Des Moines requires all short-term commercial rental operators to maintain at least $500,000 in liability insurance covering bodily injury and property damage arising from rental use, as a condition of obtaining and keeping a rental certificate.
Under Des Moines Municipal Code Chapter 60, Article II (Rental Property Maintenance Code), operators of short-term commercial rentals — defined as lodging for fewer than 30 consecutive days — must obtain a rental certificate from the city and carry a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance. The policy must defend and indemnify the owner, any named additional insureds, and tenants for bodily injury and property damage. Insurance must be maintained continuously while the certificate is in force. Rental certificates are valid for five years and must be renewed. Compliance is enforced by Neighborhood Inspection Services.
Violations may result in fines up to $750 per day and revocation of the rental certificate. Operating without a valid certificate is also a violation.
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no city ordinance restricting lawn ornaments on residential property. Chapter 60 (Housing) requires reasonable property maintenance and could ...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no city ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Chapter 48 (Noise) standards could theoretically apply to overnight blow...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no municipal ordinance regulating residential holiday lights. Display timing, brightness, and animation are governed primarily by HOA and cond...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines requires building permits for permanent outdoor kitchen installations with gas lines, electrical wiring, plumbing, or structural roofs under Chapt...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines has no smoker-specific ordinance. Open burning is regulated under Chapter 70 (Fire Prevention) and Iowa Code 100B with cooking-fire exemptions. Io...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines Fire Code under Chapter 26, Article XII adopts the International Fire Code (IFC). IFC 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices and LP-gas tank...
See how Des Moines's insurance requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.