Business Licensing & Operations in Des Moines, IA (2026)
5 verified business licensing & operations rules for Des Moines, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Des Moines licenses adult entertainment establishments under Ch. 42 with strict zoning buffers, age restrictions, and operational limits enforced by the City Clerk and DSMPD vice unit.
Adult Entertainment Business Licensing
Heavy RestrictionsMassage Establishments
Massage establishments operating in Des Moines must hold a city business license and employ Iowa-licensed massage therapists under IDPH rules, with DSMPD authority to inspect for human-trafficking indicators.
Massage Establishment Licensing
Heavy RestrictionsTobacco 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.
Tobacco and Vape Retail Licensing
Heavy RestrictionsIowa Code § 453A.2 (Persons under legal age — tobacco)
453A.2 Persons under legal age. 1. A person shall not sell, give, or otherwise supply any tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor products, or cigarettes to any person under twenty-one years of age. 2. A person under twenty-one years of age shall not smoke, use, possess, purchase, or attempt to purchase any tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, vapor ...
Secondhand Dealers
Secondhand goods dealers and pawn-style resale shops in Des Moines must register with DSMPD and report transactions through the LeadsOnline system to help recover stolen property.
Secondhand Dealer Reporting Requirements
Some RestrictionsTowing Companies
Tow operators working private-property impounds and DSMPD rotation calls in Des Moines must hold city permits, post rate sheets, and follow Iowa Code §321.90 release-of-property rules.
Towing Company Permit and Rates
Some RestrictionsIowa Code § 321.90 (Disposal of abandoned motor vehicles — towing)
321.90 Disposal of abandoned motor vehicles. 1. Garagekeepers and abandoned motor vehicles. Any motor vehicle left in a garage operated for commercial purposes after the period for which the vehicle was to remain on the premises shall, after notice by certified mail to the last known registered owner of the vehicle... be deemed an abandoned motor vehicle unless reclaimed by the owner within suc...