Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Des Moines city limits; city zoning ordinance is Municipal Code Chapter 134

  • Chapter 135 (Planning and Design) also applies per the city checklist.

  “shows location of the building and site elements to be constructed. see municipal code chapter 134 & 135 for detailed requirements.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term commercial rentals (under 30 consecutive days) inside Des Moines city

  • Subject to supplemental regulations in section 134-3.5.12.c and additional conditions the Board of Adjustment may require.
  • Board of Adjustment review against general standards.
  • Current adopted text should be checked; opened source is a 2019 amending ordinance.

  rental term defining short-term: < 30 consecutive days

  “all short-term rentals are subject to the following siiddlemental regulations, tosether with such additional special coadifions as may be reasonably required by the board of adjustment:”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permits inside Des Moines city, Permit and Development Center

  • Fee schedule is labeled 'new fees 2-1-25'.
  • Single-family fee depends on finished floor area (basement and garage excluded).
  • Separate electrical, mechanical and plumbing fees apply.

  accessory housing unit building permit: 550 USD · new single-family 1,200 sq ft or less: 1050 USD · new single-family 1,201-2,000 sq ft: 1350 USD · new single-family over 2,000 sq ft: 1750 USD

  “new construction of accessory housing unit on residential lot $550.00”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit applications inside Des Moines city

  • Site plans are submitted through the city's online self-service portal.

  “submit site plans to css portal at https://css.dmgov.org/energov_prod/selfservice#/home”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Des Moines or Polk County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Des Moines city
• Inspections — Inspections inside Des Moines city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Des Moines city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Des Moines city
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Des Moines city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Des Moines means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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