Duty of Property Owner
It is the responsibility of the abutting property owner to remove snow, ice, and accumulations from the sidewalks within 24 hours after the cessation of the weather event or other cause of the accumulation.
Failure of Property Owner
Any owner who shall, for a period of 24 hours after the cessation of the storm or cause of accumulation, permit snow, ice, or accumulation to remain upon the adjoining and abutting sidewalks, is guilty of a municipal infraction punishable by civil penalty. A penalty will not be assessed until 12 hours after the City of Waukee shall have given a warning to the party responsible to remove such accumulation.
Added Safety Measures
When ice has so formed upon any sidewalk that it cannot be removed, the owner, occupant or person in charge of abutting property shall keep such ice sprinkled with salt, ashes, sawdust, or sand in such manner as to prevent such sidewalk from being dangerous to persons using the same.
Note that if you have new concrete, choosing alternatives to salt can help keep your sidewalk in good condition. Also consider water quality when selecting material to use on icy sidewalks. The handy graphics below offer helpful tips.
Dumping of Snow
It is unlawful for any persons to remove snow, ice, and accumulations from private premises and to deposit the same upon any public highway, street, avenue, alley, sidewalk, public square, and commons within the City.
Assessing Costs for City Removal
Should snow, ice, or accumulations be permitted to remain upon any sidewalk for a period of ten (10) daylight hours after the cessation of the storm or cause of accumulation, after affording reasonable notice, the city manager may, in his discretion, cause the same to be removed and the actual cost of the removal assessed against the property in accordance with Iowa Law.
(Waukee Municipal Code Section 136.03)
