Iowa Code 317.10 requires every landowner to destroy all noxious weeds on their land as directed by the county board of supervisors. Polk County's Weed Commission enforces this and takes complaints on listed weeds.
Under Iowa's noxious-weed law (Chapter 317), each owner and each person controlling any land must cut, burn, or otherwise destroy all noxious weeds as the board of supervisors prescribes, and keep the land free of other weeds that make adjoining roads unsafe. Iowa Code 317.1A lists the primary and secondary noxious weeds — Canada thistle, leafy spurge, poison hemlock, multiflora rose, Palmer amaranth, and others. Polk County's Weed Commission enforces this on unincorporated land and takes complaints for any plant on the Iowa Noxious Weed List. If an owner won't comply, the county can enter, destroy the weeds, and bill the owner.
County may order destruction; if the owner fails, it controls the weeds and assesses the cost to the landowner (collected like a property tax under Ch. 317).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines requires building permits for permanent outdoor kitchen installations with gas lines, electrical wiring, plumbing, or structural roofs under Chapt...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no smoker-specific ordinance. Open burning is regulated under Chapter 70 (Fire Prevention) and Iowa Code 100B with cooking-fire exemptions. Io...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines Fire Code under Chapter 26, Article XII adopts the International Fire Code (IFC). IFC 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas tank...
See how Des Moines's weed ordinances rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.