West Des Moines, IA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Title 8, Chapter 2, Article A of the West Des Moines City Code is the city's adopted Building Code: section 8-2A-1 pulls in the 2021 International Building Code and International Residential Code, plus the state-mandated 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code as published by the National Fire Protection Association, incorporated by reference in their entirety except where the city amends or deletes a provision. Section 8-2A-3 amends the administrative chapter of the IBC and IRC and adds language to Section 101.4 confirming that whatever edition and amendments of the NEC and the International Energy Conservation Code the Iowa Department of Public Safety currently has adopted are also folded into the city's requirements, so the electrical standard tracks the state's updates rather than freezing at the 2020 edition named in section 8-2A-1.

The same section amends Section 105.6, Suspension or Revocation: it is the permit holder's job, not the city's, to schedule every required inspection and get final approval before covering the work, and failing to do that, or failing to contact the city for an inspection or follow-up within 180 days of permit approval, is itself a code violation that can void or revoke the permit, separate from any penalty for working without one. The Director of Development Services, Building Official, Rental Inspector and similar staff carry out plan review, permits and inspections under section 8-2A-3.

A property owner or contractor who disputes a permit decision can appeal to the Municipal Code Appeals Board under section 8-2F-4 within ten days of the Building Official's decision, by filing a written petition with a $100.00 fee that the City Council can waive for cause.