The West Des Moines City Code is the full set of local ordinances governing property, pets, noise, building, parking, and rental housing inside the city, and it is published online by American Legal Publishing at codelibrary.amlegal.com.1American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines City Code The code is organized into numbered Titles, Chapters, and Sections. Title 4 covers Health and Safety, Title 5 covers Police Regulations, Title 6 covers Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Title 8 covers Building Regulations, and Title 9 covers Zoning.2American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines Code of Ordinances The online version updates as new ordinances are codified, so it reflects current law.
How To Look Something Up
Open the code library site and either browse the table of contents or use the keyword search bar at the top. Once you know which Title holds your topic, the Chapter and Section numbers get you to the exact rule. A citation like “Section 9-14-11” tells you to go to Title 9, Chapter 14, Section 11.
Property Upkeep Rules That Catch People
Weeds and other vegetation, excluding trees and shrubs, cannot exceed ten inches in height on any occupied or unoccupied lot, and vegetation must be cut at least once a year to stay under that limit under Section 4-4-2.3American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines Code of Ordinances – 4-4-2 Nuisances Declared A native planting area is allowed as an alternative, but it requires a controlled-burn permit from the fire department. If the city has to hire a contractor to mow, the bill goes to the owner.
Broken, part-less, or unlicensed vehicles cannot be stored on private property, and all vehicles and trailers must sit on paved surfaces.4City of West Des Moines. Community Compliance When a complaint comes in, a city inspector visits the site. If a violation is confirmed, the owner gets a letter and seven to ten days to fix it.
Fence Height and Placement
Fence rules sit in the zoning code at Section 9-14-11. In a front yard or a street-facing side yard, a fence cannot exceed four feet. Side and rear yard fences that don’t border a street can go up to the maximum height allowed by the zoning district.5American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines Code of Ordinances – 9-14-11 Fences Height is measured from the ground directly beneath the fence, and in single-family residential districts you cannot build a berm or raised planter just to gain extra height.
Pet Licensing and Leash Rules
Chapter 3A under Title 5 requires annual licensing for dogs and cats, and no license will be issued without proof of current rabies vaccination.6American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines Code of Ordinances – Article A Dogs and Cats Section 5-3-9 prohibits running at large, so pets must be leashed or confined within a secure enclosure whenever they are off the owner’s property. An animal involved in a bite incident faces a mandatory minimum ten-day quarantine under Section 5-3-13.
Noise
Noise rules live in Title 4, Chapter 7, under Health and Safety rather than the police code.7American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines Code of Ordinances – Chapter 7 Noise Control The chapter regulates sound that disturbs the peace and sets the standards for what counts as excessive. Because of where it sits in the code, enforcement usually starts with a complaint rather than a patrol stop, and violations can bring a citation. The specific decibel thresholds and any prohibited hours for particular activities are in the full chapter text online.
Building Permits
All building and construction regulation is in Title 8.8American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines Code of Ordinances – Article A Building Code The city has adopted the International Building Code for commercial and multi-family structures and the International Residential Code for single-family homes. Structural work, electrical wiring, and plumbing modifications all require a permit before you start. Residential applications go through the city’s online City Access Portal, which has submittal checklists for different project types.9City of West Des Moines. Residential Building Permits
Solar Panels
Residential solar and photovoltaic systems have their own permit path through the same City Access Portal, with a separate checklist of submittal requirements.9City of West Des Moines. Residential Building Permits Pull that checklist before you talk to an installer so you know what documentation the city will want.
Home-Based Businesses
Working from home in West Des Moines requires a Home Occupation Permit, and Section 9-8-5 of the zoning code sets limits tighter than many people expect.10American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines Code of Ordinances – 9-8-5 Restrictions for Home Occupations
- Clients may visit by appointment only, averaged at no more than two per hour on a daily basis.
- Only one non-resident employee can work on the premises at any one time.
- No business signs are allowed except those required by state law, which are limited to one square foot.
- If customers visit, the business can use no more than 500 square feet. If no customers visit, you can use up to one-quarter of the home, a garage, or 500 square feet, whichever is greater.
- The business must be conducted entirely indoors and cannot be noticeable from outside the home.
- Goods can only be delivered or shipped between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
- Trade work by electricians, plumbers, painters, and similar contractors is limited to office use on the premises.
The underlying principle is that the home has to stay residential in character. Visible commercial traffic, outdoor storage, or noise will put you on the wrong side of the ordinance.
Rental Property Licensing
Every rental property in the city must be licensed and inspected by the Building Division every two years.11City of West Des Moines. Rental Housing The owner registers the property and schedules an inspection. If problems are found, the owner typically has 30 days to complete repairs. Once fees are paid and repairs are done, the city issues a Rental Housing Certificate. The license fee scales with the number of units and covers the primary inspection plus one follow-up. Operating without a license puts the owner at risk of code enforcement action, so an investor should build the biennial cycle and fees into operating costs from day one.
Sidewalks, Snow, and Winter Parking
Property owners must clear snow and ice from the sidewalks bordering their land within 24 hours after a storm ends, including stretches that cross a driveway or alley, under Section 6-6-7.12City of West Des Moines. Snow and Ice Removal If the sidewalk doesn’t get cleared, the city can do the work and assess the cost against the property.
Parking rules are in Title 6.13American Legal Publishing. West Des Moines Code of Ordinances – Title 6 Motor Vehicles and Traffic When the city declares a snow emergency, parking on designated snow routes becomes illegal so plows can get through, and vehicles left on those routes can be ticketed and towed. The city posts snow emergencies on its website and through local media.
Appealing a Zoning Decision
If you disagree with how the city has interpreted a zoning provision, or believe your situation justifies a variance, the Board of Adjustment hears administrative appeals and variance requests. The city publishes a Citizen’s Guide to the Board, the current meeting schedule, and tips for presenting at a public hearing on its website.14City of West Des Moines. Board of Adjustment