In unincorporated Polk County, the Weed Commission takes complaints for grass over 12 inches or plants on the Iowa Noxious Weed List. Cities set their own limits — inside Des Moines, contact the city (NID@dmgov.org).
Polk County has no fixed lawn-height ordinance, but its Weed Commission treats grass taller than 12 inches as an actionable overgrowth complaint on unincorporated land. Complaints run only during the season (roughly May through mid-October) and only outside city limits. Uncut growth is also reachable under the county Health Nuisance Regulation, which lets the Health Officer order abatement of overgrown-lot conditions. Incorporated cities (Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale) each set and enforce their own grass-height codes, so verify with your city if you live inside a municipality.
Owner gets a 30-day courtesy letter, then a 21-day abatement notice; if uncorrected, the County cuts it and assesses the cost against the property like a tax.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Polk County Conservation parks are open 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. in summer and sunrise to sunset in winter. All visitors must leave before closing time, front...
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Exterior lighting must restrict glare and keep light from encroaching onto adjacent properties and the road right-of-way. Flickering or flashing lights are b...
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Article 12 requires non-residential exterior lighting to use cutoff fixtures. Lighting must be a no-cutoff, total-cutoff up to 90 degrees, or total-cutoff at...
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The Zoning Ordinance has no garage-sale-sign-specific rule. Small temporary/portable signs are treated as portable signs (a temporary sign permit, 14-day val...
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Temporary political signs are allowed in unincorporated Polk County without a sign permit, but may not be erected earlier than 70 days before the election an...
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Portable tiny homes cannot be used as accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Polk County. A fixed, code-compliant tiny house on a foundation is treated a...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in this county.
See how West Des Moines's grass height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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