Being a homeowner can come along with some unexpected expenses. And while fixing a broken HVAC system or having to invest in updating your appliances when they finally give out may be something that’s already on your radar, many people don’t expect to have to foot the bill for a new sidewalk… especially if the reason they need a new sidewalk is that the city tore it up.
But that’s what a Pine Bluff, Arkansas homeowner says happened to him after a tree fell during a storm. When the city came out to remove the tree, he claims that they also tore up the sidewalk in front of his home.
Now, he tells local CBS News station THV11 that the city wants him to foot the bill for the repairs, which he doesn’t believe should be his responsibility.
Here’s what we know.
An Arkansas Man Says He’s Forced to Repair Damage Caused by the City
Mark Shugart told reporters how a tree fell in his yard one Saturday in June. The branches of the tree stretched into the street, and city crews came by to push the tree out of the way so cars could get by. Then, once Monday rolled around, the crew came back with heavy machinery to take care of what was left, which is when Shugart says the destruction happened.
“The bucket truck or whatever truck they used scraped all this and lifted the [sidewalk] up,” Shugart told the reporter, adding that the curb and stairs were also damaged in the process.
“They keep telling me it’s my responsibility; they’re not liable,” Shugart continued. “They told me before I try to repair it or put a new sidewalk in, I need to get permits even though they’re the ones that caused the problem.”
However, the city denies workers were responsible for the sidewalk damage, and instead claims it was already torn up when they arrived.
Who Is Responsible for the Sidewalk in Front of Your Home?
While Shugart’s issue seems to be more about the city repairing the damage he says they caused, when it comes to the sidewalk in front of a person’s home, it’s usually the homeowner’s responsibility.
According to a Reddit thread about this question, different municipalities will have different rules about who is responsible for the area in front of your house, which includes guidelines on shoveling snow, mowing the grass, and, of course, sidewalk repair.
For now, it seems like Shugart has got a long road ahead of him while he fights with the city to get them to cover the cost of the damage he alleges they caused.