Sun Prairie, WI Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Sidewalk Repair (2026)

010(A) places the duty squarely on the abutting property owner: it shall be the duty of the abutting owner to build, repair, construct and perpetually maintain sidewalks along or upon any street, alley or highway in the city and to pay the entire cost of construction. An owner wanting to build a sidewalk on frontage where a grade has already been established may do so as long as it conforms to the section's requirements, and sidewalks must sit where the common council designates; no one may remove a sidewalk without permission from the director of public works.

615, Wisconsin Statutes: the public works committee may order an owner to repair, remove or replace any sidewalk found unsafe, defective or insufficient. 615(3)(c), Wisconsin Statutes, to complete the work. If the owner misses that deadline, the public works committee has the work done itself and the city clerk enters the full cost onto the property's tax roll as a special tax. Where a life-threatening condition exists, the timeline compresses sharply: the director of public works can order repairs within 20 days, and the same special-tax billing follows if the owner fails to act.

020, requires anyone doing sidewalk work, including the owner, to get a no-fee permit from the director of public works at least three days before starting, with a bond required only if the job exceeds $1,000 in value.