Sidewalk Trip Hazards: What Every Property Owner Should Know
A ½-inch vertical difference is enough to be a legal trip hazard in most Spokane-area jurisdictions. Here's how to identify, prioritize and fix them.
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.
The two fast fixes are grinding (removing the raised edge) and lifting (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 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.
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