Indianola gives property owners 48 hours to clear sidewalks. After that, the city can clear them without notice and bill the owner.
What the City of Indianola says about sidewalks
- Snow and ice must be removed from sidewalks within 48 hours (city code 136.03).
- If it isn't, the city may remove it without notice and bill the property owner.
- The city also notes that owners may be liable for damages caused by not clearing their sidewalk.
Hiring help in Indianola
If you hire a company, make sure the agreement covers the public sidewalk (and, on a corner lot, the side walk and curb ramps), says how soon they'll come after the snow stops, and matches the city's deadline above. Ask what de-icer they use: Iowa State University Extension says rock salt works best above 15°F and that salt buildup can injure turfgrass, trees and shrubs. Our guide to choosing a snow removal company has a full checklist.
Iowa has no state license for snow removal. For lawn treatments, anyone in the business of applying pesticides (including weed and insect control) to other people's property needs an IDALS commercial applicator license; each listing below shows what we could verify.
Snow removal and lawn care companies in Indianola
6084 NE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA 50313
- Snow removal
- Mowing
- Fertilizing
- Weed control
- Aeration
- Seeding / overseeding
- Landscaping
- Grub / insect control
- Homes
- Businesses
Lawn care and landscape company with Des Moines and West Des Moines offices; its site lists lawn treatments (fertilization, weed, grub and insect control), mowing and landscaping, plus commercial snow and ice removal.
Service area (their words): Its town pages and service-area list name Greater Des Moines towns including Indianola, Altoona, Adel, Clive, Johnston, Grimes, Ankeny, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines.
Lawn chemicals: no matching IDALS license record found by name (checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-22. Searched 'A+ Lawn', 'A+ Lawn &' and 'A Plus Lawn': the only record was A+ LAWNCARE OF EASTERN IOWA (Marion), expired 2009, which is a different company; no matching record found.
Listing source: https://apluslawn.com/indianola/, https://apluslawn.com/altoona/ (checked 2026-10-22).
- Snow removal
- Salting / de-icing
- Mowing
- Aeration
- Seeding / overseeding
- Landscaping
Outdoor services company; its site lists seasonal snow removal and ice management alongside mowing, aeration, overseeding and landscaping.
Service area (their words): Its snow page names Indianola, Norwalk and Des Moines.
How we checked
No fertilizer, weed-control or other lawn-chemical service listed on the pages we checked, so no pesticide license status is shown. Snow removal is not part of Iowa's pesticide licensing.
Listing source: https://www.theoutdoorelites.com/snow-removal (checked 2026-10-22).
- Snow plowing
- Sidewalk & driveway clearing
- Salting / de-icing
- Mowing
- Fertilizing
- Weed control
- Aeration
- Seeding / overseeding
- Spring & fall cleanup
- Homes
- Businesses
Family-owned lawn and tree company; its site lists mowing, lawn treatments, spring and fall cleanups and tree work, plus residential and commercial snow plowing, shoveling and de-icing.
Service area (their words): Its site describes a family-owned Indianola company.
Lawn chemicals: IDALS company license record found (11030-001, checked 2026-10-22)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-22. Searched 'Shep Boys': found active company license 11030-001, Shep Boys Lawn and Tree Service, Lacona (Warren County), expiration 2026-12-31. (The license record lists Lacona; the website describes the company as Indianola-based.)
Listing source: https://www.shepboys.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
506 East 2nd Ave, Indianola, IA 50125
- Snow removal
- Mowing
- Landscaping
- Homes
- Businesses
Residential and commercial landscaping and lawn care company; its site also lists snow removal.
Service area (their words): Its site says it is located in Indianola, IA (established 2005).
How we checked
No fertilizer, weed-control or other lawn-chemical service listed on the pages we checked, so no pesticide license status is shown. Snow removal is not part of Iowa's pesticide licensing.
Listing source: https://woosleylandscapingandmowing.com/ (checked 2026-10-22).
See all 90 listed companies by town →
Listings are informational, not endorsements or rankings, and no company paid to be listed. Details come from each company’s own website. For fertilizer or weed control, check the company’s Iowa pesticide license with IDALS. We don’t show a license status for snow removal. Companies can request a correction or removal.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to clear my sidewalk in Indianola?
Within 48 hours, according to the City of Indianola's winter weather reminders (city code 136.03).
Does a lawn care company in Indianola need a license?
Not for snow removal or mowing: Iowa has no state license for those. A company that applies fertilizer with weed control, insect control or other pesticides to your lawn needs an IDALS commercial applicator license. Each listing on this page says whether we found a matching, unexpired company record.
Guides for Indianola homeowners
- Hiring helpHow to Choose a Snow Removal Company in IowaPer-push vs. seasonal snow removal, what to get in writing, red flags from the Iowa Attorney General, and why snow removal needs no state license in Iowa.Read the guide →
- Lawn careHow to Protect Your Lawn From Salt Damage This WinterHow de-icing salt hurts Iowa lawns and shrubs, which ice melts do less damage, how much to use, and how to flush salt in spring, from ISU Extension.Read the guide →
- Lawn careHow to Winterize Your Lawn in IowaISU Extension's fall lawn calendar for Iowa: final mowing height, when to stop mowing, late-fall fertilizer, broadleaf weeds, leaves and snow mold.Read the guide →
- Snow removalSnow Removal in Des Moines: Sidewalk Rules, Plowing and Getting HelpDes Moines sidewalk snow rules from the city: the 48-hour deadline, penalties, parking during plowing, salt tips and local snow removal companies.Read the guide →
- Snow removalSnow Removal in Waukee: The 24-Hour Rule, Parking Ban and Local HelpWaukee's 24-hour sidewalk snow rule, the snow emergency parking ban, fines in city code, de-icing tips for new concrete, and local snow removal companies.Read the guide →
Nearby towns we cover
Sources
- Winter Weather Reminders - City of Indianola (checked 2026-10-22)
- Using Deicing Salts in the Home Landscape - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-22)
- Applicator Licensing and Certification - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (checked 2026-10-22)
We link to the original sources so you can read them yourself. Product names are not endorsements.