Sidewalk information from Town website


For additional information, please go to www.flower-mound.com, find the "Code of Ordinances" link (you would then search on the site for "sidewalk." The information presented below was accurate at date of page creation and should not be considered the "authoritative" source when determining whether or not your sidewalk needs repair or replacement, rather, as a starting point.

Sec. 58-34. Responsibility for construction and repair; repair program of defective sidewalks.
(a) All sidewalks in the town shall be constructed, reconstructed, and kept in good repair by the owners of property fronting upon the sidewalks, at their own expense. If any portion of a sidewalk is defective and does not meet the town's standards, the director may require that the owner of the sidewalk or property adjacent to the sidewalk repair or replace the non-complying portion to bring it into conformity with town standards.
(b) Any defective sidewalk or portions thereof shall be reconstructed or replaced:
1. Where any vertical displacement of the adjoining sidewalk section exceeds two inches;
2. Where any lateral separation of adjoining sidewalk exceeds two and one-half inches;
3. Where the surface condition of the sidewalk has deteriorated, cracked, settled, chipped, and/or is spalling, so as to create or constitute a hazard or unsafe condition to the public; or
4. Where the transverse slope of the sidewalk exceeds eight percent or in which the combination of transverse or longitudinal slope is insufficient for adequate drainage of the sidewalk. Inadequate drainage would include the ponding of more than one-half inch of water in small areas for a period of time after the end of a rain event.
(c) Repair program.
1. If the director determines that a sidewalk is defective and does not conform to town standards, the director shall notify the property owner of the duty to repair or replace and that such owner has 30 days from the date of the notice to commence such repair or replacement and has 60 days from the date of notice to complete such repair or replacement. The director may alter the time limit upon good cause shown by the owner. Notice shall be made by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address of the known owner of the property on the records of the current town tax roll or hand-delivered to the owner of the property.
2. The director may include in the notice, as an alternative, an agreement whereby the town will make the repairs and the owner will pay to the town the amount specified in the agreement within 12 months of completion of the repairs. The agreement shall include an interest rate equal to the rate payable by the town on its most recently issued general obligation bonds.
3. The director may include in the notice to a homeowner's association or commercial property owner that owns, controls, or maintains a sidewalk, as an alternative, an agreement whereby the town will make the repairs and the homeowner's association or commercial property owner will pay to the town the town's costs to make such repairs. The amount to be paid by the homeowner's association or commercial property owner will be the town's estimate of the needed repairs, and payment will be made by the homeowner's association or commercial property owner prior to the town's beginning any work to make the repairs.
(d) When a sidewalk adjacent to common area dedicated to a homeowner's association is found to be defective, it shall be the duty of the homeowner's association to abate said deficiency by grading, reconstructing, or repairing the sidewalk, as provided in this article, and nothing in this article will be deemed to contradict or conflict with either sections 90-181 through 90-186 of the Code of Ordinances of the town, as amended, or any provision in the homeowner's association declarations, covenants, and restrictions filed with county deed records.

(e) When a sidewalk adjacent to commercial property is found to be defective, it shall be the duty of the owner of the commercial property to abate said deficiency by grading, reconstructing, or repairing the sidewalk.

(f) The town shall maintain the following:
1. All trails designated as part of the town's trial [trail] system and trails not adjacent to or part of commercial development.
2. Sidewalks along arterial and collector roadways abutting a single-family residential structure.
3. Handicap ramps located on a public street.

(Ord. No. 43-03, §§ 1, 2, 8-4-2003; Ord. No. 62-03, § 2, 10-6-2003)