Des Moines, IA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 10 inches on developed lots, always
- Vacant lot definition
- under 1 acre, no structures
- Notice period
- 10 days before city abates
- Enforcement
- weed official / neighborhood inspections admin
- Distance exception
- 100+ feet from street or developed land
Summary
Des Moines lets weeds on a vacant lot grow past ten inches only if it sits 100+ feet from a street, public property, or developed land: otherwise the weed official can order it cut and bill the owner.
Weeds and other growth on any undeveloped area shall be permitted to exceed ten inches in height if any of the following apply: ... c. Such weed growth or growth of vegetation with a height of more than ten inches is located a distance of 100 feet or more from any public street, publicly-owned property, or any developed area.
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
Under Chapter 42, Article XII, the City of Des Moines defines a vacant lot as under one acre with no building or structure standing on it. Developed lots must stay weed-free and under ten inches of grass at all times. Vacant and other undeveloped lots get a conditional exception: growth can exceed ten inches only if the terrain isn't practically mowable, the parcel isn't near developed property, or the growth sits 100 feet or more from any public street, public property, or developed land. The weed official, the neighborhood inspections administrator, enforces the standard citywide.
Violations & Fines
Weed official gives 10 days' written notice; unresolved growth gets cut by the city, and the cost plus an administrative fee is assessed against the property like a property tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to mow a vacant lot I own in Des Moines?
What happens if I ignore a weed notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
Compare Des Moines to another location·View the Iowa property maintenance overview
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