# Sidewalks - public or private property?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidewalks-public-or-private-property/309198>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 21, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidewalks-public-or-private-property/309198 "2005-06-21T14:57:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![YWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/6f9a4e/32.png) [@YWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YWalker)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidewalks-public-or-private-property/309198/21 "2005-06-22T02:04:17Z")

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> [@bump](#):
>
> Based on what I recall from my college summers surveying, the sidewalks aren’t even on your property, at least in the case of homes.
> 
> The property line pins are about 5-10 feet in from the curb, and define the front corners of your lot on the plat. The back pins are usually right alongside the fenceposts, depending on how much effort the fence builders took not to dig them up; sometimes they just threw them into the yard.
> 
> So in a nutshell, although you have to mow it and can improve it to some extent, the first 5-10 feet of your front yard are the city/county’s, and not yours.
> 
> You probably have easements along your back fence that are on your property too.

This will vary by jurisdiction, and possibly by development, however.

Recently in Raleigh some citizens complained to the city about the terrible condition of the sidewalk in front of their home. Tree roots had forced sections of the concrete up and made the surface very uneven for walking. Their first couple of complaints went unnoticed. After being ignored, they turned up the heat and went to a local consumer reporter about it. The result was that the homeowners found, to their chagrin, that it was their responsibility to maintain. The city had been ignoring it, but, once it was brought so publicly to their attention, they cited the homeowners and told them they had to foot the bill for repairing it or be found in violation.

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**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2005, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sidewalks-public-or-private-property/309198/22 "2005-06-22T08:48:15Z")

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In Honolulu, your sidewalk belongs to you but the public has the right of way. They give limited immunity with regards to lawsuits as the city assumes this liability and repairs. The same is true if you border a river, stream, or gulch. Bad news: the city can assess to you maintenance costs!!

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