Oyster Bay, NY Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Town Code § 205-2, in Article II of Chapter 205, places the ongoing duty to repair and maintain sidewalks on whoever owns or occupies the abutting property, whether that's a house, a vacant lot, a church, or a public building. The section requires the sidewalk be kept in good and safe repair and maintained in a clean condition, free from filth, dirt, weeds, or other obstructions or encumbrances, at all times, not just after a Town notice. Subsection B backs that duty with civil liability: the owner or occupant is liable for any injury or damage caused by their omission, failure, or negligence to make, maintain, or repair the sidewalk, or for violating any Town ordinance on sidewalk upkeep.

That liability exposure sits alongside the Town's own enforcement power. Under § 205-5, the Town Board can pass a resolution ordering specific sidewalks or curbs repaired at the abutting owner's expense, with notice published twice in a designated newspaper starting at least 15 days before the repair deadline and served on the owner within two business days of the order. 1, through a private contractor the owner must hire within 90 days of a defect notice before the Town steps in and bills the cost.