Rental Inspections in West Des Moines, IA (2026)
2 verified rental inspections rules for West Des Moines, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Inspection Programs
West Des Moines requires the Building Division to inspect every residential rental dwelling in the city on a two-year cycle under City Code section 8-2A-16(E), though the timeline can be shortened or extended based on a property's age, inspection history, and complaint record. Owners get at least thirty days' notice.
West Des Moines Rental Inspection Program
Significant RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 8-2A-16(E)
E. Rental Inspection Schedule: The Building Division shall seek to inspect every residential rental dwelling within the corporate limits of the City every two years. As part of the inspection process, the City may determine to extend or shorten the timeframe to the next scheduled inspection. ... It is the responsibility of the property owner/agent to ensure that their rental properties have a v...
Tenant Complaint Process
In the City of West Des Moines, a rental tenant with a habitability concern must first submit the complaint in writing to the property owner or manager and give seven days to respond before the Building Division steps in under City Code section 8-2A-16(H). Life-safety issues bypass that wait entirely, triggering immediate City action.
West Des Moines Rental Tenant Complaint Process
Some RestrictionsWest Des Moines City Code § 8-2A-16(H)
H. Rental Housing Complaints: When receiving or responding to complaints from rental property tenants, the City will typically intervene only if the tenant has presented their concerns in writing (email is acceptable) to the management/owner with a seven (7) day notice to respond, and the management/owner has failed to respond. Exception: Life/safety issues such as smoke detectors, blocked ex...