NYC Administrative Code §7-210 places a non-delegable duty on property owners to maintain abutting sidewalks in reasonably safe condition. Owners are liable for personal injury or property damage caused by defective sidewalks, including failure to remove snow, ice, or debris. Small residential owner-occupants (1-3 family) are exempt.
NYC Administrative Code §7-210, enacted in 2003, transferred sidewalk maintenance responsibility from the city to abutting property owners. The duty is non-delegable, meaning owners cannot avoid liability by blaming tenants, management companies, or contractors. Failure to maintain includes negligent failure to install, construct, reconstruct, repave, repair, or replace defective sidewalk flags and negligent failure to remove snow, ice, dirt, or other material. Corner properties are responsible for the intersection quadrant as well. The city is no longer liable for injuries on these sidewalks. An exemption applies to one-, two-, or three-family residential properties that are owner-occupied and used exclusively for residential purposes — for these properties, the city retains liability. DOT Administrative Code §19-152 requires property owners to repair defective sidewalk flags identified during DOT inspections within a specified timeframe. DOT issues violations and can perform repairs, billing the property owner.
DOT sidewalk violation notice with repair deadline. Civil liability for injuries under §7-210. DOT may perform repairs and bill the owner. Liens placed on property for unpaid repair costs.
New York, NY
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