Sidewalk Trip Hazards: What Every Property Owner Should Know

ADA and most municipal codes consider any vertical difference greater than ¼ to ½ inch on a pedestrian walkway a trip hazard. For commercial property owners and landlords, that becomes a liability question — especially in Spokane's wet season when even minor differences become slippery. Our guide on how to spot trip hazards around your Spokane home walks through what to look for on a walk-around.

The two fast fixes are grinding (removing the raised edge) and sidewalk leveling (raising the low side back to match). Grinding is quick and cheap but leaves a rough, faded surface. Lifting restores the original grade and appearance and, more importantly, addresses the underlying cause — a voided or settled sub-base. For multi-unit sites and businesses, our commercial concrete leveling crews handle full walkway systems; the maintenance playbook is covered in commercial sidewalk and walkway maintenance for Spokane businesses.

For any commercial walkway, document the fix. A photo before, a photo after, and a copy of the written warranty is often what your insurance carrier will ask for. Property owners across Spokane and nearby communities can request a free trip-hazard assessment before a claim ever gets filed.