West Des Moines, IA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard used
- Behavior-based, not breed-specific
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 5-3-2, 5-3-6, 5-3-7
- Vicious animal
- Keeping banned except narrow exceptions
- Barred locations
- Daycares, schools, parks, trails, dog parks
- Insurance requirement
- $100,000 liability policy to license
- Transfer restriction
- Cannot move a declared vicious animal to another city
Summary
The City of West Des Moines regulates dangerous dogs by conduct, not by breed. A "vicious animal" is defined by biting, attack history, or fight training, and keeping one within the city is banned outright except as the chapter allows, with no breed named anywhere in the definition.
VICIOUS ANIMAL: ... Any animal, except for a dangerous animal per se, as listed herein, which has engaged in one or more of the following actions, or has exhibited one or more of the following characteristics: a) the animal has bitten or attacked a human being or domestic animal one or more times and caused a serious injury, without provocation; b) the animal possesses a history, tendency, or disposition to attack, which is evidenced by its habitual biting which has caused injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals; ... No person shall keep, shelter, or harbor ... for any reason within the city a "vicious animal" so defined herein, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Once an animal has been deemed a vicious animal, the animal shall not be removed from the city and transferred to another city.
Full Breakdown
West Des Moines City Code section 5-3-2 defines "vicious animal" as any animal, except a dangerous animal per se, that has bitten or attacked a human or domestic animal causing serious injury without provocation, that has a history or tendency to attack shown by habitual biting causing injury, that has been trained or kept for animal fighting or baiting, or that has been trained to attack on command or spontaneously, unless it is a police, military, or law enforcement animal under agency control. Nothing in that definition, or in the separate "dangerous animal per se" list in the same section (which names species such as wolves, coyotes, and big cats, not dog breeds), turns on the breed of a dog.
Section 5-3-6 then makes it unlawful to keep, shelter, or harbor a vicious animal within the city for any reason except as the chapter allows. Exceptions in section 5-3-7 cover law enforcement and military animals and properly enclosed guard dogs. Once an animal is declared vicious, it may not be removed from West Des Moines and transferred to another city, and vicious dogs are barred from in-home daycares, schools and daycare facilities, and city parks, greenways, playgrounds, trails, and dog parks. An owner seeking to license a dog already declared vicious must also carry at least $100,000 of personal liability insurance under section 5-3A-2.
Violations & Fines
Keeping, sheltering, or harboring a vicious animal in violation of section 5-3-6 lets the animal control officer or Chief of Police seize and impound it after notice and an appeal opportunity before a municipal hearing officer; failure to comply with an order is a simple misdemeanor also punishable under section 1-4-1. An animal too dangerous to safely apprehend may be destroyed immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does West Des Moines ban specific dog breeds like pit bulls?
Can I still own a dog that has been declared vicious in West Des Moines?
Where are vicious dogs prohibited even if legally kept in West Des Moines?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Des Moines
How West Des Moines compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare West Des Moines to another location·View the Iowa animal ordinances overview
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