Curb repair & replacement in Philadelphia

Is the curb mine?

Usually, yes. Philadelphia Code § 11-505 says sidewalks along public streets must be “graded, curbed, paved and kept in repair” at the owner’s expense, and that the owner of the adjacent property “shall keep the curb in repair.” There are exceptions. When the City repaves a street and decides curb or sidewalk replacement is necessary for that street project, the Code says that replacement is at the City’s expense.

The City’s curb standard

From the Streets Department’s Right-of-Way Improvement Standards:

• Concrete and granite are the preferred curb materials
• Standard curb sections are 18 inches deep, and a 16-inch-wide double section is used on narrow streets
• Curb reveal (the height above the gutter) of 4 inches minimum and 8 inches maximum, with 6 inches preferred
• A 6-by-14-inch bed of PennDOT 2A stone under the curb, and granite joints set into concrete chairs

A low curb lets water run onto the sidewalk and toward your house. A contractor resetting it will need lines and grades from the district surveyor.

Who is allowed to do the work

Work on a sidewalk or curb in the public right-of-way isn’t a handyman job in Philadelphia. The City’s rules say:

• Curb Setter License. L&I requires this license “to do work on curbs and sidewalks in the right-of-way.” It is renewed every year and comes with a $1,000 performance bond.
• Curb and Footway Permit. The City’s Development Checklist says this permit is required for “any alteration, reconstruction, or repair of sidewalks in the City of Philadelphia.” The application must come from a contractor with a valid Curb Setter License and include a plot plan.
• Lines and grades. Code § 11-505 requires the contractor to get the lines and grades from the district surveyor before starting. Jobs with 30 feet of curb or more also need the district survey office.

Ask any contractor for their Curb Setter License and proof of insurance before you sign. Under § 11-505, the Streets Department can tear out a sidewalk or curb that was built to the wrong specifications and file a lien for the cost of redoing it.

Corner properties and curb ramps

Under § 11-505, Streets regulations can require owners of properties at intersections to build ADA-compliant curb ramps, and the City can charge fees to install those ramps itself instead. The Streets Department’s maintenance page also has a way to request an ADA curb ramp. If you own a corner and a ramp is involved, ask the Highway District what applies before work starts.

What it costs

We haven’t found a reliable published Philadelphia price for curb work by the foot, so we won’t guess. Ask for curb as its own line on the quote, priced per linear foot, separate from the sidewalk. Sidewalk cost guide.