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Des Moines, IA Public Conduct: Loud Party Ordinance (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Quiet Hours
10pm weekdays, 11pm weekends
Second Response
Fee charged
Social Host
Iowa §123.47 liability
Nuisance Property
After repeat calls

Summary

Des Moines loud-party calls trigger DSMPD response under noise ordinance Ch. 42, with second-response fees, host liability for underage drinking, and possible nuisance designations for repeat addresses.

123.47 Persons under eighteen years of age, persons eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years of age, and persons twenty-one years of age and older. 1. A person shall not sell, give, or otherwise supply any alcoholic beverage to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that person to be under legal age. 2. a. Except for the purposes described in subsection 3, a person who is the owner or lessee of, or who otherwise has control over, property that is not a licensed premises, shall not knowingly permit any person, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the person to be under the age of eighteen, to consume or possess on such property any alcoholic beverage.

Source: Iowa Code §123.47View official code

Full Breakdown

Des Moines responds to loud-party complaints under the city noise ordinance, generally enforcing 10 p.m. quiet hours on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. A first response is typically a warning. A second response within the same evening triggers a response fee and citations to the responsible party. Hosts who provide alcohol to minors face Iowa Code §123.47 charges and potential civil liability under Iowa social-host law. Properties generating chronic complaints can be declared nuisance properties under Ch. 42, with escalating fines to the property owner.

Violations & Fines

Response fees, simple-misdemeanor citations, Iowa social-host civil liability for injuries, and nuisance-property designations for repeat offenders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my landlord be notified?
Yes, repeat calls trigger nuisance-property notices to owners under Ch. 42, who can face escalating fines and pressure to evict tenants.
What if minors are drinking?
The host can be charged under Iowa Code §123.47 for supplying alcohol to minors and held civilly liable for any resulting harm under social-host law.

Sources & Official References

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All Des Moines rules

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