The Importance of Sidewalks

Sidewalks are a vital part of West Des Moines. They provide a safe place for residents to walk and jog away from traffic. To keep our community safe and walkable, the City has a Sidewalk Program to ensure all public walkways are in good repair.

As a property owner, it is your responsibility to help maintain the city by keeping your sidewalks safe and clear of defects.

The City Sidewalk Program

Our annual program helps us find where sidewalks need to be fixed or where new ones need to be built. Here is how the process works:

  • Annual Inspections: We inspect a different area of the City each year. You can view the Sidewalk Inspection Schedule (PDF) to see when your area is up for review.
  • Notices: If we find a problem with your sidewalk, we will send a notice to the property owner.
  • Repairs: Residents are encouraged to fix sidewalk defects on their own.
  • City Assistance: If repairs are not finished within the given time, the City will fix the sidewalk and send the property owner an invoice for the work.
  • Property Taxes: If an invoice is not paid within 30 days, the cost will be added to the property’s taxes through the County Auditor.

Resources & Policy

Use the links below to learn more about sidewalk safety and what counts as a defect:

Questions? Contact Community Compliance at 515-222-3480. We thank you for helping make West Des Moines a great place to live!