Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Maui County, HI Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Duty holder
Abutting property owner
Cure period
20 days after written notice
Notice method
Certified mail, last known address
Non-compliance
County cleans and bills owner
Collection
District court action if unpaid
Exemption
Ag lots over 15 acres

Summary

Maui County Code section 12.02.020 makes every abutting property owner responsible for keeping the sidewalk or shoulder in front of their land clean, passable and free of weeds. If an owner ignores a 20-day cleanup notice, the County can do the work itself and bill the owner, collecting through district court if unpaid.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Maui County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Every property owner whose land abuts or adjoins a County street shall continually maintain, and keep clean, passable and free from weeds and noxious growths, the sidewalk or shoulder areas which abut or adjoin the owner's property. ... If any such owner, after receiving notice from the county fails, within twenty days after such notice, to clean such sidewalk, or fails and neglects to keep such sidewalk clean and free from weeds and noxious growths, then and thereupon the county may proceed to clean such sidewalk, as may be reasonably required, and the cost thereof shall be charged to and against such property owner and shall be collected from such property owner, if not immediately paid, by action in the district court.

Full Breakdown

02 of the Maui County Code, Cleaning and Maintaining Sidewalks, puts the maintenance burden on private landowners rather than the County. 020 requires every owner whose land "abuts or adjoins a County street" to continually maintain the abutting sidewalk or shoulder, keeping it clean, passable and free from weeds and noxious growths. The chapter defines "owner" broadly to include a fee simple owner, lessee of record, administrator, receiver, trustee or property-management agent, but exempts owners of agricultural-district lots larger than fifteen acres. "Sidewalk" is defined as the portion of a street between the curbline or road pavement and the adjacent property line, including any setback strip the County acquired for road widening.

030 gives the owner twenty days to clean the sidewalk before the County steps in, performs the work itself, and charges the cost back to the owner; if the owner does not pay immediately, the County can collect through an action in district court. 040 requires that notice be sent by certified mail to the owner's last known address. 050 adds that an owner who fails to comply must indemnify the County against injury or damage claims arising from the unmaintained sidewalk, and lets the County seek an injunction to force compliance. 030.

Violations & Fines

Ignoring a cleanup notice lets the County clean the sidewalk itself and bill the property owner for the cost, collectible through district court if unpaid. Owners who never comply must also indemnify the County against injury claims tied to the unmaintained sidewalk, face a possible County injunction, and remain subject to the civil fines set out in section 19.530.030.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has to keep the sidewalk clean in front of my Maui County property?
Maui County Code section 12.02.020 puts that job on you: every owner whose land abuts a County street must continually maintain the sidewalk or shoulder area, keeping it clean, passable and free of weeds and noxious growths.
What happens if I don't clean my sidewalk after the County notifies me?
Under section 12.02.030 you get twenty days from the notice to clean it yourself. After that the County can do the work and charge you for it, collecting the cost through a district court action if you don't pay right away.
Could I be liable if someone trips on the sidewalk in front of my house?
Yes. Section 12.02.050 requires an owner who fails to maintain the abutting sidewalk to indemnify the County against claims for injuries or damage caused by that failure, and the County can also seek an injunction to force compliance.
Does this sidewalk-maintenance duty apply to agricultural land?
No. The chapter's definition of "owner" in section 12.02.010 specifically excludes owners of real property within agricultural districts whose lots exceed fifteen acres, so large ag parcels are not covered by the cleaning duty.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Maui County

All Maui County rules

Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview

Get notified when Sidewalk Repair in Maui County, HI changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.