Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules in West Des Moines, IA (2026)
3 verified sidewalk & pedestrian rules for West Des Moines, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Sidewalk Repair
In West Des Moines, the abutting property owner, not the City, is responsible for maintaining any public sidewalk outside the lot line and inside the curb line in a safe, hazard-free condition under City Code section 7-1-6. If the owner fails to repair a defective sidewalk after certified-mail notice, the City can do the work itself and assess the cost against the property.
West Des Moines Sidewalk Repair Duty
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 7-1-6
7-1-6: MAINTENANCE OF PARKING TERRACE AND SIDEWALKS: ... ... C. Responsibility For Sidewalk Maintenance: It shall be the responsibility of the abutting property owners to maintain in a safe and hazard free condition any sidewalk outside the lot and property lines and inside the curb lines or travelled portion of the public street. ... ... E. City May Order Repairs: If the abutting property owne...
Obstruction Rules
West Des Moines City Code section 7-1-1(B) makes it unlawful to place any obstruction, from awnings and signs to lumber, debris, or merchandise, on a public street or sidewalk, unless the material is there only for immediate transfer or for repair, or an exception applies elsewhere in the chapter. Violating the rule is a municipal infraction under section 7-1-11.
West Des Moines Bans Sidewalk Obstructions
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 7-1-1(B), 7-1-11
7-1-1: USE OF PUBLIC WAYS RESTRICTED: ... B. Obstruction Of Public Ways: It shall be unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed over, into or upon any of the public streets and sidewalks of the City any obstruction whatsoever, including any building, fence, structure, projection, awnings, canopies, marquees, signs, flags, lumber, timber, brick, stone or other material, coal, wood, g...
Encroachment Permits
In the City of West Des Moines, a business owner in the Valley Junction Historic Business District needs a sidewalk encroachment permit before displaying goods, placing tables and chairs, or projecting signs onto the public sidewalk. The City Clerk's Office issues the annual permit under City Code section 7-1-1(C).
West Des Moines Sidewalk Encroachment Permit
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 7-1-1(C)(2)
2. Display Of Goods: Any proprietor of an establishment in the Valley Junction Historic Business (VJHB) District may apply for an annual sidewalk encroachment permit to use a maximum of three feet (3') in width of the public sidewalk next to and in front of his/her building or business for the purpose of displaying samples of goods kept by him/her for sale, provided that the sidewalk is not les...