Fence Installation Permits in Des Moines

Local Rule

City of Des Moines Development Services, Permit and

Des Moines does not require a permit for chain-link or wire fences 4 feet or less in height, or for all other fence types 3 feet or less in height, per Municipal Code Section 26-302; residential fencing exceeding 3 feet (or chain-link/wire exceeding 4 feet) requires a permit from the city, applied for by emailing a completed form to dz@dmgov.org. A wall, fence, or hedge greater than 42 inches within the required front yard or a side yard adjacent to a street must be wrought iron, chain link, or a similarly open material no more than 20 percent view-obscuring, unless the property owner first obtains city traffic engineer approval confirming safe sight distance is maintained. No fences are allowed in the public right-of-way, and the decorative side must face outward.

Source · Verified September 2026

Des Moines Building Department

Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.

How This Compares to Polk County

Des Moines's own rule is shown above (No permit under 3 sqft). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:

Polk County Building Services (unincorporated areas)

Polk County amended Section 105.2 of its adopted building code to lower the statewide fence exemption from 7 feet to 6 feet in unincorporated areas, so a fence taller than 6 feet requires a building permit. Prefabricated swimming pools are instead governed by the separate Polk County Zoning Ordinance rather than the building code exemption.

See the full county page

Nearby Cities with Verified Rules

Other cities near Des Moines with a confirmed fence installation rule:

FAQs

Building It Yourself? Here's What You'll Need

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