West Des Moines, IA Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Table 5.2, Agricultural and Animal Keeping, in City Code section 9-5-8 governs livestock and poultry on residential-zoned land. It flatly leaves blank (not permitted) the row for 'Agricultural Production Animals, Personal' on lots under 40,000 square feet in every residential district: RE (Residential Estate), RS (Residential Single-Family), R-1 (Single-Family Residential), SF-CR (Single-Family Commerce Residential), SF-VJ (Single-Family Valley Junction Residential) and MH (Manufactured Housing). Only where the lot reaches 40,000 square feet or more does the same use become available, and then only as a Permitted Conditional (Pc) use in those same six districts, capped at a combined maximum of eight animals including dogs and cats; RM and RH multifamily districts get no allowance at all.

The Zoning Rules and Definitions chapter (section 9-2-2) separately defines a HOMESTEADER FARM as a type of Agricultural Production Animals, Personal, kept for raising a limited number of animals as defined by Iowa Code section 717.1 or SIC 02 livestock/animal specialties, for the primary purpose of self-sufficiency; the code limits commercial sale of a Homesteader Farm's animals to no more than 50% of the total raised in a growing period. Because a Permitted Conditional use requires City Council or Board approval rather than issuing automatically over the counter, a resident on a large-enough residential lot cannot simply start keeping chickens or goats; they must first obtain that conditional use permit before any animals go on site.