Who fixes the sidewalk? Four cities compared

The short answer

It depends on the city, and these four neighboring cities do not give the same answer.

• Allen puts the sidewalk along the street on the property owner, or on the HOA where a plat, a development plan, or a maintenance agreement assigns it. That rule is in the city code.
• Frisco says its Streets Division is responsible for sidewalk repair, and it lists the conditions that qualify. The walk from the curb to the front door is the owner's.
• Plano and McKinney each give a way to report a damaged sidewalk. The city pages we opened do not say who pays for the repair.

Every statement on this page about a city's rules is quoted or summarized from that city's own page or code, opened on October 14, 2026. Where a city's text is silent, the table says so. It does not guess.

Check with the city before you act. Codes change, and the answer for one address can turn on its zoning, its plat, or an agreement this page has not seen. This page is a starting point, not legal advice.

Allen: the owner or the HOA

Allen's rule is in Section 13-3 of its Code of Ordinances, last amended in February 2023. For property outside single-family residential zoning, it says:

"Owner(s) of property which is situated within a zoning district of the city other than single-family residential, and which is adjacent to and abutting sidewalks that are in need of repair, maintenance, replacement, and reconstruction are responsible for the needed repair, maintenance, replacement, and/or reconstruction and all of the costs associated therewith and are hereby required to make said needed repairs, maintenance, replacement, and reconstruction."

The same subsection says the duty exists "whether or not the city has indicated to the property owner" that repair is required. It also makes the abutting owner solely liable for injuries caused by the sidewalk's defective condition.

HOAs. In single-family zoning, an HOA is solely responsible for the sidewalks when a formal development plan, a maintenance agreement, or a platted document assigns them to it. The code also makes HOAs responsible for sidewalks along common areas, and along streets where the homes do not abut the right-of-way. Where no such document exists, the code says "the property owner is solely responsible" for the repair, maintenance, replacement and reconstruction of the sidewalk.

Cost share. For owner-occupied single-family homes, the code has the city pay 50 percent on request and approval. The city's program page says owners who meet low-to-moderate income criteria may be eligible for a 75/25 split, with the owner paying 25 percent. In its answer about a Code Compliance notice, it also says that for a rental or commercial property, "it is the owner's responsibility to fully replace the sidewalk in question."

The first step is an inspection request, by calling 214.509.4500 or through MyAllen. An owner who does not qualify for a cost share may hire a contractor. The contractor must first get a right-of-way permit from the Engineering Department (214.509.4583), and utility lines must be marked before work starts.

If nothing is done. If an owner or HOA does not repair a sidewalk it is responsible for, and code compliance finds it a nuisance, the code lets the city start abatement, bill the owner or HOA, and place a lien. A violation is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $2,000, and each day is a separate offense.

Frisco: the city repairs what meets its criteria

Frisco's Streets Division page says:

"The City of Frisco Streets Division is responsible for the repair and maintenance of streets, sidewalks and alleys."

Its minimum repair criteria are:

• a trip hazard of 1 inch or more;
• a sidewalk at the back of the curb that has separated from the top of the curb by 1 inch or more;
• sunken panels that hold water for at least 48 hours with no more water added.

The city addresses structural problems only. Surface spalling (chipping) and other cosmetic problems do not qualify. For a request that does qualify, the city chooses among full panel replacement, foam injection to raise the panel, and cutting the concrete to remove the trip hazard. The three-method comparison explains how those methods differ, and the mudjacking vs. polyurethane foam lifting guide compares foam injection with cement-grout mudjacking.

The city's FAQ adds one limit that matters to owners: "The lead walk from the back of the curb to the resident's front door is the responsibility of the property owner."

To ask for an evaluation, use the myFRISCO app. Frisco's FAQ also gives Public Works at 972-292-5800 as the contact for sidewalk repairs.

Plano: report it, then ask who pays

Plano's Public Works page sends residents to Fix It Plano to "report concerns regarding streets, traffic, sidewalks, signs and more using the Fix it Plano app." Fix It Plano takes requests on its web page and in its app, for non-emergencies only.

Chapter 19 of Plano's code, Streets and Sidewalks, defines a sidewalk as the paved area in the street right-of-way between the curb, or the edge of the pavement, and the property line. Its Article II, Design and Construction, which sets the sidewalk standards, requires a city permit before construction under that article, applied for by a contractor registered with the chief building official.

We searched all 44 sections of Chapter 19 that are in force (the other section numbers are reserved) for a sentence that says who maintains, repairs, or is responsible for a sidewalk, and found none. That was a search, not a line-by-line reading, and we did not search the rest of Plano's code, so this page does not say Plano has no such rule. Ask the city.

McKinney: report it, then ask who pays

McKinney's Street Maintenance page lists "Sidewalk damage / trip hazard" among the conditions to report, using the city's online form or by calling 972-547-7360. The page does not say who pays for the repair. This page does not cite McKinney's code, so ask the city.

Private walkways are a separate question

All of the above is about the sidewalk along the street. This site is about walkways that a private party maintains, such as paths through an apartment community, HOA common areas, and retail frontages. Where the street sidewalk ends and a private walkway begins is not always obvious, so find out which kind you have before you report it or ask for a quote. The service areas page explains how this site handles the four cities. When a private walkway needs work, the guide to commercial sidewalk repair costs explains why two similar problems can be quoted differently and how to compare quotes that include different things.

What to do next

1. Find out who maintains it. Use the table above, then confirm with the city for your address.
2. If the city repairs it, report it through the route in the table.
3. If it is yours to repair, check what the city requires first. Allen requires a right-of-way permit for privately hired work at the street. Plano's Chapter 19 requires a permit before construction under its sidewalk standards.
4. Pick a method. See sidewalk grinding, concrete leveling, and sidewalk replacement.
5. Prepare the inquiry. The assessment preparation guide lists what to gather. For several properties, see commercial walkway assessments.

To ask about a privately maintained walkway in Plano, Allen, McKinney, or Frisco, describe it on the contact page. The operator reviews every inquiry and replies with the next step. Sending the form is not a booking.