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Thurston County, WA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

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

Key Facts

Who maintains
Urban-frontage property owner
Governing code
TCC § 13.56.310(C)
Rural default
County maintains instead
Opt-in program
Owner Will Maintain Program permit

Summary

In unincorporated Thurston County, owners of urban-frontage property must maintain the sidewalks abutting their land within the right-of-way, not the county.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Thurston County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

C.Maintenance of Landscaping and Sidewalks by Adjacent Property Owners. 1.Urban -- Properties with urban frontage improvements (sidewalks, curbing, street lighting, etc.)... a.Urban property owners shall be required to maintain the Landscaping and sidewalks within the rights-of-way immediately adjacent to their property unless otherwise notified by the county. 2.Rural... a.The county will maintain these rights-of-ways unless otherwise requested through the county's "Owner Will Maintain Program."

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 77).

Full Breakdown

Thurston County Code splits sidewalk upkeep by frontage type. Properties with urban frontage improvements, sidewalks, curbing, street lighting, must have their owners maintain the landscaping and sidewalks within the right-of-way immediately adjacent to their property, unless the county notifies them otherwise. Rural-frontage properties are handled differently: the county maintains those rights-of-way itself, unless the owner opts into the county's voluntary 'Owner Will Maintain Program' permit.

Violations & Fines

No stated fine schedule in this section; noncompliance is addressed through county notice rather than automatic citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Thurston County repair sidewalks for homeowners?
Not for urban-frontage properties. The code makes the adjacent owner responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in the right-of-way unless the county says otherwise.
What if my property has rural frontage instead?
The county maintains rural rights-of-way itself, unless you apply for its free annual Owner Will Maintain Program permit to do it yourself.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Thurston County

Encroachment PermitsSignificant RestrictionsObstruction RulesSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Thurston County rules

Compare Thurston County to another location·View the Washington sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview

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