Des Moines prohibits outdoor lighting that causes glare or spills onto adjacent residential properties and public rights-of-way. Chapter 134 Article IV and Chapter 135 site-design standards require shielded, downward-directed fixtures. No standalone foot-candle or curfew ordinance has been adopted.
Chapter 134 (Zoning Ordinance No. 15,816), Article IV β General Requirements, requires all exterior lighting to be directed away from adjoining residential properties and public rights-of-way to prevent glare and light trespass. Commercial and parking-lot fixtures must be fully shielded so that light is confined to the subject property. Chapter 135 (Planning and Design) Article 8 β Site Design Requirements β reinforces these standards for new development and redevelopment projects, requiring photometric plans for larger commercial sites. Chapter 42 (Environment), Article V (Nuisances) provides a nuisance remedy for unreasonable light intrusion from neighboring properties. No quantitative foot-candle limit, CCT (color temperature) cap, lumen-per-acre cap, or light-curfew hour has been adopted. Complaints are handled by the Zoning Enforcement Division (515-283-4207).
Light trespass violations are zoning code infractions; Zoning Enforcement Division issues notices of violation; nuisance complaints may also be filed under Chapter 42 Art. V.
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 light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.