Every property owner is required to maintain, at his or her own expense, the public sidewalk, shared use path, and/or public right-of-way on that length and side of the public street or streets to which said property owner's property abuts in accordance with the city's sidewalk/shared use path/public right-of-way inspection and repair policy ("repair policy") approved by the city council. This obligation to maintain includes, without limitation, the duty to keep the public sidewalk, shared use path, and/or public right-of-way open and in a safe condition free of defects, debris, nuisances, obstructions, or any other hazard, snow and ice and other obstacles as required by this chapter, and in a reasonable state of repair so as not to present a hazard to persons using the public sidewalk, shared use path, or public right-of-way. Provided, however, that this section shall not be construed to require a property owner to take any action with respect to a public sidewalk, shared use path, or public right-of-way when said action is made necessary by the excavation or other activity of the city or a public utility. The abutting property owner may be liable for damages caused by failure to abide by this duty. (Ord. 978, 6-20-2013; amd. Ord. 1080, 8-8-2019)
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[2c])