Plastic Straw Rules: Des Moines vs West Des Moines
How do plastic straw rules rules compare between Des Moines, IA and West Des Moines, IA?
Des Moines and West Des Moines have similar restriction levels.
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
Iowa's auxiliary-container preemption blocks Des Moines from requiring straws-on-request or banning plastic straws; restaurants may voluntarily adopt paper or no-straw policies.
View full Des Moines rules →West Des Moines, IA
Polk County
Iowa has no statewide plastic straw restriction, and Iowa Code 455B.485 prevents cities from banning or charging fees on straws.
View full West Des Moines rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Des Moines | West Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Local straw ban | Preempted | - |
| On-request rule | Preempted | - |
| Voluntary policies | Common downtown | - |
| ADA accommodation | Not required by city | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Des Moines FAQ
Are plastic straws banned in Des Moines?
No. Iowa law preempts local single-use item rules, so plastic straws remain fully legal. Some restaurants choose paper or no-straw defaults voluntarily for sustainability reasons.
Can my restaurant be required to switch to paper?
Not by Des Moines. State law blocks the city from mandating straw materials. Federal contracts and private property owners may still impose their own requirements.
West Des Moines FAQ
Can an Iowa restaurant only offer straws on request?
Yes, voluntarily. State law does not require it, and businesses may set their own policies for straw distribution.
Could Des Moines ban plastic straws?
No. Iowa Code 455B.485 preempts cities from banning, taxing, or charging fees on auxiliary containers including straws.
Compare other topics
See how Des Moines and West Des Moines compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool