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Norfolk, VA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Cleanup duty
Occupant or owner clears weeds, debris (Sec. 42-32)
Snow deadline
3 hours after snowfall stops (Sec. 42-34)
Late-day snow
Snow after 3 p.m. may wait until 11 a.m.
Damage cost
Owner pays city's repair estimate (Sec. 42-21)
City backup
Public works clears snow, bills owner (Sec. 42-35)
Default penalty
Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $2,500 (Sec. 1-11)

Summary

Norfolk puts the daily burden of a public sidewalk on the property it fronts, not the city. Code of Ordinances Section 42-32 requires the occupant, or the owner if the lot is vacant, to keep the abutting sidewalk clear of grass, weeds, paper, and debris. Section 42-34 gives that same person three hours after snow stops falling to clear it, and Section 42-21 makes anyone who damages a sidewalk pay the city to repair it.

It shall be the duty of the occupant of any land or premises abutting upon any sidewalk, whether paved or not, and the duty of the owner of any unoccupied land or premises abutting upon any paved sidewalk, to remove any grass or weeds from the sidewalk in front of such land or premises, and to keep such sidewalk clear of paper, debris and refuse. ... every day that any sidewalk shall not remain clean and free from grass or weeds, after notice from the director of public health to clean the same, shall constitute a separate offense under this section. ... within three (3) hours after the fall of any snow has ceased, to remove and clear away ... the snow from the sidewalks fronting such house, store, shop, religious institution, building or lot, in such manner as not to obstruct the passage of the water in the gutters. ... Any person damaging any sidewalk shall, when required by the director of public works, pay to the city treasurer such an amount as shall be estimated by the director to be necessary to repair the damage and the director shall repair the same.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).

Full Breakdown

" Swept debris cannot be pushed into the gutter or street; it has to go into a receptacle set out on the collection day the director of public works assigns. Section 42-32(b) lets the director of public health send written notice to a noncompliant occupant or owner, and every day the sidewalk stays dirty after that notice is a separate offense. m. If the abutting owner does not clear it, Section 42-35 authorizes the director of public works to do the work and certify the cost to the city treasurer for collection from that owner.

Damage is handled separately: under Section 42-21, anyone who damages a sidewalk must, when the director of public works requires it, pay the city treasurer the estimated repair cost, and the director's crews make the repair. Because none of these three sections states its own misdemeanor class, the citywide default in Section 1-11(b) applies: an unspecified violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to twelve months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense under Section 1-11(c).

Violations & Fines

Ignoring a public health director's cleanup notice under Section 42-32, or missing the clearing window in Section 42-34, exposes the abutting owner or occupant to the citywide default penalty in Section 1-11: a Class 1 misdemeanor carrying up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine, with every additional day counted as a new offense. Damage claims under Section 42-21 skip court entirely: the city bills the estimated repair cost directly to the property owner through the city treasurer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has to shovel the sidewalk in front of my Norfolk house?
You do, or whoever occupies the property. Section 42-34 of the Norfolk Code of Ordinances gives the occupant, or the owner of an unoccupied house or lot, three hours after snow stops falling to clear the sidewalk fronting the property. If snow stops between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., clearing it by 11:00 a.m. the next morning satisfies the deadline. Public works can do the job itself and bill you under Section 42-35 if you don't.
Does the city or the homeowner pay to fix a broken sidewalk in Norfolk?
Whoever caused the damage pays. Section 42-21 requires the person who damaged a sidewalk to pay the city treasurer the amount the director of public works estimates for repair, and city crews then make the fix. The code does not hand abutting owners a standing duty to rebuild sidewalks that wear out on their own; that routine upkeep falls to the city unless the damage traces to a specific act.
What happens if I ignore a notice to clean weeds off my sidewalk?
Each day you leave it dirty after the director of public health's written notice under Section 42-32 counts as its own separate offense. Because Section 42-32 does not set its own misdemeanor class, the citywide default in Section 1-11 applies: up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both, and the days keep adding up until the sidewalk is clear.
Is a business required to clean the sidewalk in front of its store in Norfolk?
Yes. Section 42-32 applies to the occupant of any land or premises abutting a sidewalk, which covers a storefront tenant the same as a homeowner. The occupant must remove grass, weeds, paper, debris and refuse, and any swept material has to go into a receptacle set out for collection, never into the gutter or street.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Norfolk

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All Norfolk rules

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