Parking Rules in Des Moines, IA

If you live in Des Moines or are thinking about moving there, parking rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Des Moines has 10 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of parking rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Snow Removal Parking Rules

Des Moines bans parking on designated snow routes during plowing and restricts odd/even side parking in snow zones, with a $35 fine for violators.

Key details: Snow route ban: No parking until curb-to-curb clearance. Odd/even zones: Odd dates = odd address side. Fine: $35 per violation. Signs required: City engineer posts snow route/zone signs. CBD exception: Separate downtown schedule applies.

Fixed $35 fine per violation of subsection (d) or (e); vehicles left on a snow route or on the wrong side of an odd/even zone during active plowing can also be towed under the city's general parking-prohibition authority in § 114-358.

Street Parking Limits

Des Moines bans parking on sidewalks, in intersections, and in front of or within two feet of any driveway, with a $35 fine, plus a separate right-hand-curb rule against wrong-way parking.

Key details: Driveway clearance: no parking within 2 feet. Driveway-block fine: $35. Wrong-way parking fine: $20. Curb distance rule: within 18 inches of curb. Max time in one spot: 24 hours.

Driveway or sidewalk blocking, intersection/crosswalk parking, and other Sec. 114-358 violations: $35 fine. Wrong-way (left-hand curb) parking under Sec. 114-361: $20 fine. Fines are set by city ordinance and may be appealed through Des Moines Municipal Court.

Overnight Parking

Des Moines allows overnight on-street parking, but a vehicle can't sit in the same spot on any public street or metered lot for more than 24 straight hours.

Key details: Time limit: 24 hours in one spot. Overnight parking: Allowed, not banned. Fine: $20.00. Exempt vehicles: City/contract work vehicles. Applies to: Public streets, metered lots.

Fine of $20.00 per violation; vehicle can also be ticketed and, if left long enough or otherwise in violation, towed at the owner's expense.

Curb Color Rules

Des Moines requires vertical curbs marking a designated fire lane to be painted red on the top and side, with stenciled No Parking. Fire Lane lettering.

Key details: Curb color: Red, top and side. Stripe (no vertical curb): 6-inch red stripe. Lettering interval: Every 50 feet. Sign height: 5-7 feet off ground. Who maintains it: Property owner/manager.

The property owner, manager or person in charge must maintain the red paint, stripe, lettering and signs at their own expense; a faded or missing fire-lane marking is a code violation, and parking in a marked fire lane blocks emergency access and can draw a citation and towing.

EV Charging

Des Moines charges $0.16 per kilowatt-hour to use electric vehicle charging stations at city-operated public parking garages and surface lots, plus an idling fee once a charging session ends, under Municipal Code § 114-676A.

Key details: Usage fee: $0.16 per kilowatt-hour. Grace period: 30 minutes after charge ends. Idling fee: $5.00 plus $1.25/15 min. Failure to charge: prohibited, parking meter violation. Rate authority: Set by city council resolution.

Occupying a marked EV charging space without charging is prohibited and enforced as a parking meter violation with a fine under § 114-645; unpaid idling fees accrue at $5.00 plus $1.25 per 15-minute period after a 30-minute grace window.

Loading Zones

Commercial loading zones in Des Moines restrict parking to 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and cap loading, unloading and delivery stops at 20 minutes even during that window.

Key details: Restricted hours: 8 a.m.–6 p.m., Monday–Saturday. Time limit while loading: 20 minutes maximum. Fine: $30.00 per violation. Governing section: Municipal Code § 114-607. Zone marking: Must be posted with signs.

Parking in a posted commercial loading zone without an active delivery, or staying past the 20-minute limit, draws a $30.00 fine under Sec. 114-607(b).

Commercial & Oversized Vehicles

Des Moines bans parking any truck, trailer, or tractor unit over one ton on streets next to N-1 through N-5 or NX1 through NX3 zoned property, and citywide outside active construction sites, under a $100 fine.

Key details: Weight trigger: over 1 ton freight capacity. Zones covered: N-1–N-5, NX1–NX3 abutting streets. Citywide clause: bans it on any city street. Construction exception: 7 a.m.–10 p.m. at active site. Fine: $100 per violation.

First offense carries a $100 fine per section 114-632(c), separate from the routine $20 fine that applies to most other parking violations in this chapter.

Compared to other cities, Des Moines takes a harder line on commercial & oversized vehicles. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Abandoned Vehicles

Des Moines treats any unlicensed, unsafe, or inoperable vehicle, trailer, or boat left outside an enclosed building on public or private property as a specifically identified nuisance, triggering abatement notice and civil penalties.

Key details: Covers: Unlicensed, unsafe, or inoperable vehicle/boat. Where prohibited: Outside an enclosed building. Governing section: Des Moines Municipal Code § 42-348(9). Penalty: Municipal infraction, civil penalty, § 42-364. Habitual violator: 3+ violations in 36 months.

Violating this article is a municipal infraction punishable by civil penalty under § 1-15 (§ 42-364). The city may also abate the nuisance directly and assess the abatement cost as a lien collected like a property tax, or seek an injunction against a habitual violator.

This is one of the stricter rules in Des Moines's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Driveway Rules

Des Moines caps residential driveway approaches at 8 to 24 feet wide, limits total driveway width to 60% of lot frontage, and requires a building-official permit before any curb cut or driveway construction begins.

Key details: Residential driveway width: 8 to 24 feet. Max total driveway width: 60% of lot frontage. Permit required: Yes, from building official. Permit duration: 6 months (18 for major projects). Non-compliant driveway: City can order removal, bill owner.

Building or replacing a driveway approach without a permit, or out of conformity with it, lets the city order removal and restoration at the property owner's expense, billed as a special assessment.

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.

Key details: Governing section: Sec. 114-632, Traffic and Vehicles. Fine: $100.00 per violation. Scope: Any city street, any time. Construction exception: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. at active job site. Driveway/yard parking: Not addressed by this section.

Parking a trailer, RV or boat trailer on any Des Moines street draws a $100.00 fine per section 114-632(c); truck/trailer combos over one ton also can't sit on streets fronting N-zoned residential blocks.

This is one of the stricter rules in Des Moines's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Des Moines is tougher than many cities when it comes to parking rules. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Des Moines, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Des Moines's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.