# Sidewalk Repair in Des Moines, IA: Who Pays? | Who Pays the Repair?

> In Des Moines the owner repairs the sidewalk within 180 days of a notice; income-eligible owners can apply for a City subsidy.

**Who pays:** owner

Des Moines: the abutting owner must keep the sidewalk in good repair (Code 102-42). After a repair notice the owner has 180 days, and income-eligible owners can apply for a City subsidy.

**Boundary:** Des Moines Code Sec. 102-42 puts sidewalk maintenance and repair on the abutting owner, who may be liable for damages if it is not kept in good repair. Iowa Code 364.12 separately sets the city's own duty to keep sidewalks in repair.

**Property owner:** Des Moines Code Sec. 102-42: "The owner of any property abutting a public sidewalk shall maintain the sidewalk in a safe condition, in a state of good repair, and free from defects."

**City / agency:** Iowa Code 364.12: "A city shall keep all public grounds, streets, sidewalks, alleys ... open, in repair, and free from nuisance"

**Exceptions:** After a notice that the sidewalk is defective, the owner has 180 days to repair it.

## Sources
- [364.12 Responsibility for public places.](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/364.12.pdf) — "A city shall keep all public grounds, streets, sidewalks, alleys, bridges, culverts, overpasses, underpasses, grade crossing separations and approaches, public ways, squares, and commons open, in repair, and free from nuisance" (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sec. 102-42. - Maintenance.](https://library.municode.com/ia/des_moines/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH102STSISKOTPUPL_ARTIISI_DIV1GE_S102-42MA) — "The owner of any property abutting a public sidewalk shall maintain the sidewalk in a safe condition, in a state of good repair, and free from defects. The abutting property owner may be liable for damages caused by failure to maintain the sidewalk." (accessed 2026-09-27)
- [Sidewalk Maintenance](https://www.dsm.city/departments/development_services/permit_development_center/residential/sidewalk_maintenance.php) — "Income-eligible property owners may apply for subsidy assistance. If approved within 30 days from the date of the notice to reconstruct the sidewalk, the city will arrange to have the sidewalk replaced." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalk Maintenance](https://www.dsm.city/departments/development_services/permit_development_center/residential/sidewalk_maintenance.php) — "It is state law that any property owner abutting a public sidewalk shall maintain the sidewalk safely. If a property owner is notified that their sidewalk is defective, the owner has 180 days to make repairs." (accessed 2026-10-03)
- [Sidewalk Maintenance](https://www.dsm.city/departments/development_services/permit_development_center/residential/sidewalk_maintenance.php) — "A permit costs $40.00 and is available in the city’s Permit and Development Center in City Hall at 1200 Locust Street." (accessed 2026-10-03)

_Last verified 2026-10-03. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/des-moines-ia-sidewalk-repair/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._