Sidewalk Maintenance Fee - FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fee?

The fee is a monthly charge to City of Corvallis utility customers, that began February 1, 2011, to generate revenue to pay for repairs to public sidewalks. The money raised from this fee is dedicated to this purpose and cannot be used for any other purpose.

Who pays the fee?

Corvallis utility customers – residences, businesses, and industry – on the monthly City Services bill.

How much is the fee?

The Sidewalk Maintenance Fee is the same amount per utility account for all types (houses, commercial buildings, etc.) The current fee amount is shown at

https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/publicworks/page/sidewalk-safety

How is the fee determined?

Many years ago, the City created what is called the Sidewalk Safety program. For the purposes of the program the city has been divided into several geographic “sidewalk districts”. A sidewalk district is typically surveyed each year to identify repair needs per guidelines developed by the City. To determine the initial fee amount (effective February 1, 2011), the average yearly cost at that time to repair sidewalks in a typical sidewalk district ($150,000) was divided by the number of utility customers at that time (14,951) divided by 12 (to get a monthly amount).

$150,000 ÷ 14,951 ÷ 12 = $0.836 (rounded to $0.80)

The fee has been subsequently increased by Council to account for increases in construction costs due to inflation so that sidewalks can continue to be repaired.

Will the fee go up in the future?

The fee amount is periodically reviewed by Council and may be changed by resolution. Fee increases may occur due to increases in construction costs due to inflation and increased sidewalk repair needs.

Why is the fee on my water bill?

By putting charges for multiple City services on one bill, the City is able to reduce the administrative costs of processing and printing invoices over what it would cost to have each charge on a separate bill.

How much revenue will the fee generate?

The fee initially generated about $150,000 a year when it first began (February 1, 2011). Subsequent increases in the fee and growth of the number of utility accounts paying it have increased this revenue to a little over $400,000 annually, as of 2025. It is important to note that between 2011 and 2025, the cost of concrete (one of the biggest components of the Sidewalk Safety program) has also more than doubled.

How does this fee benefit me?

In the past, the property owner paid the full cost all at once for repairs to sidewalks in the public right-of-way along their property. Now, the cost is spread out over time as a smaller monthly charge with the City using the revenue to repair sidewalks.

Will the City pay to fix all sidewalk problems?

The fee funds sidewalk repairs meeting guidelines established by the City, on sidewalks in the public right-of-way, subject to funding and resource availability such as staff and contractors. Other problems, including bushes or trees obstructing the pathway or debris on the sidewalk, must be taken care of by the property owner.

The City and the fee does not repair or pay for sidewalks on private property nor repairs to driveway approaches or connections between the sidewalk and street, with the exception of incidental work on those areas in conjunction with repairs being made to adjacent sidewalks.

Sidewalk damage determined to be caused by misuse, such as driving heavy equipment over the sidewalk, will need to be paid for by the person responsible for the misuse.

For information about timelines for repairs and liability, see questions and answers about these topics later in this FAQ.

Will the City remove snow, ice, leaves and/or debris on my sidewalk?

No, the property owner is responsible for keeping the sidewalk clean and free of debris. See Chapters 2.15 and 5.04 of the Corvallis Municipal Code, available on the City website, for details of these requirements.

What do I do if I think my sidewalk needs to be repaired?

Per Chapter 2.15 of the Corvallis Municipal Code, available on the City website, property owners must provide “prompt written notice” to the City of sidewalks that they believe may need to be repaired. The most efficient way to accomplish this is via the City’s Corvallis Connect system. The City will inspect the sidewalk to determine if a repair is needed. For information about timelines for repairs and liability, see questions and answers about these topics later in this FAQ.

How will the City determine which problems will be fixed?

Whether through surveys of the Sidewalk Safety program’s sidewalk districts or in response to concerns reported by community members outside of the most recently surveyed sidewalk district, the City determines repair needs per guidelines developed by the City. Repairs may be addressed based on available funding and resources, such as but not limited to, in-house staff or contracted delivery of grinding of lifted joints or cracks, removal and replacement, surface treatments, joint sealants, or asphalt ramping.

If the City determines my sidewalk problem does not qualify for a repair and someone trips and gets hurt, who is liable?

This program only changes the method for a property owner to pay for needed repairs. It does not change existing property owners’ liability. See Chapter 2.15 of the Corvallis Municipal Code, available on the City website, for information.

If the City decides my sidewalk problem does qualify, but the repair hasn’t been made yet and someone trips and gets hurt, who is liable?

After the City decides a defective sidewalk needs to be repaired, how long will it take to fix it?

The City attempts to make identified repairs each year within the most recently surveyed sidewalk district up to the amount of funding available. Based on the amount of repairs identified and other reported concerns outside of the district, the City may need or choose to prioritize some areas or repairs over others. This means that an exact timeline for repairs can’t be given and is dependent on multiple factors including quantity and type.

What if I have more questions?

Please submit concerns about sidewalk conditions to the City’s Corvallis Connect system. For general questions about the Sidewalk Safety program or the Sidewalk Maintenance Fee, please contact the Corvallis Public Works Department at publicworks@corvallisoregon.gov or 541-766-6916.