Macon-Bibb County, GA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Warranty window
- 1 year from construction (§ 25-88(4))
- Responsible parties
- Bonded contractor or bonded property owner
- Enforcement leverage
- Certificate-of-occupancy hold (§ 25-88(4))
- General compliance duty
- Property owner (§ 25-85)
- Permit needed before building
- Engineering Department (§ 25-88(1))
Summary
When a newly built Macon-Bibb County sidewalk turns up defective within its first year, Sec. 25-88(4) puts the repair duty on the bonded contractor or bonded property owner who built it, not the county. The Macon-Bibb County Engineer serves a repair notice, and ignoring it forfeits the posted bond.
(4)Duty to Repair and Replace. Upon detection of any defective sidewalk within one (1) year from the date of construction, The Macon-Bibb County Engineer shall cause a notice to be served upon the bonded contractor or bonded property owner directing that repairs and/or replacement shall be accomplished within a designated period of time. Failure to comply with the terms of this notice shall cause forfeiture of bond. If it is determined that other parties are responsible for damage to the sidewalk, such as an individual home builder, the Department of Business Development shall cause the repair to be made by the appropriate contractor and withhold the certificate of occupancy until the repair is made.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Comprehensive Land Development Resolution: Supplement 4 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
This duty sits in Division 4, Sidewalk Regulations, of Chapter 25's subdivision rules in the general code (a different chapter from the Comprehensive Land Development Resolution, though both address land development topics). Sec. " Sec. 25-88(1) requires a construction permit from the Engineering Department before laying, constructing or building any sidewalk, driveway apron, or curb and gutter. The specific repair duty is Sec. 25-88(4), Duty to Repair and Replace: if a defect is detected within one year of construction, the Macon-Bibb County Engineer serves notice on the bonded contractor or bonded property owner directing repair or replacement within a set deadline, and failure to comply forfeits the bond.
Where a different party caused the damage, such as an individual home builder cutting in a driveway, the Department of Business Development orders that contractor to make the repair and withholds the certificate of occupancy until it's done.
Violations & Fines
Failure to comply with a Sec. 25-88(4) repair notice within the deadline forfeits the bond posted for the sidewalk work. Where a home builder damaged someone else's newly built sidewalk, the Department of Business Development can withhold that builder's certificate of occupancy until the repair is completed, and building without the required Sec. 25-88(1) construction permit in the first place exposes the responsible party to the Sec. 1-6 general penalty of up to $1,000 or 180 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to fix a defective new sidewalk in Macon-Bibb County?
What if the repair isn't made after the notice?
Is sidewalk installation required for all new development?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Macon-Bibb County
Compare Macon-Bibb County to another location·View the Georgia sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.