Tiny home rules in Des Moines, IA — covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds — determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
Des Moines does not allow detached tiny houses below 1,100 sq ft as a primary dwelling under Chapter 134 (Zoning Ordinance), but it does permit Accessory Household Units (AHUs) up to 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the primary house floor area on lots zoned N, NX, A, DXR, RX1, or RX2 (Ordinance 15,816, eff. Dec. 16, 2019).
Des Moines Chapter 134 (Zoning Ordinance), adopted by Ordinance 15,816 effective December 16, 2019, eliminates the standalone 'tiny house' as a primary dwelling: a single-family detached dwelling must meet the minimum building code floor area for the underlying district, which functionally excludes most movable tiny homes under 1,100 sq ft. The pathway most tiny-home enthusiasts use in Des Moines is the Accessory Household Unit (AHU) framework administered by the Permit and Development Center. AHUs are allowed in N (Neighborhood), NX (Neighborhood Mix), A (Apartment), DXR, RX1, and RX2 zones. The AHU floor area cannot exceed 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the primary house, whichever is larger; detached AHUs must sit in the rear yard with a 5 ft minimum lot-line setback; and only one AHU is allowed per lot. The primary structure must be permitted under Chapter 26 (Building & Building Regulations), which adopts the 2015 IRC. Confirm whether IRC Appendix Q (tiny houses) has been adopted with the Permit and Development Center at 515-283-4200.
Erecting a tiny house as a primary dwelling that fails Chapter 134 minimum dwelling-size standards or installing an AHU without a building permit is a zoning violation. The Permit and Development Center can issue stop-work orders, deny certificates of occupancy, and require removal or after-the-fact permitting; civil penalties are pursued through the Des Moines Municipal Court.
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See how Des Moines's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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