Des Moines, IA Public Conduct: Jaywalking (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 114-328
- Outside a crosswalk
- Must yield to all vehicles
- 30 mph+ or business/school district
- Crossing outside crosswalk is banned
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor fine under Sec. 1-15
- Applies to
- Des Moines city limits only
Summary
Des Moines pedestrians who cross outside a marked or unmarked intersection crosswalk must yield to all vehicles, and jaywalking is barred outright on 30-mph-plus streets and in business or school districts under Sec. 114-328.
(a)Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.(b)No pedestrian shall cross a roadway with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or higher or in any business or school district other than in a crosswalk. (C62, § 30-124; O.8084; C75, C79, § 27-132; C91, § 27-328; O.11,650, 15,770)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, I.C. § 321.328.
Sec. 114-328.01. - Pedestrian safety, use of medians.
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
Des Moines Municipal Code § 114-328 requires any pedestrian crossing a street outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to yield the right-of-way to every vehicle on the roadway. The section goes further on faster and more crowded streets: crossing anywhere but a crosswalk is flatly prohibited on any street posted 30 mph or higher, and in any business or school district, regardless of speed limit. The rule applies citywide inside Des Moines; it does not extend into West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny, Clive, Windsor Heights or Pleasant Hill, each of which sets its own pedestrian crossing rules.
Violations & Fines
Jaywalking outside these bounds is a misdemeanor under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-15, fined per Iowa Code § 903.1(1)(a); Des Moines police can also just issue a warning at an officer's discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jaywalking illegal in Des Moines?
What's the penalty for jaywalking in Des Moines?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
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