Tippecanoe commissioners give first reading to sidewalk repair, maintenance ordinance

The Tippecanoe County Board of Commissioners gave first reading Monday to Ordinance 2025-37-CM, a new county rule on sidewalk construction, repair and maintenance that adopts standards the county has used informally and mirrors City of Lafayette requirements.

The ordinance, described during the meeting by a highway department staff member identified in the record only as Doug, would formalize construction standards the county has referenced to the city and create procedures for enforcing cleaning and repairs. “This is first reading of a sidewalk ordinance. It is largely modeled off of the City of Lafayette's ordinance,” Doug said during the presentation.

The measure would require adjacent property owners to keep sidewalks clean and remove snow and ice within 12 hours and establishes a process for the county to repair sidewalks if owners do not comply. Doug said the ordinance is intended to back up existing highway department practice and to “track the City of Lafayette's requirements” on maintenance and enforcement.

Commissioners approved taking up the ordinance on first reading by a 3-0 voice vote; the board scheduled second reading for its second meeting in November. No members of the public spoke for or against the ordinance at Monday's meeting.

Why it matters: The ordinance would codify standards the county has been following and create an enforcement pathway where none was previously spelled out. County staff said the change is largely a formalization of existing practice but acknowledged increasing sidewalk mileage outside the corporate limits has made the issue more prominent.

What happens next: The ordinance will return for a second reading at the board's next scheduled meeting in November. If approved on second reading the board would adopt the ordinance and the county would begin enforcing the maintenance and repair provisions as written.