Concrete leveling in Maize, KS
Maize sits on a patchwork of loamy and sandy soils with pockets of clay, and its code ties public sidewalk work to a City of Wichita contractor license. Calls from Maize go to the same independent contractor who serves the rest of the area.
Call (316) 688-2584What the soil survey shows in Maize
Clipped to Maize's city limits, about 23 percent of the soil area is rated high or very high for shrink-swell, below the county's one third, and about 37 percent is rated low.
The most common soil is Nalim, a loam rated moderate, at about 18 percent. Shellabarger, a sandy loam rated low, covers about 11 percent. Third is Saltcreek at about 8 percent, which shows why a soil's surface can mislead: it formed on old dunes and has a fine sandy loam surface, yet a layer within five feet is rated high for shrink-swell. With no soil covering even a fifth of the town, slabs in different parts of Maize can sit on quite different ground.
See how Maize compares with 12 other nearby towns on the soil by town page.
| Shrink-swell rating | Share of soil area in Maize | Sedgwick County overall |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 37% | 24% |
| Moderate | 40% | 42% |
| High | 15% | 23% |
| Very high | 8% | 10% |
Source: USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey, Soil Survey Geographic Database, Sedgwick County, Kansas, survey version August 2025, clipped to the city limits from Census TIGERweb. Shares are our calculation by area and component percentage, using the highest-rated layer within 60 inches. Shares may not add to 100 because of rounding.
Maize's sidewalk rules
Maize's code makes the owner of the property next to a sidewalk responsible for keeping it in repair. After five days' notice, or without notice if the lot is unoccupied, the city can make the repair and assess the cost against the property. A sidewalk the governing body finds inadequate or unsafe can be condemned and ordered rebuilt, with 30 to 60 days after publication for the owner to do it.
The permit rule covers repair as well as construction. Plans go to the public works director, the city clerk issues the permit, and a $70 application fee, which is not refunded, is due with the plans. Only someone licensed by the City of Wichita, or holding an equivalent license the public works director accepts, can get a permit, and they must file a $5,000 surety bond with the city clerk. Ask the city clerk whether leveling a public sidewalk square needs a permit before the work is scheduled.
Sources: Code of the City of Maize, Chapter 13, Article 1, sections 13-102, 13-103, 13-107, 13-108 and 13-110 (current through Ordinance No. 1122, August 17, 2026); K.S.A. 12-1808.
What that means for a Maize driveway or walk
- Check the water first. On loamy and sandy ground, a void under a slab usually traces back to water washing soil out. A leveling job should come with a look at downspouts, gutters and sprinklers.
- Some of Maize is clay. About 23 percent of the town is on soil rated high or very high, and a slab in one of those spots can still rise and fall with the seasons.
- Public sidewalk work needs a licensed contractor. Maize names the City of Wichita license, which is the license Wichita requires for concrete work in its own right of way.
- Not sure which method fits? Compare mudjacking and foam, or see what a job usually costs on the cost page.
Questions people ask
Who can work on a public sidewalk in Maize?
Someone licensed by the City of Wichita, or with an equivalent license the public works director accepts, who has filed a $5,000 surety bond with the city clerk. Each job needs approved plans, a permit and a $70 application fee.
Who is responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house in Maize?
The owner of the property next to it. After five days' notice, the city can make the repair and assess the cost against the property.
Is the soil in Maize expansive?
Less than most of the area. About 23 percent of the soil inside city limits is rated high or very high for shrink-swell and about 37 percent is rated low, but the soils vary a lot from one part of town to another.
Nearby areas
What gets leveled
Driveway Leveling
Panels that dropped at the garage, the street or the sidewalk, raised back into line.
Read moreSidewalk Leveling
Trip hazards on front walks and city sidewalks, raised flush instead of torn out.
Read morePatio Leveling
Patios that tipped toward the house or pulled away from it, lifted back to a proper slope.
Read moreGarage Floor Leveling
Sunken garage slabs and the lip at the door, raised with small holes and little mess.
Read morePorch & Step Leveling
Front steps and stoops that settled away from the door, lifted back up to meet it.
Read morePool Deck Leveling
Settled pool decks and the gap at the coping, lifted with light foam and small holes.
Read moreGet a free estimate
Tell us what is sinking and roughly how big the area is. The contractor will call you back to set up an estimate, and may ask you to text a photo first.
Prefer to talk? Call (316) 688-2584.
Concrete leveling in Maize
Call for a free estimate. Most residential leveling jobs take a few hours.