Fire Regulations in Des Moines, IA (2026)
5 verified fire regulations for Des Moines, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pits & Backyard Fires
Des Moines requires a fire prevention bureau permit before any recreational backyard fire, unless it's a food-prep fire in an approved appliance with air intake, a cooking grate and a non-combustible lid.
Des Moines Recreational Fire Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 46-72
Section 105.5.36.1 Permit Required. A permit shall be obtained prior to conducting any type of recreational fire. Exception: Outdoor fireplaces or grills burning untreated wood or charcoal used solely for the non-commercial preparation of food. Such fires shall be extinguished upon completion of the food preparation. Such fires shall be conducted in an appliance that: provides for air entrainme...
Fireworks
Iowa legalized consumer fireworks in 2017 under Iowa Code Chapter 727. Des Moines allows consumer fireworks June 1–July 8 and December 10–January 3, with permitted hours of 9 AM to 10 PM (extended to 11 PM on July 4 and December 31).
Des Moines Fireworks Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsIowa Code § 727.2 (Fireworks)
727.2 Fireworks. 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section: a. "Consumer fireworks" includes first-class consumer fireworks and second-class consumer fireworks as those terms are defined in section 10A.519, subsection 1. "Consumer fireworks" does not include novelties enumerated in chapter 3 of the American pyrotechnics association's standard 87-1 or display fireworks enumerated in chapter 4...
Outdoor Burning
Open burning of refuse, rubbish, garbage, and landscape waste is prohibited in Des Moines under Polk County Air Quality regulations. Only recreational fires for cooking and warmth are permitted with specific conditions.
Des Moines Outdoor Burning Rules
Heavy RestrictionsPolk County Open Burn Regulation Summary, Section 5-7
5-7. Open Burning Prohibited (a) Prohibition No person shall allow, cause or permit open burning of combustible materials within Polk County except as provided in 5.7(1-9). For purposes of this Section, a person shall be deemed to have permitted the open burning if that person permits the setting or use of open burning for the disposal of refuse, rubbish, garbage or other combustible material u...
Smoke Detectors
Des Moines requires listed smoke alarms meeting UL 268 in R-1, R-2, R-4 and I-1 occupancies, with dwelling-unit alarms wired addressable to the building fire alarm system under City Code § 46-67.
Des Moines Smoke Alarm Code Requirements
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 46-67
Listed single and multiple-station smoke alarms complying with UL 268 shall be installed in accordance with provisions of this code and the household fire warning equipment provision of NFPA 72. Smoke alarms in dwelling units shall be addressable with sounder bases and monitored by the building fire alarm system as a supervisory signal only. Mini horns in dwelling units are not required if noti...
Propane Storage
Any LP-gas installation in Des Moines with 150 or more gallons of aggregate container capacity requires a fire prevention bureau permit, and no single installation can exceed 1,000 gallons of water capacity absent fire marshal approval.
Des Moines Propane Storage Limits
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 46-279
The aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed 1,000 gallons of water capacity, except that in particular installations this limit may be altered at the discretion of the fire marshal or the fire marshal's designee after due consideration of all factors involved.
Looking for Polk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Des Moines city rules.
Fire Regulations in Polk County →