In unincorporated Polk County, dogs may not run at large. The Sheriff's Animal Control enforces county Ordinance 18-068 and Iowa Code 351; loose dogs are impounded and taken to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL). Cities like Des Moines set their own leash laws.
Iowa Code 351.37 lets a local board of health or law enforcement official apprehend and impound any dog running at large without a valid rabies tag. Polk County's Animal Control and Animal Services Ordinance (No. 18-068) prohibits animals from running at large in the unincorporated county and authorizes impoundment; impounded dogs are held by the ARL, which the county uses for shelter and impound services. Iowa Code 351.41 confirms counties may prohibit dogs from running at large whether or not vaccinated. Inside incorporated cities (Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale) the city's own leash ordinance governs.
Running at large is a simple misdemeanor under Iowa Code 351.43; owners must pay impoundment costs and vaccinate before redeeming. Unredeemed dogs may be disposed of after seven days.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Polk County allows backyard composting but regulates it through the Health Nuisance Regulation: a compost pile that harbors vermin, produces offensive odors,...
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Polk County has no ordinance for or against artificial turf on residential lots. Installation on unincorporated land is generally unrestricted; cities and HO...
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Polk County has no ordinance banning native or prairie landscaping, and the county promotes native roadside vegetation. The one legal limit: your planting ca...
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Iowa has no state ban on collecting rainwater, and Polk County sets no rain-barrel ordinance. Residents may capture roof runoff in barrels or cisterns; only ...
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Polk County sets no lawn-watering schedule. Central Iowa's water is managed by Central Iowa Water Works / Des Moines Water Works, which can impose voluntary ...
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Iowa Code 317.10 requires every landowner to destroy all noxious weeds on their land as directed by the county board of supervisors. Polk County's Weed Commi...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in this county.
See how West Des Moines's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
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