Des Moines, IA Local Ordinances Guide

Des Moines is a mid-sized city in Polk County, Iowa, with about 214000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 123 ordinances across 33 categories that affect daily life in Des Moines.

Parking Rules

RV & Boat Parking: Des Moines bans parking any trailer, semitrailer or travel trailer on a city street at any time, so a stored RV or boat trailer must move off the street entirely, not just clear of traffic..

Also covered: Snow Removal Parking Rules (moderate), Street Parking Limits (moderate), Overnight Parking (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Des Moines for details.

Noise Ordinances

Vehicle Noise: Des Moines caps car-stereo noise at 50 feet by day and 25 feet at night, and sets drive-by dBA limits by vehicle class and speed under Municipal Code § 42-259. Police and community development enforce citywide..

Also covered: Leaf Blower Rules (moderate), Amplified Music & Outdoor Sound (moderate), Decibel Limits (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Des Moines for details.

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Des Moines can declare any unsafe, dangerous, or unfit structure a public nuisance, order it vacated immediately, and repair or demolish it at the owner's expense if the owner doesn't act first..

Also covered: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (moderate), Vacant Lot Maintenance (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Des Moines for details.

Animal Ordinances

Wildlife Feeding: Feeding deer or waterfowl anywhere in Des Moines, public or private land, is prohibited. Backyard bird feeding is still allowed if the feed stays out of reach of deer and waterfowl..

Also covered: Chickens & Livestock (moderate), Pet Limits (strict), Cat Rules (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Des Moines for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Vending Zones: Des Moines limits mobile food vendors and transient merchants to nine designated parks, plus three athletic complexes with prior written approval, under Municipal Code § 74-210..

Also covered: Food Truck Permits (moderate), Sidewalk & Mobile Vending (restrictive). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Des Moines for details.

Special Events & Permits

Parade Permits: Any parade in Des Moines needing a street closure or police traffic rerouting requires a permit from the chief of police, with applications filed 4 to 60 days ahead depending on whether the parade is one-time or recurring..

Also covered: Park Event Permits (moderate), Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (moderate), Block Party Permits (moderate). See the full special events & permits guide for Des Moines for details.

Outdoor Cooking

BBQ & Propane Rules: Des Moines bars charcoal and open-flame grills on balconies or within 20 feet of combustible construction, but exempts one- and two-family homes and small propane grills using a 20-pound tank or smaller..

Also covered: Smoker Rules (moderate). See the full outdoor cooking guide for Des Moines for details.

Building Safety

Lead Paint: Des Moines enforces lead-safe practices in pre-1978 housing through Chapter 8 building rules, Chapter 60 nuisance enforcement, and federal EPA RRP rules, with Polk County Public Health managing childhood lead poisoning case investigations..

Also covered: Carbon Monoxide Detectors (moderate), Electrical Permits (moderate), Door Locking Hardware (moderate). See the full building safety guide for Des Moines for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Obstruction Rules: Des Moines prohibits leaving goods, wares, or merchandise on any public sidewalk, even briefly, except for the short time needed to move them in transit or under a separate business-use permit..

Also covered: Encroachment Permits (moderate), Sidewalk Repair (moderate). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Des Moines for details.

Business Licensing & Operations

Tobacco Retail License: Des Moines tobacco retailers need an Iowa state permit plus city compliance, with strict 21+ age verification under IA Code §453A.2 and routine compliance checks by DSMPD and Polk County Health..

Also covered: Massage Establishments (moderate), Secondhand Dealers (restrictive), Towing Companies (moderate). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Des Moines for details.

Tree Protection

Parkway Planting: Des Moines requires a forestry division permit before anyone plants a tree in the parkway between the sidewalk and street, and can deny it if the planting would create a hazard or harm existing trees..

Public Conduct

Skateboarding Rules: Skateboards, coasters and similar devices are banned from Des Moines streets, highways, alleys and parking garages, and from public art, planters, stairways and amphitheater-style seating areas, under Municipal Code section 102-4..

Also covered: Loitering Rules (moderate), Public Urination (moderate), Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (moderate). See the full public conduct guide for Des Moines for details.

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Des Moines bans dumping litter, solid waste, yard debris or other foreign material on streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way and city property under Municipal Code § 98-70, backed by administrative penalties or municipal infraction fines that public works staff and police can issue directly..

Also covered: Recycling Requirements (limited), Yard Waste Collection (moderate), Recycling Rules (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Des Moines for details.

Fence Regulations

Retaining Walls: Des Moines exempts retaining walls holding four feet or less of unbalanced fill from a building permit, but taller walls, ones bearing a surcharge, or ones impounding flammable liquids need a permit from the building official..

Also covered: Fence Permit Requirements (moderate), Neighbor Fence Rules (permissive). See the full fence regulations guide for Des Moines for details.

Rental Property Rules

Repairs & Habitability: Des Moines requires a licensed, inspected rental unit to maintain at least 68°F indoors when it's below 60°F outside, alongside code-wide standards for structural, electrical, plumbing and sanitary conditions under Chapter 60's Rental Property Maintenance Code..

Also covered: Just Cause Eviction (permissive), Rental Registration (restrictive), Tenant Anti-Harassment (moderate). See the full rental property rules guide for Des Moines for details.

Fire Regulations

Fireworks: Iowa legalized consumer fireworks in 2017 under Iowa Code Chapter 727. Des Moines allows consumer fireworks June 1–July 8 and December 10–January 3, with permitted hours of 9 AM to 10 PM (extended to 11 PM on July 4 and December 31)..

Also covered: Propane Storage (moderate), Smoke Detectors (moderate), Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (restrictive). See the full fire regulations guide for Des Moines for details.

Historic Preservation

Historic-Cultural Monuments: Des Moines requires a certificate of appropriateness before anyone alters, reconstructs, or demolishes the exterior of a landmark or landmark site the city council has formally designated under Chapter 58, protecting buildings and places of historic, cultural, or aesthetic significance..

Rental Inspections

Inspection Programs: Des Moines requires every rental property owner to hold a rental business license and pass a Neighborhood Inspection Division inspection before renting, with license renewal periods running from nine months to three and a half years based on violation history..

Also covered: Tenant Complaint Process (moderate). See the full rental inspections guide for Des Moines for details.

Environmental Rules

Boat Dock Permits: Building a dock, pier, or other structure in the Des Moines River or Raccoon River, or driving pilings into the riverbed or bank, requires city council consent after review by the plan and zoning commission and engineering department..

Also covered: Erosion Control (moderate), Stormwater Management (moderate), Flood Elevation Requirements (moderate). See the full environmental rules guide for Des Moines for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing & Safety Requirements: Des Moines requires an ISPSC-compliant barrier around every backyard pool, hot tub or spa deeper than 24 inches, restricting entry to the pool area; spas and hot tubs with a locking safety cover are exempt from the enclosure sections..

Also covered: Pool Permits (moderate). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Des Moines for details.

Hotels & Lodging

Transient Occupancy Tax: Des Moines lodging guests pay a combined ~13% tax: 7% city hotel-motel tax plus Iowa's 6% state sales tax, with revenues funding tourism, convention center, and Iowa Events Center operations..

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Des Moines requires a city-approved tree removal and mitigation plan before any grading permit, site plan, or subdivision plat is granted: cutting mature trees or canopied area on private land outside those approvals triggers no separate city permit..

Also covered: Native Plants (permissive), Weed Ordinances (moderate), Tree Trimming (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Des Moines for details.

Noise from Specific Sources

Delivery Truck Noise: Des Moines bars garbage trucks and other solid-waste collection vehicles from picking up or emptying dumpsters within 150 feet of a residential zone between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., protecting nearby homes from early-morning collection noise..

Also covered: Low-Frequency Bass Limits (moderate), HVAC & Mechanical Noise (moderate), Bar & Nightclub Noise (moderate). See the full noise from specific sources guide for Des Moines for details.

Garage & Yard Sales

Frequency, Duration & Permits: Des Moines does not require a permit for a garage, tag or estate sale, as long as it runs no more than four consecutive days and happens no more than twice a year..

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Anyone selling or taking orders door-to-door in Des Moines must first get a peddler's license from the city clerk and post a cash bond: no permit, no knocking with goods to sell..

Homelessness & Encampment Rules

Encampment Sanitation: Des Moines bans camping on any public property citywide, sidewalks, streets, parks, rights-of-way, and lets the city post a 24-hour notice then clear the campsite and its contents..

Also covered: Sit-Lie Rules (restrictive). See the full homelessness & encampment rules guide for Des Moines for details.

Curfew Laws

Park Curfew: Des Moines parks and municipal golf courses close to the public from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.

Local Taxes & Fees

Vacancy Tax: Des Moines has no vacancy tax. Owners of vacant residential or commercial property must register within 10 days, hold a vacant property registry license, and pay registration and inspection fees set by city council resolution..

Mobility & Curb Rules

Red-Light Cameras: Des Moines Municipal Code § 114-243 authorizes red-light and speed cameras at intersections the city manager designates, capturing rear license plates only and billing the registered vehicle owner a civil penalty by mail..

Also covered: E-Bike Classes (limited), Bike Lane Rules (moderate). See the full mobility & curb rules guide for Des Moines for details.

Accessory Structures

Shed & Carport Rules: A detached shed, playhouse, or pet shelter under 120 square feet needs no Des Moines building permit; anything larger, or built for another use, requires one plus continued compliance with zoning..

Invasive Plant Rules

Prohibited Species: Des Moines prohibits growing noxious weeds, defined under Iowa Code § 317.1A, with no exception for gardens or native landscaping, and the weed official can abate violations and bill the property owner..

Public Health Rules

Rodent Control: Business buildings within Des Moines must be ratproofed and kept rat-free under Municipal Code Article V, with the health officer authorized to order repairs, eradication measures, and even condemnation for buildings that harbor rats..

Employment Preemption

Minimum Wage Preemption: Iowa Code §331.304 preempts local minimum wage laws statewide; the 2017 HF 295 retroactively voided the Polk County and Des Moines wage increases, leaving the federal $7.25 floor in effect..

Also covered: Paid Leave Preemption (permissive). See the full employment preemption guide for Des Moines for details.

What to Do With This Information

Think of this as a map of the regulatory landscape in Des Moines. For any rule that directly affects a decision you are making, click through to the full ordinance page for penalty details and exceptions, and confirm with the city if the stakes are high.