Des Moines lodging guests pay a combined ~13% tax: 7% city hotel-motel tax plus Iowa's 6% state sales tax, with revenues funding tourism, convention center, and Iowa Events Center operations.
Iowa Code §423A authorizes cities to levy a hotel-motel tax up to 7%, and Des Moines applies the maximum 7% rate. Combined with the 6% Iowa state sales tax, lodging guests pay approximately 13% on rooms. Some hotels in the downtown TIF district may collect additional self-supported municipal improvement district fees. Revenue funds Catch Des Moines tourism marketing, the Iowa Events Center, and Polk County convention infrastructure. Short-term rentals like Airbnb collect the same combined rate. Hotels file remittance through the Iowa Department of Revenue, which forwards the city share quarterly.
Tax assessments with interest, civil penalties, business-license suspension for chronic non-remitters, possible Iowa DOR fraud referrals.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines does not have a standalone tenant anti-harassment ordinance. Tenant protections come from Iowa Code 562A.36 retaliation rules and federal Fair Hou...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines allows ADUs in its neighborhood districts under Municipal Code Chapter 134, with building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits through De...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines Chapter 134 historically required the owner to live in either the main house or the ADU, backed by a recorded affidavit. Since July 1, 2025, Iowa ...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments on residential property. Chapter 60 (Housing) requires reasonable property maintenance and could ...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Chapter 48 (Noise) standards could theoretically apply to overnight blow...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no municipal ordinance regulating residential holiday lights. Display timing, brightness, and animation are governed primarily by HOA and cond...
See how Des Moines's transient occupancy tax rules stack up against other locations.
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