Olympia homeowners who have long been technically responsible for cracked and buckled sidewalks adjacent to their properties may soon be off the hook.
The Olympia City Council heard a staff proposal Tuesday, July 21, that would redirect city repair crews and half a million dollars in annual funding toward high-traffic pedestrian corridors near schools, parks, transit stops, and grocery stores.
The shift would move the city away from its current code, which places repair responsibility on adjacent property owners but has been enforced, according to a staff report, "minimally and unevenly" for years.
The scope of the problem is large. A 2024 citywide inventory identified nearly 28,000 sidewalk defects across Olympia. Damaged panels create barriers for residents who use wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters, according to the city's Engage Olympia page on the policy.
The four-point proposal
The plan, already endorsed by the Land Use and Environment Committee, asks the council to:
- Continue the Capital Facilities Plan sidewalk repair program ($500,000 per year from Transportation Benefit District sales tax revenue) and steer projects toward common pedestrian destinations.
- Keep the new four-person Public Works repair crew — funded at $681,000 in the 2026 budget, plus $149,000 for an excavator — and focus its work on those same high-traffic areas.
- Require owners of large parcels to fix adjacent sidewalks.
- Develop a "fix upon sale" program requiring sidewalk repairs when a property changes hands.
Planning Commission pushback
The Olympia Planning Commission weighed in with a July 6 letter urging the council to go further. Commissioners described sidewalks as "critical public transportation infrastructure" deserving public support on par with streets and roads, and recommended the city bear full maintenance responsibility.
The commission warned that enforcing the existing ordinance could place significant financial burdens on homeowners who cannot afford contractors.
It also questioned whether requiring only large property owners to make repairs would be equitable, noting those costs could be passed on to small businesses or apartment tenants.
Commissioners urged the city to increase sidewalk funding overall, saying maintenance of existing infrastructure should take priority even if it means delaying other transportation projects.
Community input
A survey conducted through Engage Olympia found a majority of respondents believe the city should handle sidewalk repairs.
Participants cited the cost of hiring contractors as a concern, while many supported requiring large property owners to fix adjacent sidewalks and mandating repairs at the point of sale.
What's next
Tuesday's session was a discussion only. No vote was taken. If the council signals support for the approach, staff will return with specific recommendations on implementing the large-parcel requirement and the fix-upon-sale program.
No date for a follow-up vote has been announced.
