Environmental Rules in West Des Moines, IA (2026)
5 verified environmental rules for West Des Moines, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
The City of West Des Moines operates a storm water utility under section 4-8A-1 of the City Code to manage, protect, and regulate storm water systems citywide, and section 4-8A-5 bars anyone from damaging that infrastructure, discharging pollutants into it, entering it without authorization, or connecting a private system to it without the Director of Public Works' approval.
West Des Moines Storm Water Management Rules
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 4-8A-5
No person shall do, or allow, any of the following: A. Damage Storm Water Management Systems And Facilities: Maliciously, wilfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, pipe, appurtenance or equipment which is part of the storm water management systems or facilities. B. Illicit Discharges: No person shall throw, drain or otherwise discharge or ...
Erosion Control
In the City of West Des Moines, construction sites are regulated under the Construction Site Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance (COSESCO), City Code chapter 8-6. Builders must use a stabilized construction entrance, keep tracked soil off public streets daily, and comply with the city's NPDES MS4 stormwater permit through Development Services enforcement.
Erosion Control During Construction in West Des Moines
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 8-6-1, 8-6-2
C. In conjunction with the City's MS4 permit requirements, the City will perform periodic monitoring and primary enforcement of the program through this construction site erosion and sediment control ordinance (COSESCO). ... D. All construction sites shall be furnished with a stabilized construction site entrance to handle the type and frequency of the traffic entering and exiting the site or m...
Flood Zones
In the City of West Des Moines, a floodplain development permit from the Building Official is required before any grading, filling, construction or placement of a factory-built home in the Floodway, Floodway Fringe or General Floodplain overlay districts. Skipping the permit is a municipal infraction with a civil penalty, and each day of noncompliance counts as a separate offense.
West Des Moines Floodplain Development Permit
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 8-8-8, 8-8-10
B. Floodplain Development Permit: ... 1. Permit Required: A floodplain development permit issued by the Administrator shall be secured prior to any floodplain development (any man-made change to improved and unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures, mining, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations), including the placement of factory-...
Boat Dock Permits
In the City of West Des Moines, marinas, boat rentals, docks, piers and wharves located in the Floodway Overlay District are not permitted by right; City Code section 8-8-5(B) requires a conditional use permit from the Board of Adjustment before any such structure may be built.
Boat Dock Permits in the West Des Moines Floodway
Significant RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 8-8-5, 8-8-8
B. Conditional Uses: ... The following uses which involve structures (temporary or permanent), fill, storage of materials or equipment, excavation or alteration of a watercourse may be permitted only upon issuance of a conditional use permit by the Board of Adjustment as provided in subsection 8-8-8C of this chapter. Such uses must also meet the applicable provisions of the Floodway District Pe...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In the City of West Des Moines, new or substantially improved structures in the Floodway Fringe Overlay District must have their lowest floor, including any basement, elevated at least one foot above the base flood elevation, or be floodproofed to that level for non-residential buildings, under City Code section 8-8-6.
Base Flood Elevation Freeboard in West Des Moines
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code §§ 8-8-2, 8-8-6
BASE FLOOD ELEVATION (BFE): The elevation flood waters would reach at a particular site during the occurrence of a base flood event. ... ... 2. Residential Structures: All new or substantially improved residential structures shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated a minimum of one foot (1') above the base flood elevation. Construction shall be upon compacted fill which shall, ...