Newport News, VA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 38-40(b)
- Responsible party
- Abutting property owner
- Covers
- Driveway/ramp and sidewalk it crosses
- Cost borne by
- Owner's own expense
Summary
Newport News puts the cost of keeping a driveway apron and the stretch of sidewalk it crosses in good repair on the abutting property owner, not the city.
All driveway or ramp construction, reconstruction, replacement and repairs, where necessary, shall be done at the expense of the owner of the property being served by such driveway and it shall be such owner's responsibility at all times to keep the driveway or ramp and the sidewalk crossed by such driveway or ramp in good repair at such owner's own expense.(c)When and if the use of any driveway or ramp is discontinued, the owner of the abutting property shall obtain a permit to remove the same and shall, at such owner's own expense, restore the area from the edge of the pavement to the property line in accordance with the established street and sidewalk pattern. (Ord. No. 268, § 25; Code 1961, § 36-7)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 81).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 38-40(b) makes it 'such owner's responsibility at all times to keep the driveway or ramp and the sidewalk crossed by such driveway or ramp in good repair at such owner's own expense.' The duty falls on whoever owns the property the driveway serves, runs continuously rather than just at the time of construction, and covers only the driveway/ramp and the sidewalk panel it crosses: the code does not separately spell out a general owner duty to repair sidewalk elsewhere along their frontage.
Violations & Fines
Section 38-40 sets no separate fine for disrepair; an uncorrected violation of the chapter's requirements is a Class 4 misdemeanor under the general penalty clause, § 38-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the city or the homeowner fix a cracked driveway apron in Newport News?
Does this cover all the sidewalk in front of my house, not just the driveway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Newport News
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