Pottstown, PA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- §208, Chapter 21, Streets and Sidewalks
- Repair deadline
- 30 days from written notice
- Prerequisite
- Borough inspection before notice
- Owner's fallback cost
- Repair cost plus 10% penalty
- Nuisance fine
- $5 to $600 per violation
Summary
Property owners abutting a Pottstown right-of-way must repair their sidewalk or curb once the Department of Licensing and Inspection issues written notice, per Section 208 of Chapter 21. The owner has 30 days from receipt of the notice, but only after an inspector has viewed the sidewalk and made a final determination that repair is needed.
It shall be the duty of any owner of any lot or real estate on which a right-of-way is situated or which abuts a right-of-way in which any street or alley is laid out, opened, and dedicated to the public use, or in which hereafter shall be laid out, opened, and dedicated to the public use, to repair any sidewalk or curb now in existence or constructed hereafter upon written notice from the Borough's Department of Licensing and Inspection, or other designee, within 30 days of receipt of said notice. No such repair shall be ordered, however, until a representative of the Borough's Department of Licensing and Inspection, or other designee, views and inspects said sidewalk or curb and passes final judgment thereupon.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5012545; v22 updated 2026-07-13; through 07-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 208, adopted by Ordinance 2172 on January 8, 2018, places sidewalk and curb repair squarely on the abutting property owner rather than the Borough. The duty attaches to any lot or parcel on which a right-of-way sits or which abuts a dedicated street or alley, whether that dedication happened in the past or happens later. The process starts with an inspection: a representative of the Department of Licensing and Inspection, or a designee, must first view the sidewalk or curb and pass "final judgment" that repair is warranted before any notice goes out; the Borough cannot simply order work without that inspection step.
Once written notice is served, the owner has 30 days to complete the repair. Section 208(2) adds a special rule when the damage is caused by an adjacent shade tree: repairs should aim both to keep a safe passage for pedestrians and to preserve the tree, rather than defaulting to removal. If the owner misses the 30-day window, Section 210 lets the Borough perform the work itself and bill the owner the cost plus a 10% penalty, collectible the same way curbing and paving debts are recovered under Borough law.
A related nuisance provision, Section 211, lets the Borough act with or without notice when a sidewalk condition imminently endangers pedestrians, again recovering costs plus 10% and, if notice was given and ignored, a court fine per violation.
Violations & Fines
Missing the 30-day repair deadline lets the Borough do the work and bill the owner the cost plus a 10% penalty under Section 210. If the sidewalk poses an imminent hazard, Section 211 allows immediate Borough abatement with the same 10% cost recovery, and an owner who ignores a nuisance notice faces a fine of $5 to $600 per violation under Section 215's general Part 2 penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to fix a cracked sidewalk in front of my Pottstown house?
What if I don't repair my sidewalk within 30 days?
Does a tree root pushing up my sidewalk change who pays?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pottstown
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