Environmental Rules in Des Moines, IA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for Des Moines, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Des Moines requires a stormwater management plan for any development adding more than 10,000 square feet of new impervious area, following Iowa Stormwater Management Manual standards enforced by the city engineer.
Des Moines Stormwater Management Rules
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 42-560(a)
Any new development of land adding more than 10,000 square feet of new impervious area shall provide stormwater management as described in this article. This threshold is a cumulative amount of new square footage and may be reached over time in increments.
Erosion Control
Des Moines requires a city engineer grading permit before you strip, excavate, fill, or install drainage pipe on most sites, with numeric thresholds triggering the requirement.
Des Moines Grading Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 42-86
No person other than authorized city personnel or city contractors shall grade, strip, excavate, fill, stockpile or cause any non-agricultural earth change on any site, or install drainage pipe in public or private drainageways, without a grading permit issued by the city engineer for any of the following:(1)Platting of land pursuant to chapter 106, pertaining to subdivisions, of this Code.(2)D...
Flood Zones
Des Moines requires a certificate of compliance before any construction, fill, or grading in a mapped floodplain, with elevation and floodproofing standards enforced by the city engineer.
Des Moines Floodplain Development Rules
Significant RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 50-34
No structure or land shall hereafter be placed to a use and no structure shall be constructed, located, expanded, converted to a new use or structurally altered without full compliance with the terms of this chapter. All development within floodplain areas must be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage and shall meet the following applicable performance standards... All residential b...
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.
Des Moines Boat Dock Construction Permit
Significant RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 130-57
No person shall construct anywhere in the Des Moines River or Raccoon River or upon either of its banks, within the city limits, any dock, building or structure of any kind or character or place any obstruction therein or thereon, either by driving piling into the riverbed or otherwise, without first obtaining the consent and permission of the city council after recommendation by the plan and z...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New construction and substantial improvements in Des Moines floodplains must elevate the lowest floor at least three feet above the 100-year base flood elevation, the city's required freeboard margin.
Des Moines Base Flood Elevation Rules
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 50-34(2)
All residential buildings and factory-built homes (whether or not placed in existing factory-built home parks or subdivisions) for which the start of construction commenced on or after February 4, 1981, or to which substantial improvements have been made on or after February 4, 1981, shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated equal to or above the minimum flood protection elevation.
Looking for Polk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Des Moines city rules.
Environmental Rules in Polk County →