73 Pa.C.S. Ch. 59

in effect

73 Pa.C.S. § 5901 Power to lay out and establish grades.

Townships may, by ordinance, lay out and establish sidewalks, curbs, gutters and surface water drains along any street and, with the consent of the Secretary of Transportation, along any State highway, and, with the consent of the county commissioners, along any county road. Townships may establish grades for the sidewalks, which may be separate and apart from the grade established for the street or highway. For the purposes of this section, a township may acquire land by purchase, gift or the right of eminent domain.

73 Pa.C.S. § 5902 Width.

The width of a sidewalk shall be fixed by the board of commissioners either by ordinance or resolution.

73 Pa.C.S. § 5903 Paving and curbing sidewalks.

(a) General rule.--Townships may, upon notice as provided by ordinance, require owners of property abutting on a street, including State highways and county roads, to construct, grade, pave, curb, repave and recurb the sidewalks along the property under regulations and specifications prescribed by ordinance. All reconstruction, repaving and recurbing may be provided for in the ordinance providing for the original construction, paving and curbing, without the necessity for adopting a new ordinance providing for the reconstruction, repaving and recurbing. (b) Failure to comply.--Upon the failure of a property owner to comply with the notice under subsection (a), a township may cause the construction, grading, paving, curbing, repaving and recurbing to be done by the township itself or by contract, and to levy and collect the cost of the work from the property owner abutting the sidewalk. (c) Cost.--The cost of any work incurred by the township under subsection (b) may be levied against and collected from the owner who failed to complete the work after notice to do so, together with a penalty of 10% of the costs and all charges and expenses. The costs, penalties, charges and expenses provided for shall be a lien upon the property for which the notice to do the work was given. The lien shall exist from the time of the commencement of the work, which date shall be fixed by the township engineer and certified to the township secretary in accordance with section 3504 (relating to certificate of commencement and of completion of municipal improvements). A lien may be collected by action in assumpsit or by lien filed in the manner provided by law for the filing and collection of municipal claims, or the cost of any construction, grading, paving, curbing, repaving and recurbing may be borne in whole or in part by the township. If the township pays in part, the remaining cost shall be collected as provided by this section. (d) Notice.-- (1) Each notice shall be served upon the owner of the premises to which the notice refers, if the owner is a resident of the township. If the owner is not a resident, the notice may be served upon the agent or tenant of the owner or upon the occupant of the premises. If the owner has no agent or tenant or there is no occupier of the premises, service shall be by notice posted upon the premises. (2) The notice required by this section shall specify a period of time of not less than 60 days for the owner to complete the specified work. If the work has not been completed after the specified time has elapsed, the owner shall be deemed to have failed to comply. Cross References. Section 5903 is referred to in sections 5904, 5905 of this title.

73 Pa.C.S. § 5904 Repair of sidewalks.

(a) General rule.--The owners of property abutting any street, including State highways and county roads, shall keep the sidewalk, together with any portion of the property paved along such a street and used as a sidewalk or public walk, in good order and repair, and, at all times, free and clear of all obstruction to safe and convenient passage. (b) Failure to comply.--If the property owner neglects to perform the duty imposed in subsection (a), the board of commissioners may serve written notice upon the property owner under section 5903(d)(1) (relating to paving and curbing sidewalks) to do what is necessary. If the property owner fails to comply with the requirements of the notice within 30 days from the date of service, the township may make the necessary repairs or remove any obstruction. The cost of the work, together with a penalty of 10%, shall be paid by the delinquent property owner and may be collected by action of assumpsit, or the township may file a municipal lien against the property.

73 Pa.C.S. § 5905 Emergency repairs.

(a) General rule.--A township may make emergency repairs to sidewalks within the township's corporate limits if an officer or designated individual representing the department or committee in charge of repairs to sidewalks upon inspection determines that a substantial and immediate danger exists to public health, safety and welfare. (b) Report.--The officer or individual shall prepare a written report of the conditions which shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of the emergency justifying the repair. (c) Intent.--This section is intended to provide an additional remedy for townships in connection with emergency repairs of sidewalks. (d) Service.-- (1) A copy of the written report shall be served upon the abutting property owner, along with a notice to make emergency repairs to the sidewalk within 48 hours of service of the notice and report. (2) The notice and copy of the report shall be served under section 5903(d)(1) (relating to paving and curbing sidewalks). (3) The report shall expressly state that emergency repairs are required. (4) If the owner fails to make the emergency repairs within the prescribed time, the township may make the emergency repairs to the sidewalk. (e) Cost.--Upon the completion of emergency repairs, the cost of the repairs shall be a charge against the owner of the abutting property and shall be a lien, until paid, upon the abutting property, provided that a claim is filed for the lien in accordance with the law providing for the filing and collection of municipal claims. (f) Collection.--The amount of the claim against the owner of the abutting property may also be collected from the owner by an action in assumpsit.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=73Fetched: 10/16/2026