Saint Paul places sidewalk repair responsibility on adjacent property owners under Leg. Code Ch. 91. The city may order repairs and assess costs to the property.
Under Saint Paul Legislative Code Ch. 91 and Ch. 104, adjacent property owners are responsible for maintaining sidewalks in safe condition. The city conducts periodic sidewalk assessment programs where inspectors evaluate sidewalk conditions throughout designated areas. When sidewalks are found to be defective, cracked, heaved, or otherwise hazardous, the city issues repair orders to the adjacent property owner. Property owners typically receive written notice specifying the required repairs and a deadline for completion. If the property owner fails to make repairs within the specified timeframe, the city may perform the work and assess the cost to the property as a special assessment on property taxes. Common repair triggers include trip hazards exceeding three-quarters of an inch, significant cracking, and heaving from tree roots. The city offers a cost-share program during assessment cycles to help defray repair costs. Property owners may hire their own licensed contractors to make repairs, but the work must meet city specifications including proper thickness (minimum 4 inches of concrete), slope, and scoring patterns. Permits from Saint Paul Public Works are required for sidewalk replacement. Property owners are also liable for injuries resulting from defective sidewalks adjacent to their property under Minnesota premises liability principles.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Saint Paul's sidewalk repair rules stack up against other locations.
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