Des Moines, IA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- before renting any unit
- Apply
- at least 90 days pre-occupancy
- License term
- 9 months to 3.5 years
- Owner-occupied single household
- exempt
- Enforcement
- municipal infraction, civil penalty
Summary
Every rental dwelling or rooming unit in Des Moines needs a rental business license before an owner can lease it, backed by a mandatory pre-occupancy inspection.
No owner(s) shall rent any dwelling unit or rooming unit unless that owner(s) holds a valid rental business license for such property.
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 requires owners to hold a valid rental business license for each rental structure under Municipal Code Chapter 60, Article II. Owners must open a business account with the Neighborhood Services division, apply at least 90 days before occupancy, and pass a rental inspection before the license issues. Licenses run 1.5 to 3.5 years depending on unit count and violation history. Single-household dwellings occupied by the owner or the owner's nuclear family, and government-owned or -operated properties, are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Renting without a current license is a municipal infraction with a civil penalty under Code § 1-15. The division can also revoke or suspend a license for uncorrected violations or an imminent health/safety threat, and structures declared a public nuisance under § 60-192 automatically lose their license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an owner-occupied duplex need a rental license in Des Moines?
How long does a Des Moines rental business license last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
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