Denver's Sidewalk Program

Since everyone benefits from a complete and safe sidewalk network, all Denver property owners are required to pay the Sidewalk Fee. This includes property owners whose sidewalks are currently in good repair, or who have recently completed new sidewalk construction on their property.

Yes, the fee applies to all property owners in Denver and is funding a complete sidewalk network that connects people to places and services.

Properties that don't currently have a sidewalk will either pay a $150 annual flat fee, or a flat fee with impact fee, based on the linear footage of public right of way that fronts the property.

Properties with frontage that's private property (not public right of way) or no frontage will pay the $150 flat fee.

Yes, payment of the sidewalk fee is still required. The fee is a revenue source to fund sidewalk repair and reconstruction citywide and the construction of new sidewalks where there are none, to fill gaps in the sidewalk network and better connect people to places and services citywide.

Click here to report major damage to an existing sidewalk (note that a photo will be required). Our team will triage and inspect those reports, closing off any area that poses imminent danger and creating a plan to treat the issue.

Sidewalk issues reported to us that meet the following criteria will be placed on a spot repair program:

Adjoining sections of sidewalk with an elevation difference greater than one inch

Adjoining sections of sidewalk with gaps greater than one inch

Extensive raveling and major breaking

Sidewalks with major damage that have been reported to DOTI and that have been inspected and meet this criteria can be viewed on this map.

Sidewalk damage caused by trees is extremely complicated to correct due to the sensitivity of trees. Disturbing tree roots can weaken or kill trees. Extreme care should be taken to preserve the tree which could be decades old and an irreplaceable canopy feature of the property or neighborhood. Therefore, these spot repair requests require greater time to consult with forestry experts and contractors with experience in dealing with these issues.

No. Private funds used to make sidewalk repairs will not be reimbursed.

Property owners with 230 linear feet or less of frontage will pay a $150 annual flat fee. This flat fee applies to about 95% of all property owners in Denver and about 99% of single-family homes in Denver.

Properties that have a high impact on the network with more than 230 linear feet of frontage abutting public right of way will pay the $150 flat fee and an additional "impact fee" of $3.50 for every foot over 230 linear feet.

DOTI takes Assessor's Office data (parcel dimensions included in legal descriptions of properties) and then uses a GIS application to separate parcel polygons into individual line segments. For each of these segments, GIS tools are used to determine length and whether it is along a public right of way. For each account, the lengths of all segments along a public right of way are summed to calculate frontage. If the total frontage abutting the public right of way is greater that 230 linear feet, the impact fee for the account will be calculated as the total frontage minus 230 times $3.50.

Please contact DOTI Utility Billing at (303) 446-3500.

If your HOA receives your semi-annual stormwater bill, then your HOA will receive the new sidewalk bill as well. Please check with your homeowners association to confirm and discuss with them how they plan to split this cost among everyone within your HOA.

The Sidewalk Program will build sidewalks to current city standard. If the district has existing decorative or beyond-standard sidewalk, the city would repair or replace the sidewalk to city standard, but not to the district's beyond-city-standard criteria. Any changes to the district's assessment to reflect a decreased need for sidewalk funding as a portion of their assessment would need to be handled according to the district's budgetary rules.

Ordinance 307 authorizes the city to place a lien on properties that are delinquent in the payment of fees.

We do not currently have a timeline for when specific segments of sidewalk will be installed or fixed as part of the new sidewalk program. The percentage of existing sidewalk in Denver in need of repair is currently unknown, and it's estimated that about 40% of the sidewalk network is either missing or too narrow.

As the city begins to receive revenue from the sidewalk fee in 2025, it will begin developing a sidewalk master plan as required by the ordinance, which will include an initial investment plan. The master plan will also develop and communicate DOTI's strategy for a long-term, continuing program of repairs, reconstruction and construction of new sidewalks as needed and over time.

Per the ordinance, the master plan will initially prioritize sidewalk construction, reconstruction and repair based on the tiers assigned in the 2019 Denver Moves: Pedestrians & Trails Plan to maximize pedestrian safety, transit access, and access to other high-priority destinations such as schools, parks, grocery stores, and health care centers.

Sidewalk repairs are not an on-demand service. Any reported requests will be assessed and triaged.

Yes. Ordinance 307 does not relieve property owners of the snow clearing responsibility.

At this time, the city will not be doing repairs to or widening of flagstone sidewalks. If a portion of a flagstone sidewalk is identified as a level one safety issue, those flagstones may need to be removed and replaced with a concrete sidewalk.

The city will work to minimize the need to acquire private property to build sidewalks by exploring its options on a site-specific basis.

Ordinance 307 does not change any existing requirements for developers or individuals to improve the ROW adjacent to their property as a condition of development of redevelopment.