Des Moines offers density bonuses, height increases, and parking reductions for projects that include affordable units, especially in downtown and mixed-use corridors under PlanDSM 2040 implementation tools and tax increment financing agreements.
DSM Ch. 134 form-based code provides incentives for affordable housing, including additional stories above base height, reduced parking ratios near transit, and expedited review when projects commit to long-term affordability covenants. The city Affordable Housing Roadmap and TIF policy further support 20% affordable inclusion in major projects. State law (Iowa Code Ch. 414) gives cities zoning authority but bars mandatory inclusionary zoning at the rental level. Most density bonuses are voluntary and tied to discretionary approvals.
Failure to deliver promised affordable units triggers TIF clawbacks and recorded covenant enforcement up to project value forfeiture.
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines encourages higher-density transit-oriented development along DART bus corridors and at proposed bus rapid transit stations, with PlanDSM 2040 prio...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines adopted PlanDSM 2040 as the comprehensive plan and replaced its old Euclidean zoning with a form-based code in Chapter 134 of the Municipal Code, ...
See how Des Moines's density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
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