Parking Rules in Des Moines, IA (2026)
10 verified parking rules for Des Moines, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Des Moines bans parking any trailer, semitrailer or travel trailer on a city street at any time, so a stored RV or boat trailer must move off the street entirely, not just clear of traffic.
Des Moines RV, Trailer and Boat Street Parking Ban
Heavy RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 114-632
No person shall park any motor truck having a freight capacity greater than one ton or any trailer, semitrailer, travel trailer, road tractor or truck tractor unit at any time on any city street. This subsection shall not apply to motor trucks, trailers, semitrailers, travel trailers, road tractors or truck tractors parked on a city street abutting and for use at an active construction site bet...
Driveway Rules
Des Moines caps residential driveway approaches at 8 to 24 feet wide, limits total driveway width to 60% of lot frontage, and requires a building-official permit before any curb cut or driveway construction begins.
Des Moines Driveway Width and Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 102-375
(a)In general the number of driveway approaches to a property shall be the minimum number required to serve the development or proposed development of the property. In addition the following limitations or driveway approaches shall apply:(1)The total width of driveway approaches shall not exceed 60 percent of the property frontage of any parcel of land.(2)Residential driveway approaches providi...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Des Moines bans parking any truck, trailer, or tractor unit over one ton on streets next to N-1 through N-5 or NX1 through NX3 zoned property, and citywide outside active construction sites, under a $100 fine.
Des Moines Truck Parking Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 114-632
No person shall park a motor truck, or any trailer, semitrailer, tractor, road tractor or truck tractor unit having a freight capacity greater than one ton at any time upon any portion of a street abutting property zoned N-1 to N-5 or NX1 to NX3 occupancy... A person who violates any provision of this section shall pay a fine of $100.00.
Street Parking Limits
Des Moines bans parking on sidewalks, in intersections, and in front of or within two feet of any driveway, with a $35 fine, plus a separate right-hand-curb rule against wrong-way parking.
Des Moines Street Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 114-358
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid a conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places: (1) On a sidewalk. (2) In front of or within two feet of a public or private driveway. (3) Within an intersection. (4) On a crosswalk. ... (d) A person who violates the prov...
Overnight Parking
Des Moines allows overnight on-street parking, but a vehicle can't sit in the same spot on any public street or metered lot for more than 24 straight hours.
Des Moines 24-Hour Street Parking Limit
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 114-361.13
No person shall park any vehicle and permit it to remain standing upon any public street or public metered lot in the city continuously and in one place for a period of more than 24 hours except as specified in subsection 114-361.13(b)... A person who violates any provision of this section shall pay a fine of $20.00.
EV Charging
Des Moines charges $0.16 per kilowatt-hour to use electric vehicle charging stations at city-operated public parking garages and surface lots, plus an idling fee once a charging session ends, under Municipal Code § 114-676A.
Des Moines EV Charging Station Fees
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 114-676A
(a)Usage fee: The usage fee for anyone using an electric vehicle charging station shall be $0.16 per kilowatt hour, except as provided in section 114-676B.(b)Idling: If a vehicle is plugged into an electric vehicle charging station for 30 minutes after a charging session has ended, the fee assessed on the account paying for the charge shall be $5.00 plus an additional fee of $1.25 for each 15 m...
Abandoned Vehicles
Des Moines treats any unlicensed, unsafe, or inoperable vehicle, trailer, or boat left outside an enclosed building on public or private property as a specifically identified nuisance, triggering abatement notice and civil penalties.
Des Moines Abandoned Vehicle Nuisance Rule
Significant RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 42-348(9)
Any motor vehicle, trailer or boat that is unlicensed, unsafe or inoperable found upon public or private real property, and the contents therein, which is not stored within an enclosed building. This article shall not apply to legitimate businesses operating in a lawful place and manner provided, however, that such outside areas are screened from public view and do not constitute a threat to th...
Curb Color Rules
Des Moines requires vertical curbs marking a designated fire lane to be painted red on the top and side, with stenciled No Parking. Fire Lane lettering.
Des Moines Red Curb Fire Lane Painting
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 46-444 (Fire Code § 511.5)
(1)Vertical curbs shall be painted red on the top and side, extending the length of the designated fire lane. Rolled curbs or surfaces without curbs shall have a red six (6) inch wide stripe painted the length of the designated fire lane. One of the following identification lettering methods shall be utilized:a.The words "NO PARKING — FIRE LANE (Except for Emergency Vehicles)" shall be stencile...
Loading Zones
Commercial loading zones in Des Moines restrict parking to 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and cap loading, unloading and delivery stops at 20 minutes even during that window.
Des Moines Commercial Loading Zone Rules
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 114-607
Within and at commercial loading zones designated in division 9 of article XVI of this chapter as subject to such restriction, parking is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except that a vehicle involved in commercial loading or unloading and delivery which is incident to commercial loading or unloading may use such zones for those purposes during ...
Snow Removal Parking Rules
Des Moines bans parking on designated snow routes during plowing and restricts odd/even side parking in snow zones, with a $35 fine for violators.
Des Moines Snow Route Parking Ban
Some RestrictionsDes Moines Municipal Code § 114-236
Standing or parking of vehicles upon a street designated as a "snow route" shall be prohibited at any time when snow route snow-removal operations are in progress and before such operations have resulted in the removal or clearance of snow from such streets curb to curb... A person who violates the provisions of subsections (d) or (e) of this section shall pay a fine of $35.00.
Looking for Polk County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Des Moines city rules.
Parking Rules in Polk County →