Mount Vernon, NY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Section 227-56 puts the maintenance duty squarely on the private property side of the line: every owner or lessee of premises abutting a street must keep the contiguous sidewalk free of dirt, filth, weeds, obstructions and encumbrances, and must maintain it in good condition, free from defects or other dangerous conditions, performing all necessary repairs. That duty exists independent of any City construction work, and is separate from the permit process elsewhere in Chapter 227 that governs formal sidewalk reconstruction, where the Commissioner charges $200 plus a $1,000 deposit for sidewalk repair or replacement of 100 square feet or less, and more for larger jobs, under the Chapter 227 fee schedule.

Because § 227-56 sets a continuing duty rather than a permit process, there's no separate registration step for basic repairs, an owner is simply expected to keep the sidewalk safe at all times. If an owner or lessee lets a defect or dangerous condition persist, the City can pursue the matter under the Code's general enforcement authority: § 1-4B lets the City sue to compel compliance or restrain a continuing violation by injunction, in addition to any fine.