2025 Session Last amended: 2018 session

§ 429.101 — Unpaid Special Charges May Be Special Assessments

Plain-Language Summary

This section lets municipalities collect unpaid bills for city services by adding them to property taxes as special assessments. Services covered include snow and ice removal from sidewalks, weed clearing, removal of health or safety hazards, water service line repairs, tree trimming, sidewalk repair, street lighting, and housing code inspection charges. The city can also use this method for unpaid delinquent vacant building registration fees.

Practical Notes
If you receive a bill from your city for services like sidewalk snow removal or weed clearance on your property and you don’t pay it, the city can attach that debt to your property taxes as a special assessment. This makes it much harder to ignore because unpaid assessments become a lien on your property and can affect your ability to sell it. Property owners should respond promptly to city notices about code violations or required maintenance to avoid these charges.