Des Moines Landlord-Tenant Rules
Des Moines adds local rules on top of Iowa landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.
| Rental certificate (license) & inspection | Any house not occupied by its owner must have a City rental certificate (license) before it is occupied, and owners apply online through the City's Customer Self-Service portal. The Neighborhood Inspection Division inspects rentals. Under the fee schedule dated December 23, 2024, a renewal inspection is $96 for a single-family home and $122 for a duplex. An initial inspection is $136 for a single-family home and $161 for a duplex. Apartment buildings pay $123 for the first two units plus $21 for each additional unit. Certificate length depends on the inspection results: 3.5 years for 1-2 units with no violations and a clean record, 2.5 years for 3 or more units with no violations, and as short as 9 months for buildings with many violations. If an owner misses a scheduled inspection, the City inspects the exterior and may seek an administrative search warrant for the interior. Unpaid fees can be assessed against the property. Anyone can contact the Division to check whether a rental has a certificate. Fees and certificate terms are from the City's fee schedule: https://cms2.revize.com/revize/desmoines/document_center/Neighborhood%20Services/Neighborhood%20Inspection/2024.12.23_Schedule.of.Fees_.pdf. The page refers to 'Updates to Chapter 60 - November 2024', which were not reviewed. |
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| Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line | Tenants must first give the owner or management agent written notice of the problem; the City posts a template letter. The owner then has 7 days to fix it. If it is not fixed, the tenant contacts the Neighborhood Inspection Division with a copy of the notice. The City sends the owner a Notice of Complaint allowing 7 more days. If the problem remains, the City inspects and issues a Notice of Violation. Timelines can be shortened for emergencies. Contact: nid@dmgov.org or (515) 283-4046. Phone and email: https://www.dsm.city/departments/neighborhood_services/neighborhood_inspections/index.php Source: Des Moines Municipal Code Ch. 60 |
| State preemption (rent control and voucher acceptance) | Iowa cities may not limit the amount of rent charged for private residential property. Since January 1, 2023, Iowa cities also may not adopt or enforce any ordinance that stops a landlord from refusing to rent to someone because they use a federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). Any such local ordinance in effect on January 1, 2021 became void. As a result, Des Moines cannot require landlords to accept vouchers. Whether any other source-of-income protection remains in Des Moines's human rights ordinance was not verified. |
Eviction cases in Des Moines are heard in: Iowa District Court for Polk County (forcible entry and detainer, usually as small claims)
Right to a lawyer in eviction cases
No local right to counsel found. Official source
Local agencies
- Des Moines Neighborhood Inspection Division — Rental certificates and inspections, rental housing condition complaints. (515) 283-4046, nid@dmgov.org.
- Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission — Receives and investigates discrimination complaints. 515-283-4284, HumanRights@dmgov.org.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord-tenant rules does Des Moines add on top of Iowa law?
Rental certificate (license) & inspection: Any house not occupied by its owner must have a City rental certificate (license) before it is occupied, and owners apply online through the City's Customer Self-Service portal. The Neighborhood Inspection Division inspects rentals. Under the fee schedule dated December 23, 2024, a renewal inspection is $96 for a single-family home and $122 for a duplex. An initial inspection is $136 for a single-family home and $161 for a duplex. Apartment buildings pay $123 for the first two units plus $21 for each additional unit. Certificate length depends on the inspection results: 3.5 years for 1-2 units with no violations and a clean record, 2.5 years for 3 or more units with no violations, and as short as 9 months for buildings with many violations. If an owner misses a scheduled inspection, the City inspects the exterior and may seek an administrative search warrant for the interior. Unpaid fees can be assessed against the property. Anyone can contact the Division to check whether a rental has a certificate.; Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line: Tenants must first give the owner or management agent written notice of the problem; the City posts a template letter. The owner then has 7 days to fix it. If it is not fixed, the tenant contacts the Neighborhood Inspection Division with a copy of the notice. The City sends the owner a Notice of Complaint allowing 7 more days. If the problem remains, the City inspects and issues a Notice of Violation. Timelines can be shortened for emergencies. Contact: nid@dmgov.org or (515) 283-4046.; State preemption (rent control and voucher acceptance): Iowa cities may not limit the amount of rent charged for private residential property. Since January 1, 2023, Iowa cities also may not adopt or enforce any ordinance that stops a landlord from refusing to rent to someone because they use a federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). Any such local ordinance in effect on January 1, 2021 became void. As a result, Des Moines cannot require landlords to accept vouchers.
← All Iowa landlord-tenant rules
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.