West Des Moines, IA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting office
- City Clerk's Office
- Applies in
- Valley Junction Historic Business District
- Max display width
- 3 feet from building
- Required clearance
- 5 feet unobstructed sidewalk
- Permit term
- Annual, City Council fee
- Required filings
- Insurance + hold harmless agreement
Summary
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).
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 less than eight feet (8') in width and a minimum of five feet (5') of unobstructed public sidewalk is maintained for the free passage of pedestrian traffic on the public sidewalk. ... An annual permit and fee for encroachment into the public- right-of-way for the use of the public sidewalk area shall be submitted on a form furnished by the City and obtained through the City Clerk's Office. Proof of insurance, along with a hold harmless and indemnification agreement to the benefit of the City on a form furnished by the City in accordance with subsection C6 of this section and obtained through the City Clerk's Office, shall also be provided in conjunction with the permit application.
Full Breakdown
City Code section 7-1-1(C) restricts commercial use of public sidewalks citywide but carves out the Valley Junction Historic Business District, where a proprietor may apply for an annual sidewalk encroachment permit to display goods within three feet of the building front. The sidewalk must be at least eight feet wide, and five feet of unobstructed clearance must remain for pedestrians; the City can require more clearance if safety warrants it. The same permit track covers tables, chairs, planters and benches placed between the property line and the curb, and permanent or temporary signs that project over the right-of-way.
Every applicant submits a form through the City Clerk's Office, pays a non-refundable annual fee set by City Council resolution, and files proof of insurance plus a hold harmless and indemnification agreement naming the City. Furniture must be removed or securely stacked within thirty minutes of closing each night, and it cannot be bolted to the sidewalk or public fixtures without written City approval; the proprietor answers for any damage the items cause. Violations of chapter 7-1 are enforced as a municipal infraction under subsection 1-4-1B rather than a criminal charge, and the City can revoke a permit for noncompliance with these conditions.
Violations & Fines
Placing goods, furniture, or signage on a Valley Junction sidewalk without a current encroachment permit, exceeding the permitted footprint, or failing to keep the required five-foot pedestrian clearance is a municipal infraction under City Code subsection 1-4-1B, enforced by Development Services. The City can also revoke the permit itself for repeated noncompliance, and the permit holder remains liable for any damage the encroaching furniture or fixtures cause to public property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any West Des Moines business get a sidewalk encroachment permit?
What happens if furniture is left out after closing?
What does the permit application require?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Des Moines
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