Des Moines, IA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit-exempt height
- 4 ft or less unbalanced fill
- Also exempt if
- no surcharge, no flammable liquids
- Public-project walls
- exempt, city engineer regulated
- Enforced by
- Development Services building official
- Applies in
- Des Moines city limits only
Summary
Des Moines exempts retaining walls holding four feet or less of unbalanced fill from a building permit, but taller walls, ones bearing a surcharge, or ones impounding flammable liquids need a permit from the building official.
A building permit shall not be required for the following: ... (5) Retaining walls, which retain no more than four feet of unbalanced fill, do not support a surcharge, and do not impound flammable liquids. (6) Retaining walls which are part of a public improvement project regulated by the city engineer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under Des Moines Municipal Code § 26-302(a)(5)-(6), a building permit is not required to build a retaining wall that retains four feet or less of unbalanced fill, doesn't support a surcharge, and doesn't impound flammable liquids, nor for retaining walls that are part of a public improvement project already regulated by the city engineer. Any wall exceeding those limits needs a building permit from the Development Services building official before work starts, reviewed against the adopted International Building Code. West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny, Clive, Windsor Heights and Pleasant Hill are separate cities with their own building codes, so this exemption applies only inside Des Moines city limits.
Violations & Fines
Building a permit-required retaining wall without one is a code violation; the building official can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work is enforceable as a misdemeanor or municipal infraction under the city's general penalty section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard retaining wall in Des Moines?
Is a retaining wall built as part of a city street project permitted separately?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
Compare Des Moines to another location·View the Iowa fence regulations overview
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