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πŸ” Animal Ordinances/Pet Limits

Pet Limits: Des Moines vs West Des Moines

How do pet limits rules compare between Des Moines, IA and West Des Moines, IA?

Des Moines, IA

Polk County

Some Restrictions

Des Moines Chapter 6 limits the combined number of dogs and cats kept at a residence without a kennel permit, with separate limits for properties zoned for higher-density animal keeping such as commercial kennels.

View full Des Moines rules β†’

West Des Moines, IA

Polk County

No data available yet for West Des Moines.

Key Facts Comparison

FactDes MoinesWest Des Moines
CodeDSM Ch. 6-
Permit typeKennel license-
Foster exemptionPossible-
EnforcementAnimal Services-

Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.

Des Moines FAQ

How many dogs and cats can I have?

Chapter 6 sets a combined household limit; exceeding it requires a kennel permit, which involves zoning review, neighbor notice, and an Animal Services inspection.

Are foster pets counted?

Animals fostered through recognized rescues may be exempt with proper paperwork, but unaffiliated foster arrangements typically count toward the household pet limit.

West Des Moines FAQ

No FAQs available.

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