Rochester Hills, MI Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

Section 94-141 makes the adjoining property owner or occupant responsible for maintaining the public sidewalk that runs along their lot. The sidewalk must stay free from defects and be kept in good repair, free from debris or rubbish that could be hazardous, and free from obstructions encroaching from adjacent property, including overhanging tree limbs and shrubs, with the 8-foot vertical and 1-foot horizontal clearance also required by section 94-35. Snow, sleet, ice and water have a hard deadline: if precipitation stops during daylight hours the owner has 48 hours from that point to clear it, and if it stops overnight the 48-hour clock starts at sunrise.

Section 94-141(5) also requires the owner to keep a 15-foot sight triangle clear at driveways and intersecting walks. If the Department of Public Services determines a sidewalk needs repair or an encroachment needs removal, section 94-143 requires written notice by mail to the owner, giving 45 days to repair and 14 days to remove an encroachment; costs are prorated by front footage when more than one parcel abuts the work. If the owner misses the deadline, the city can do the work and bill the owner the total cost plus a 30 percent fee for engineering supervision and administration; unpaid bills become a tax lien after 60 days under Michigan's General Property Tax Laws. Section 94-144 makes any violation of the article a municipal civil infraction.