Des Moines, IA Trash & Recycling: Illegal Dumping (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 98-70
- Who can cite
- Public works director or police
- Municipal infraction penalty
- Up to $750 (first)
- Repeat offense penalty
- Up to $1,000
- Appeal window
- 10 business days (§ 98-79.05)
Summary
Des Moines bans dumping litter, solid waste, yard debris or other foreign material on streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way and city property under Municipal Code § 98-70, backed by administrative penalties or municipal infraction fines that public works staff and police can issue directly.
No owner shall throw, rake, deposit, place, drop or spill yard debris, as defined in division 1 of this article, litter, solid waste, waste material or other foreign material upon the streets, sidewalks, or other public rights-of-way or city property except as provided in sections 98-58 and 98-115 of this division. In any proceedings charging a violation of this section, proof that the particular violation described constitutes a violation of this section, together with proof that the violator was the owner of the residential dwelling, commercial establishment and/or real estate from which the yard debris, litter, solid waste, waste material or other foreign material was removed, shall be deemed to create a rebuttable presumption that such violator was the party violating this section.
(C62, § 52A-12; O.8074; C75, C79, C91, § 16-109; O.13,350, 14,792)
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 § 98-70 bars any owner from throwing, raking, depositing, placing, dropping or spilling litter, solid waste, yard debris or other foreign material onto streets, sidewalks, public rights-of-way or city property, outside the approved collection methods in §§ 98-58 and 98-115. If dumped material is traced back to a residential dwelling or business, the code creates a rebuttable presumption that the property owner is the violator. The public works director, a designee, or any police officer can issue an administrative penalty under § 98-79.02, or the city can instead pursue a misdemeanor or municipal infraction charge under the general penalty section, § 1-15. A person served an administrative penalty notice can request a hearing within ten business days under § 98-79.05.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 98-70 draws an administrative penalty from public works or police, or prosecution as a misdemeanor/municipal infraction under § 1-15: up to $750 per violation, $1,000 for a repeat offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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