Animal Ordinances in West Des Moines, IA (2026)
11 verified animal ordinances for West Des Moines, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In the City of West Des Moines, keeping chickens or other livestock on a residential lot needs a Permitted Conditional Use permit and is only allowed on lots of 40,000 square feet (about 0.92 acre) or more; smaller residential lots cannot keep them at all. Even then, the code caps the total at eight animals, including dogs and cats, under Table 5.2 of the Zoning Ordinance.
West Des Moines Backyard Chickens & Livestock
Significant RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 9-2-2, 9-5-8
HOMESTEADER FARM: ... A type of Agricultural Production Animals, Personal, for the raising of a limited number of animals as defined by Code of Iowa, Sec. 717.1, or included under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 02: Agricultural Production - Livestock and Animal Specialties, for the primary purpose of self-sufficiency. The number of animal(s) sold commercially versus consumed by the op...
Dog Leash Laws
In the City of West Des Moines, dogs and other animals cannot run at large. A licensed animal avoids being "at large" only if it stays on the owner's premises, is restrained on a leash, cord, or chain no more than 10 feet long, is properly kenneled, or is at heel beside its owner.
West Des Moines Leash and At-Large Dog Law
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 5-3-2, 5-3-9
AT LARGE: An animal off the premises of the owner. An animal properly licensed as required by this chapter shall not be deemed at large if such animal: A. Is on the premises of the owner, or B. Is under the control of a person competent to restrain and control the animal, either by leash, cord, chain, or other similar restraint not more than ten feet (10') in length, or properly restrained with...
Breed Restrictions
The City of West Des Moines regulates dangerous dogs by conduct, not by breed. A "vicious animal" is defined by biting, attack history, or fight training, and keeping one within the city is banned outright except as the chapter allows, with no breed named anywhere in the definition.
West Des Moines Dangerous Dog Rules: Behavior, Not Breed
Significant RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 5-3-2, 5-3-6
VICIOUS ANIMAL: ... Any animal, except for a dangerous animal per se, as listed herein, which has engaged in one or more of the following actions, or has exhibited one or more of the following characteristics: a) the animal has bitten or attacked a human being or domestic animal one or more times and caused a serious injury, without provocation; b) the animal possesses a history, tendency, or d...
Beekeeping
City Code Section 9-10-4.A.19 caps backyard beekeeping in West Des Moines at two hives on lots of one acre or less and ten hives on larger lots, bars hives from the front or side yard, and requires a six-foot flyway barrier when a hive sits within 25 feet of a property line.
West Des Moines Beekeeping Hive Limits
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 9-10-4.A.19
19. Beekeeping: ... In those districts in which SIC 0279-9901 is allowed, the following regulations shall apply to beekeeping operations: a. Beekeeping shall only be allowed on property owned by the beekeeper or on property owned by a third party for which the beekeeper has written authorization from the property owner allowing for the keeping of bees. b. Honeybee colonies shall be kept in hive...
Wildlife Feeding
In the City of West Des Moines, feeding a community cat within two hundred feet of City property or school district property is prohibited under Code Section 5-3-20. The Public Services Director can also declare a nuisance cat ineligible for the Trap-Neuter-Return program, and the City accepts no liability for a community cat or what happens to it.
West Des Moines Community Cat Feeding Ban
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 5-3-20, 5-3-23
5-3-20: COMMUNITY CATS: ... A community cat shall be returned to the area where it was captured unless said cat is sick and/or injured or unless the property owner has requested that said cat be removed from the property and the Public Services Director or their designee has declared it a nuisance. A. Nuisance. Community cats that create a nuisance, as determined by the Public Services Director...
Pet Limits
In the City of West Des Moines, an owner may harbor no more than four dogs, four cats, or a combination totaling four dogs and cats over six months old, and no more than eight animals in total, under Code Section 5-3A-15. Aquatic and amphibious animals are not counted toward either cap.
West Des Moines Pet Ownership Limit
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 5-3A-15, 5-3A-16
5-3A-15: LIMITED NUMBER OF ANIMALS ALLOWED: ... Except as otherwise allowed by Code, including but not limited to allowances as provided in Title 9, it shall be unlawful for an owner to harbor, house or confine more than four (4) cats or four (4) dogs, or a combination of four (4) such animals, over the age of six (6) months. Additionally, no more than a total of eight (8) animals, inclusive of...
Cat Rules
The City of West Des Moines exempts managed community cats from its at-large ban and returns trapped cats to where they were found unless they are sick, injured, or declared a nuisance. Feeding community cats within 200 feet of city or school property is banned, and pet cats over 6 months need an annual city license.
West Des Moines Community Cat and Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 5-3-20, 5-3A-1
A community cat shall be returned to the area where it was captured unless said cat is sick and/or injured or unless the property owner has requested that said cat be removed from the property and the Public Services Director or their designee has declared it a nuisance. A. Nuisance. Community cats that create a nuisance, as determined by the Public Services Director or their designee, shall be...
Pet Groomer Rules
West Des Moines' commercial zoning use matrix, Table 6.1 under City Code Section 9-6-6, lists indoor pet grooming with no unattended animals outside as a by-right permitted use, while grooming with outdoor holding pens, cages, or runs is downgraded to a conditional use needing Board of Adjustment approval.
West Des Moines Pet Grooming Zoning Rule
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 9-6-3.A, 9-6-3.B, 9-6-6, Table 6.1
A. Uses shown in the matrix as "permitted" (P), are a permitted use by right in the applicable district; however, new construction or expansion of existing structures, or expansion of the area of use or operation, shall require review and site plan development approval by the city. B. Uses shown in the matrix as "permitted conditional use permit" (Pc) may be permitted in the applicable district...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
City Code Section 9-10-4.A.20 requires any veterinary or animal service use, in any zoning district where the use is allowed, to build sound-rated walls, ceilings, and HVAC systems around animal holding, exam, and treatment areas so noise and odors do not reach neighboring tenants or businesses.
West Des Moines Veterinary Use Soundproofing Rule
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 9-10-4.A.20
20. Veterinary And Animal Services: The following regulations shall apply in multi-tenant buildings within all zoning districts in which the use is allowed and in all situations in which noise or odors of veterinary and animal services are potentially noticeable to an adjacent or nearby business regardless if located within the same building: a. All veterinary and animal service uses: (1) All...
Bird Protection
In any West Des Moines city park or parks and recreation facility, no one may deface, injure or remove a growing tree, shrub or plant, pick or destroy flowers or seeds, or remove nests or wildlife or wildfowl. The rule protects habitat only on park and recreation department property, not citywide.
West Des Moines City Park Nest And Wildlife Rule
Light RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 7-11-2(E)
E. Destruction Of Natural Environment: No person shall in any manner deface, injure or remove any tree, shrub, or plant standing or growing in a city park or parks and recreation facility or pick or destroy flowers or seeds growing therein, or remove nests or wildlife/wildfowl.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
The City of West Des Moines otherwise bans keeping dangerous animals such as wolves, coyotes, bears, or venomous snakes, but a wildlife rescue organization holding the right Iowa Conservation Commission permit is exempt from that ban under the city's animal control chapter.
West Des Moines Wildlife Rescue Dangerous-Animal Exception
Light RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 5-3-4(D)
The prohibition contained in section 5-3-3 of this chapter shall not apply to the keeping of dangerous animals in the following circumstances: ... ... D. The keeping of dangerous animals by a wildlife rescue organization with appropriate permit from the Iowa conservation commission.