Sidewalk Repair Policy

The City is working on a long-term policy for sidewalk repair, which includes considering the highest priority locations for the new City crew to work and the role that property owners should have. Like many cities, Olympia’s code says property owners are responsible for repairing sidewalks next to their property.

To understand the scale of the problem, in 2024 the City inventoried all sidewalks and rated their condition. You can explore the results in our story map, which includes a map showing sidewalk conditions across Olympia. The story map also contained a survey asking people for their thoughts. The survey has closed, and we wanted to share the results with you.

Why is this important?

Damaged sidewalks create barriers for people walking or rolling, especially people using mobility aids like walkers, scooters, or wheelchairs. People can also get hurt when they trip and fall on a damaged sidewalk. Deciding how to prioritize repairs is a major policy question.

Learn more

The City Council considered a long-term policy approach at a study session on July 21, 2026. You can watch a recording of the meeting at olytv3.com. Staff will continue to develop the policy and return to the City Council in the future with more details worked out.

You’re welcome to also read the survey results, below.