Who is responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house in Denver?

In Denver, the city now repairs and builds sidewalks itself, paid for by the citywide sidewalk fee (about $150 a year for most homes in 2026, billed with the stormwater bill). Repairs are scheduled area by area rather than on request, and a report to 311 is how a broken sidewalk gets on the list. Owners still clear the snow, and concrete work in the right-of-way, such as a new driveway apron or curb cut, needs a city right-of-way permit pulled by a licensed contractor. Other cities have their own rules, and we check yours.

Do concrete steps need a handrail?

Under the residential code most Front Range cities use, a stair with four or more risers needs a handrail. Steps also need uniform risers, no more than 7¾ inches tall, with treads at least 10 inches deep. We build to the code your city enforces.

Can you replace only the panels that are trip hazards?

Yes. Raised or broken panels are cut out to the nearest joints and replaced on a fresh base, which costs far less than a whole new walk. If many panels have moved, replacing the run is often the better value.

How do you keep a walk from icing over?

With slope and texture. A walk is built with a slight cross-slope so meltwater runs off instead of freezing on the surface, and a broom finish gives traction. Shaded north-facing walks benefit most from both.

Walkways in Denver and the Front Range

Concrete Walkways

Safer paths, cleaner lines.

Walks and sidewalks are where trip hazards live: lifted panels, crumbling edges, steps that don’t match. We replace them with properly graded, properly jointed paths that stay level and shed water and ice instead of holding it.

Typical price$8–$12 / sq ftinstalled · free written estimate

(720) 459-9091

How we build a walkway

What we build

Concrete Walkways, start to finish

Front walks and side-yard paths
Public sidewalk replacement
Concrete steps and landings
Trip-hazard panel replacement
Borders and decorative finishes

Key considerations

What goes into it

01Cross-slope for drainage and ice
02Step rise and run that meet code
03Clearance for tree roots
04Right-of-way permits where required
05Slip-resistant broom texture

Good concrete starts long before the truck arrives. Our experienced team knows what to look for, what questions to ask, and which details can make the difference years down the road.

What's under the surface

A driveway built for the Front Range, in cross-section

Not to scale · slope exaggerated

1Front Range clay swells when it's wet and shrinks when it dries, moving whatever sits on top of it.

2Soft soil comes out and compacted road base goes in, so the slab sits on something that stays put.

3Rebar on chairs at mid-depth keeps any cracks that do form tight and level.

4An air-entrained mix survives freeze-thaw, and control joints decide where the slab cracks.

5The slab slopes away from the house, with an isolation joint where it meets the foundation.

How it runs

Estimate to final walkthrough

1On-site estimate and permit check
2Written scope with a clear price
3Removal, base and forms
4Pour, finish, cure and final walkthrough

Finish options

Straightforward or decorative

Broom finish

Fine ridges for traction on snow and ice. The standard for driveways and walks.

Exposed aggregate

The top layer washed back to show the stone. Grippy and good at hiding wear.

Stamped

Patterned to look like stone, slate or brick, at a fraction of the cost.

Integral color

Color mixed through the concrete, so chips and wear don’t show grey.

Smooth trowel

Dense and flat for garage floors, shops and courts.

Sealed

A penetrating sealer before the first winter to resist water and de-icer.

Where you live changes the job

A walkway on bentonite clay is a different job than one on river sand

The Front Range has four distinct ground conditions, and each one changes how we prepare the base, reinforce the slab and handle water. Your community page has the specifics.

Expansive clay plains

Remove the soft and organic soil, bring in compacted road base, set rebar on chairs, and plan joints and slope so water runs away from the house instead of soaking the clay beside it.

Denver Aurora Centennial Highlands Ranch

Foothills and tilted bedrock

Deeper excavation and a thicker compacted base, reinforcement sized for uneven support, and drainage that intercepts runoff above the slab, often paired with a retaining wall where the grade demands it.

Lakewood Boulder Golden Morrison

River sand and gravel

Compaction done in lifts, geotextile fabric where the native soil is soft, and a thicker section anywhere a truck, trailer or RV will park.

Longmont Commerce City Wheat Ridge Brighton

Palmer Divide uplands

Air-entrained exterior mix, proper curing, a penetrating sealer before the first winter, and a broom texture for traction on sloped driveways.

Parker Castle Rock Castle Pines Elizabeth

Questions about walkways

Concrete Walkways: what people ask us

A new walk or sidewalk usually runs $8–$12 per square foot installed, and removing and replacing an old one $10–$16, more for short runs, curves and borders. Concrete steps run about $250–$600 per step, and most front-entry step jobs land between $1,500 and $5,000.

Typical prices for every kind of project are in the Denver concrete cost guide, and general questions are on the FAQ page.

More ways to improve your property

Explore our concrete services

Concrete DrivewaysA better driveway starts from the ground up.Concrete PatiosAn outdoor room you’ll actually use.Concrete FloorsGarage, shop and basement floors that hold up.Pads & SlabsSmaller project, big peace of mind.Athletic CourtsA court in the backyard, built to play on.Pool DecksSafe when wet, cooler underfoot.Retaining WallsHold the grade. Give the water a way out.

Get a clear price on your walkway.

You'll know, without question, what your project involves, what it costs, and what to expect before work begins.