In states like NY, sidewalks are an important part of the day to day infrastructure - in fact, more individuals in the city walk to their destinations when feasible, instead of driving cars. Therefore, it is important to ensure that, much like our roadway infrastructure, our sidewalk and pedestrian infrastructure is in good repairs. However, individuals may wonder, who is responsible for maintaining the sidewalks in NY? And how do you go about enforcing nyc sidewalk repair?
Thankfully, the research has already been done for you. Sidewalk repair in NYC is, legally, required to be completed by the property owner on all commercial and private properties. Therefore, the individual who owns the land - typically, the landlord or property manager - is responsible for overseeing the repairs and finding suitable concrete sidewalk contractors.
Some may ask how you determine what portions of the sidewalk you are responsible for repairs if you own your own land. However, this answer is relatively simple as well. Any sidewalk that is within your property line is your legal responsibility, meaning you are required to ensure that any section of NYC sidewalk that is contained on your property is in good repairs.
On city-owned land, of course, this is different - in this case, the sidewalk is very similar to that of the roadways. Through taxpayer dollars, the city is liable for ensuring the repairs of any sidewalk on public property, such as city parks. If you feel that a sidewalk needs to be repaired, it can be reported to the department of transportation, who will oversee the enforcement of repairs or hire a contractor to repair the sidewalk themselves. If you receive a request from the city to complete required repairs on your property but are unsure of where to find a contractor, it is relatively simple. A search for "sidewalk repair near me" will bring up contractors in your area who will be able to assist in the necessary reparation required.
Ultimately, property owners in NYC are required to maintain and repair sidewalks contained on their property - meaning it is important you know and understand where to find reputable sidewalk contractors in your area to assist in making the repairs. Many may believe that the sidewalk is public property, however, in NYC this is not the case - meaning you are responsible for ensuring your sidewalks are well kept.
Home Insurance and Sidewalks: Why Insurance Agencies Require You To Maintain Your Sidewalks
When purchasing your first home, searching for insurance can seem overwhelming. Many insurance companies have a set of requirements you must fulfill to maintain your insurance with the company. Certain sets of nyc stucco repair, for instance, must be fulfilled - some of which can seem, at first, to be tedious and unimportant. However, repairs to sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructures are often neglected, and these are important aspects to insurance agencies.
In NYC, it is the property owner's responsibility to maintain the sidewalks included on the property. This is a public ordinance - meaning you are legally required to ensure that all repairs are completed in a timely manner. However, insurance agencies do not consider only this factor - though it is often an important factor to be considered. NYC sidewalk maintenance should be completed at your earliest convenience for a variety of reasons.
To begin with, insurance agencies want the repairs completed as soon as possible simply to keep you - and, in some cases, by extension, the insurance agency - from receiving fines from the city for public ordinance non-compliance. Insurance companies, as they are the ones who ultimately are considered responsible for assisting in completing repairs to the sidewalk, may be fined by the city for not assisting in enforcing these laws.
Furthermore, it is important to ensure that these repairs are completed as it can become a liability issue. For instance, if an individual hurts themselves due to a sidewalk that is in poor condition on your property, you could be at fault for not maintaining your sidewalks. Typically, this means the insurance companies will have to pay out a large sum of money to settle the case - therefore, it is important you maintain your sidewalk for liability reasons.
Overall, insurance companies attempt to maintain sidewalks more due to the fact it is required by the city of New York. Therefore, it is important to ensure that repairs are taken care of as soon as possible and sidewalks are well maintained. Insurance companies will, in many cases, enforce the upkeep of the sidewalk on your pair to ensure your home insurance continues - meaning it should be one of your highest priorities to ensure repairs are taken care of.
While searching for a contractor to repair your sidewalks may seem tedious, a simple online search can ensure you find a reliable company to assist in your repair needs.