Newark, NJ Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Section 29:3-1 of Newark's Revised General Ordinances puts sidewalk and curb maintenance squarely on the private party benefiting from the street frontage: any person owning, leasing or occupying a house, other building or vacant lot fronting a City street must, at that person's own expense, pave and maintain the sidewalk, its authorized installations, and the curb in front of the property in good repair. If an owner does not comply, § 29:3-2 requires the Director's office to serve written notice describing the property and the repairs needed, giving the owner, lessee or occupant 30 days to act.

Under § 29:3-3, if the deadline passes without action, the Director has the work done directly and certifies its cost to the Director of Finance, who imposes it as a special assessment collected against the property. Any owner who instead wants to do the work must first get written permission from the Director under § 29:3-4, along with a fee and deposit set by size: not more than 250 square feet of sidewalk costs a $100 fee plus $200 deposit, more than that costs $150 and $300, and curb work runs $100/$200 for up to 12 lineal feet or $150/$300 beyond that.

The rebuilt sidewalk must follow city specifications: § 29:3-5 sets a uniform five-foot paved strip centered on the walk, and § 29:3-6 requires a slope of 1/4 to 1/2 inch per foot toward the curb with no abrupt rises or depressions where sections meet. Constructing, removing, repairing, replacing or altering a sidewalk, curb or gutter in violation of Chapter 29:3 is punished under the general penalty of § 1:1-9 (fine up to $1,250, up to 90 days imprisonment or community service), on top of the owner's separate liability for the cost of properly restoring the sidewalk or curb.