Evaluating Sidewalk Condition
When a Sidewalk Safety Program neighborhood is initially evaluated to be included in a future program, consideration is given to future projects and scheduled utility work to determine if a particular neighborhood would benefit by being included into a following year's program.
Once a determination is made to include a particular neighborhood into a Sidewalk Safety Program, inspectors evaluate sidewalks and driveways in accordance with condemnation guidelines, approved by City Council, which were developed considering factors such as the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and legal precedents. The condemnation guidelines fall into three general categories: geometric, condition, and miscellaneous. Sidewalks may be condemned on the basis of one or more of these conditions. Reasonable judgment must be exercised in applying these standards to field situations.
The property owner is responsible for the repair of the sidewalk and is given three options to complete the required work within the stated timeframe.
Once a property has been included in the Sidewalk Safety Program, the only acceptable method to repair condemned concrete is a full-block replacement from joint to joint according to City sidewalk specifications.
Cincinnati Municipal Code §721
Cincinnati Municipal Code §721-163
Inspection Process
Sidewalk Repair • Before & After
Sidewalk Repair • Before & After
Sidewalk Repair • Before & After
Inspectors are primarily looking for things that will cause a person to be injured now or in the near future. Using notes and drawings, the inspector determines which block(s) need to be replaced to make the sidewalk safe again. The inspector will mark the block(s) that must be replaced by the property owner with a white “X”. Block(s) that will be replaced without charge to the property owner will be marked with a white “C”.
Some of the most common defects include:
- Offsets between blocks where one sidewalk block is raised or sunken more than 5/8 inch from an adjacent sidewalk block
- Sidewalks that have cracks or gaps
- Blocks where the surface is severely damaged or pitted
- Blocks having depressions that are likely to collect water (which turns to ice in cold weather) or mud