Draft chapter 136: Sidewalk Regulations
§ 136.02 Definitions
The 2026 draft's § 136.02 beside the current code's § 136.02: removed words are struck through, added words underlined.
Comparison with a draft: not adopted. The archive holds no public hearing, ordinance or vote adopting the recodified Code through the October 20, 2026 meeting packet. Until one is adopted, every page here compares the consolidated code with a draft that can still change: the revised draft with the October 6 changes is not in the archive.
A comparison with the August 2026 draft recodification prepared by Iowa Codification for the City. The draft has not been adopted and can still change; the current code (unofficial compilation) governs until a recodified Code is adopted. Matches between sections are made by machine from the texts and are reviewed where uncertain.
Wording changed minor wording (99% same words)
What changed
1. “Broom finish” means a sidewalk finish that is made by sweeping the sidewalk when it is hardening.
2. “Defective sidewalk” means any public sidewalk exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics:
A. Vertical separations equal to three-fourths
B. Horizontal separations equal to one
C. Holes or depressions equal to three-fourths
D. Spalling over
E. Spalling over less than
F. A single square of sidewalk cracked in such a manner that no part thereof has a piece greater than one square foot.
G. A sidewalk with any part thereof missing to the full depth.
H. A change from the design or construction grade equal to or greater than three-fourths
3. “Established grade” means that grade established by the City for the particular area in which a sidewalk is to be constructed.
4. “One-course construction” means that the full thickness of the concrete is placed at one time, using the same mixture throughout.
5. “Owner” means the person owning the fee title to property abutting any sidewalk and includes any contract purchaser for purposes of notification required herein. For all other purposes, “owner” includes the lessee, if any.
6. “Portland cement” means any type of cement except bituminous cement.
7. “Sidewalk” means all permanent public walks in business, residential or suburban areas.
8. “Sidewalk improvements” means the construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement, or
9. “Wood float finish” means a sidewalk finish that is made by smoothing the surface of the sidewalk with a wooden trowel.
Word-level comparison of the current text with the draft's; spacing and paragraph breaks come from the documents' text. Footnotes are left out.
Current code
§ 136.02 Definitions
For use in this chapter the following terms are defined:
1. “Broom finish” means a sidewalk finish that is made by sweeping the sidewalk when it is hardening.
2. “Defective sidewalk” means any public sidewalk exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics:
A. Vertical separations equal to three-fourths (¾) inch or more.
B. Horizontal separations equal to one (1) inch or more.
C. Holes or depressions equal to three-fourths (¾) inch or more and at least four (4) inches in diameter.
D. Spalling over fifty percent (50%) of a single square of the sidewalk with one or more depressions equal to one-half (½) inch or more.
E. Spalling over less than fifty percent (50%) of a single square of the sidewalk with one or more depressions equal to three-fourths (¾) inch or more.
F. A single square of sidewalk cracked in such a manner that no part thereof has a piece greater than one square foot.
G. A sidewalk with any part thereof missing to the full depth.
H. A change from the design or construction grade equal to or greater than three-fourths (¾) inch per foot.
3. “Established grade” means that grade established by the City for the particular area in which a sidewalk is to be constructed.
4. “One-course construction” means that the full thickness of the concrete is placed at one time, using the same mixture throughout.
5. “Owner” means the person owning the fee title to property abutting any sidewalk and includes any contract purchaser for purposes of notification required herein. For all other purposes, “owner” includes the lessee, if any.
6. “Portland cement” means any type of cement except bituminous cement.
7. “Sidewalk” means all permanent public walks in business, residential or suburban areas.
8. “Sidewalk improvements” means the construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement, or removal, of a public sidewalk and/or the excavating, filling or depositing of material in the public right-of-way in connection therewith.
9. “Wood float finish” means a sidewalk finish that is made by smoothing the surface of the sidewalk with a wooden trowel.
2026 draft
§ 136.02 Definitions
For use in this chapter the following terms are defined:
1. “Broom finish” means a sidewalk finish that is made by sweeping the sidewalk when it is hardening.
2. “Defective sidewalk” means any public sidewalk exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics:
A. Vertical separations equal to three-fourths inch or more.
B. Horizontal separations equal to one inch or more.
C. Holes or depressions equal to three-fourths inch or more and at least four inches in diameter.
D. Spalling over 50 percent of a single square of the sidewalk with one or more depressions equal to one-half inch or more.
E. Spalling over less than 50 percent of a single square of the sidewalk with one or more depressions equal to three-fourths inch or more.
F. A single square of sidewalk cracked in such a manner that no part thereof has a piece greater than one square foot.
G. A sidewalk with any part thereof missing to the full depth.
H. A change from the design or construction grade equal to or greater than three-fourths inch per foot.
3. “Established grade” means that grade established by the City for the particular area in which a sidewalk is to be constructed.
4. “One-course construction” means that the full thickness of the concrete is placed at one time, using the same mixture throughout.
5. “Owner” means the person owning the fee title to property abutting any sidewalk and includes any contract purchaser for purposes of notification required herein. For all other purposes, “owner” includes the lessee, if any.
6. “Portland cement” means any type of cement except bituminous cement.
7. “Sidewalk” means all permanent public walks in business, residential or suburban areas.
8. “Sidewalk improvements” means the construction, reconstruction, repair, replacement, or removal of a public sidewalk or the excavating, filling, or depositing of material in the public right-of-way in connection therewith.
9. “Wood float finish” means a sidewalk finish that is made by smoothing the surface of the sidewalk with a wooden trowel.
Back to draft chapter 136 · All changes
Data last updated October 22, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.