Des Moines, IA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat
- 68°F indoors
- Trigger
- Outdoor temp below 60°F
- License
- Rental business license required
- Enforcement
- Municipal infraction, civil penalty
- Also covers
- Handrails, plumbing, sanitation, structure
Summary
Des Moines requires a licensed, inspected rental unit to maintain at least 68°F indoors when it's below 60°F outside, alongside code-wide standards for structural, electrical, plumbing and sanitary conditions under Chapter 60's Rental Property Maintenance Code.
When the temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, every rental dwelling unit and rooming unit shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a minimum room temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit at a point of three feet above the floor and two feet from exterior walls in all habitable spaces, bathrooms and toilet rooms.
Exceptions: When the outdoor temperature is below the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required provided that the heating system is operating at its full design capacity. The winter outdoor design temperature for the locality shall be as indicated in Appendix D of the International Plumbing Code.
(O.16,392)
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 regulates rental habitability through Chapter 60's Rental Property Maintenance Code, which requires every landlord to hold a rental business license and pass a city inspection before renting a unit (§ 60-30, § 60-33). The code sets concrete standards covering structural soundness, handrails, plumbing, electrical, sanitation and pest control, plus a specific heating rule: when it's below 60°F outside, units must maintain at least 68°F in habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms (§ 60-144). Inspectors issue notices of violation with a 30-day correction window, and repeat or unresolved violations shorten a property's license term or trigger suspension.
Violations & Fines
Uncorrected violations can suspend or revoke the rental business license (§ 60-37), and the owner faces a municipal infraction with a civil penalty under § 1-15, plus administrative fines set by the city's fee schedule (§ 60-38).
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature must Des Moines rental units maintain in winter?
Do Des Moines landlords need a rental license?
What happens if a landlord ignores a habitability violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
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