Sidewalk repair and trip hazards
A panel that heaved over the winter or sank after the thaw is a trip hazard. Here's what to know before you fix it.
Sidewalk panels move for the same reasons other slabs do: frost under the concrete, water washing out the base, tree roots, and fill that settles. The result is usually a raised edge at a joint, a panel that tips toward the street, or a low spot that holds water and then ice.
Is the public sidewalk my responsibility?
For snow and ice, yes. The City of St. Cloud requires owners to clear the full width of the sidewalk along every side of their property within 24 hours after a snowfall. For repairs to the walk itself, rules vary by city and situation, so call your city before you assume either way. In St. Cloud that's the City Engineer at 320-255-7249.
Do I need a permit?
For new work in St. Cloud's right-of-way, yes. The city requires a permit to install a driveway approach, sidewalk or curb and gutter in the public right-of-way. Homeowners can't take out that permit. It's issued only to a contractor licensed by the State of Minnesota as a residential building contractor or holding a St. Cloud commercial contractor license, and the work has to follow the city's standard detail plates. The city lists no fee for it. If you're only lifting existing panels rather than replacing them, ask the City Engineer whether a permit applies to your job.
Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park are separate cities with their own processes. Check with yours before work in the right-of-way starts.
Lift it or replace it?
A panel that sank or tipped but is still one solid piece can often be lifted flush with its neighbors in a short visit. Panels broken into pieces, pushed up by a big root, or crumbling on top usually need to come out and be repoured. Replacement in the right-of-way means the permit and licensing rules above apply.
Worth fixing at the same visit
- The walk from the sidewalk to your front door
- Joints and cracks that let meltwater under the panels
- The driveway approach where it crosses the sidewalk
Pricing is set by the contractor after an on-site look, once they know how big the void is and what caused it. We don't quote prices, and a number given over the phone before anyone has seen the slab is only a ballpark.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can I pull the St. Cloud right-of-way permit myself?
No. The city says homeowners can't take out the driveway, sidewalk and curb permit. It's issued only to a contractor with a Minnesota residential building contractor license or a St. Cloud commercial contractor license.
How fast do I have to clear snow off my sidewalk?
In St. Cloud, within 24 hours after the snowfall ends, across the full width of the sidewalk along every side of your property.
Related services
- Concrete leveling (mudjacking and foam)
- Driveway and garage apron repair
- Steps, stoops and patios
- Joint sealing and crack repair
More background: St. Cloud concrete repair guide.
Slab dropped over the winter? Walk turned into a trip hazard?
Call and a local concrete contractor will come look at it and quote the fix.