Animal Ordinances in Des Moines, IA (2026)

Des Moines Municipal Code § 18-4

Small caged animals and fowl such as falcons, pigeons, pheasants, quail, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, ferrets and other small animals and fowl ... shall be allowed, provided that: (1) Cages, hutches, coops, cotes, lofts or other confinement shall be at least 25 feet away from any neighboring residence... (4) On any parcel of land less than an acre, such animals shall be limited to two speci...

Des Moines Municipal Code § 18-55

(2)The dog is off the premises of the owner and is:a.On a leash, cord, or chain or other similar restraint not more than six feet in length and under the control of a person competent to restrain and control the dog...(d)No owner of any dog shall permit such dog to be at large at any time.

Des Moines Municipal Code § 18-41

High risk dog means: ... (6)Staffordshire terrier breed of dog;(7)The American pit bull terrier breed of dog;(8)The American Staffordshire terrier breed of dog; or(9)Any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominately of the breeds of Staffordshire terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier.

Des Moines Municipal Code § 18-4(a)

No horse, cow, calf, swine, sheep, goat, llama, camel, ostrich, peacock, chicken, goose, duck or other agricultural animal or any nondomestic animal shall be kept within the city's corporate limits on any lot or parcel of land unless such parcel of land shall be an acreage, except as provided under subsections (f), (g) and (h) of this section and article IV of this chapter. The area where any s...

Iowa Code § 717F.3 (Dangerous wild animals — prohibitions)

717F.3 Dangerous wild animals — prohibitions. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person shall not do any of the following: 1. Own or possess a dangerous wild animal. 2. Cause or allow a dangerous wild animal owned by a person or in the person's possession to breed. 3. Transport a dangerous wild animal into this state. [Dangerous wild animal includes members of the family canidae (w...

Des Moines Municipal Code § 18-217

No person shall purposely or knowingly, feed or in any manner provide access to food to any deer or waterfowl within the corporate limits of the city, on lands either publicly or privately owned. Feeding does not include baiting in the legal taking of fish and/or game, or baiting by a city official, an animal control service or by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Iowa Code § 717B.3 (Animal neglect — penalties)

717B.3 Animal neglect — penalties. 1. A person commits animal neglect when the person owns or has custody of an animal, confines that animal, and fails to provide the animal with any of the following conditions for the animal's welfare: a. Access to food in an amount and quality reasonably sufficient to satisfy the animal's basic nutrition level to the extent that the animal's health or life is...

Des Moines Municipal Code §§ 18-92, 18-109(a)

The owner of every cat six months old or over...shall annually obtain a license as provided in this article. Community cats shall be allowed as free roaming cats if all the following are met: (1) no person owns the cat, (2) cat has been assessed by a veterinarian and deemed healthy, (3) cat has been spayed or neutered, (4) cat has been vaccinated for rabies...(5) cats must be ear tipped by the ...

Des Moines Municipal Code § 18-65(b)(2)-(3); parallel cat provision at § 18-108(b)(2)-(3); community cat sterilization requirement at § 18-109(a)(3)

(2) Pay an adoption fee in the amounts set in the schedule of fees adopted by the city council by resolution which fee shall include the cost of a city dog license and vaccinations as required by this article and surgical sterilization. (3) If a dog is too young to submit to vaccinations or to surgical sterilization, the person shall agree in writing to surgical sterilization of the adopted dog...

Des Moines Municipal Code § 18-64(e)

All dogs impounded shall have an electronic identification device, otherwise known as a microchip, placed under the dog's skin prior to release from impound and the owner shall pay the fee in the amount set in the schedule of fees adopted by the city council by resolution for the installation of the electronic identification device. If a contractor implants an electronic identification device i...

Des Moines Municipal Code § 18-217

No person shall purposely or knowingly, feed or in any manner provide access to food to any deer or waterfowl within the corporate limits of the city, on lands either publicly or privately owned. Feeding does not include baiting in the legal taking of fish and/or game, or baiting by a city official, an animal control service or by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.(b)Feeding of songbirds and ot...