Des Moines, IA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Des Moines, IA, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Grading permit, site plan, or plat
- Mature tree
- 12+ inches diameter at breast height
- Mitigation ratio
- 1 tree per 2,000 sq ft canopy removed
- Administered by
- Community development director
- Enforced by
- Zoning enforcement officer
Summary
Des Moines requires a city-approved tree removal and mitigation plan before any grading permit, site plan, or subdivision plat is granted: cutting mature trees or canopied area on private land outside those approvals triggers no separate city permit.
Any person seeking city approval of any of the following development activities is subject to the requirements of this article. No city permits or approvals shall be given for any of the following development activities until the applicant has received approval of a tree removal and mitigation plan as provided in this article for the affected property. (1) A grading permit pursuant to article II, of chapter 42; (2) A site plan pursuant to article 9, of chapter 135; or, (3) A subdivision plat or plat of survey pursuant to chapter 106 of this Code.
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
The tree removal and mitigation ordinance (Code of Ordinances Ch. 42, Art. X) applies only when a property owner seeks a grading permit, a Chapter 135 site plan, or a Chapter 106 subdivision plat or plat of survey: none may be approved until the community development director approves a tree removal and mitigation plan for the parcel. A 'mature tree' is any species 12 inches or more in diameter at breast height. Approved plans set replacement ratios by canopy square footage and trunk diameter; owners may also submit a plan voluntarily outside a triggering permit.
Violations & Fines
Removing trees beyond what an approved plan allows, or removing them without a required plan, is a municipal infraction carrying a civil penalty under City Code § 1-15, enforced by the zoning enforcement officer; the city may also seek injunctive relief under § 42-557.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Des Moines require a permit just to cut down a tree in my yard?
What size tree counts as 'mature' under the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
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