Rowlett, TX Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- § 54-189(a)(3)-(4)
- Duty
- owner maintains sidewalk and driveway apron
- Liability
- owner liable for injury from a defect
- Right-of-way strip
- owner also maintains to curb or 10 ft
- Tree clearance
- 8 ft over sidewalks, § 54-189(b)(2)
- Repair permit
- required under § 54-187
Summary
Rowlett puts sidewalk repair squarely on the abutting property owner: section 54-189(a)(3) requires owners to clean and keep the public sidewalk and driveway apron in good repair, and subsection (a)(4) makes the owner liable for injury or damage caused by a defect they failed to fix. The same section also covers the strip of land between the property line and the curb or alley.
(3)Any owner of the property abutting on a public street and sidewalk shall clean and maintain in good repair the sidewalk and any driveway approach apron crossing the sidewalk.(4)The owner of property which abuts on any public street, sidewalk, or driveway approach apron shall be liable for any injury or damage arising from a defect or defects caused by any act or omission, failure, or negligence relative to the maintenance or repair of such sidewalk or driveway approach apron crossing such sidewalk.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29).
Full Breakdown
Section 54-189, "Maintenance of public rights-of-way by property owners," states in subsection (a): "(1)Any owner, occupant or tenant of any lot or parcel of land located within the city shall maintain or cause to be maintained the area of land located between the property line of the lot, tract, or parcel and the adjacent curb, and if no curb exists, then to a line ten feet from the edge of the street pavement toward the property line. (2)Any owner, occupant, or tenant of any lot or parcel of land located within the city shall maintain or cause to be maintained the area of land located between the property line of the lot, tract, or parcel and the edge of the adjacent alley pavement.
(3)Any owner of the property abutting on a public street and sidewalk shall clean and maintain in good repair the sidewalk and any driveway approach apron crossing the sidewalk. " The same section also reaches vegetation: subsection (b) makes it unlawful for an owner to let tree branches hang over a street or alley below 14 1/2 feet, over a sidewalk below eight feet, or let shrubbery block or hinder pedestrian access to a sidewalk. Subsection (c) covers utility and drainage easements on the property, barring permanent structures within them and requiring the owner to keep the easement area maintained as if the easement did not exist.
Because sidewalk work in the right-of-way is construction under this chapter, section 54-187 requires an owner to first obtain a building permit before doing repair work, using the fees and procedures set out in section 54-154.
Violations & Fines
Article V of chapter 54, which contains section 54-189, does not set its own fine, so a failure to maintain the sidewalk falls under the chapter 1 general penalty: a fine of up to $500.00, and if the defect is treated as a public health or safety matter that fine can reach $2,000.00 under section 1-13(a), with each day of disrepair a separate offense under section 1-13(b). Subsection (a)(4) separately exposes the owner to civil liability for injuries the defect causes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for a cracked sidewalk in front of my Rowlett house?
Can I be sued if someone trips on my sidewalk?
Do I need a permit to repair my own sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rowlett
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How other cities in Dallas County handle sidewalk repair.