestrian.
When a notice does go out, subsection C fixes what it must contain: the location of the sidewalk to be repaired, the kind of work required, the materials to be used, and the time within which the work must be done. It must be delivered by certified or registered mail or be posted in a conspicuous place on the subject property. Because posting on the property is enough, an owner who lives elsewhere can have the clock running without ever signing for a letter.
The clock is in subsection D. If repairs are not complete within 60 days after the notice is mailed or posted, the City can perform the necessary work and assess the property owner or owners for the cost. Administrative, legal and engineering expenses are included in that assessment, but they cannot exceed 15% of construction costs.
Trees beside the sidewalk fall under a separate subchapter. Under § 9.18.080, the owner of property abutting a public right-of-way must prune trees in that right-of-way, beyond the back of the curb, so an overhanging portion clears 8 feet above the sidewalk and 15 feet above the roadway. Fixing a lifted slab near a street tree can mean cutting roots. Section 9.18.020 defines Major Pruning to include removal of roots 2 inches in diameter or greater, and § 9.18.090(A) requires a permit approved by the City Manager's office or designee before that work starts. Utility companies working under a franchise agreement or right-of-way license are exempt from that permit.
Violations & Fines
Section 9.16.010 prints no fine and no jail term. The consequences are financial. An owner who fails to maintain the sidewalk is liable for injuries and damages caused by that failure, and an owner who lets a notice run 60 days without finishing the repairs can be assessed for the City's work, including administrative, legal and engineering expenses up to 15% of construction costs. Separately, § 9.18.080(C) makes a person who neglects the abutting tree duties liable to an injured person and to the City for costs, expenses and attorney fees incurred defending a claim, plus any judgment the City must pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays to fix a cracked sidewalk in front of a Hillsboro home?
Does Hillsboro have to warn me before the City repairs my sidewalk?
How long do I have after receiving a repair notice?
What extra charges can the City add when it does the repair?
Do I need a permit to cut tree roots that are lifting my sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsboro
Compare Hillsboro to another location·View the Oregon sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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How other cities in Washington County handle sidewalk repair.