Shed Installation Permits in Des Moines

Local Rule

City of Des Moines Permit and Development Center; City of Des Moines Building a Storage Shed guidance

Des Moines caps a permit-exempt storage shed at 120 square feet; a building exceeding that size requires a building permit and is treated as a new detached garage, per the city's own Building a Storage Shed guidance. Storage sheds are permitted in the rear yard only, must sit at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines and at least 3 feet from the house, and cannot be located in the front yard or in a side yard abutting a street. Maximum shed height is 17 feet measured from the peak of the roof, and the combined ground floor area of all accessory buildings, including sheds and detached garages, is limited to 20 percent of the rear yard.

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 120 sqft). Here is the separate rule that applies at the county level, for context:

Polk County Building Services

Polk County amended IRC Section R105.2 to a 120 sq ft exemption threshold, stricter than the standard IRC floor of 200 sq ft. The county also changed the fence exemption to 6 ft and moved prefabricated pool exemptions to its own Zoning Ordinance rather than the building code. This differs from the 200 sq ft threshold used in most other Iowa cities.

See the full county page

Nearby Cities with Verified Rules

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

FAQs

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

Popular tools and materials homeowners use for a shed installation project:

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