ADUs are allowed in West Des MoinesTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for West Des Moines, IA
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
13,107
Owner-occupied
85%
Zoning districts
36
Avg Home Value
$400,463
Median Lot Size
0.23 acres
Avg Income
$115,381
Residential Types:
13,107 housing units
Other
100%
Zoning Districts:
22,093 parcels · 36 districts
PUD/R-1
26%(5,771)
R-1
19%(4,203)
RS
18%(3,966)
PUD/RM
14%(3,135)
Other
23%(5,018)
ADU Rules
What can you build in West Des Moines, IA?
West Des Moines, IA follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.
Eligibility
- –Internal / Attached ADU: By Right
- –Detached ADU: By Right
Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size is the larger of 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the single-family home’s above‑grade gross floor area (including attached garage).
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum detached ADU size is the larger of 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the primary home’s gross floor area (including any attached garage).
Max Units
- –1 second dwelling unit per single-family lot; may be attached or detached.
- –Multifamily (RM, RH): 0 per lot.
Owner Occupancy
- –No owner-occupancy requirement is specified.
Parking
- –0 spaces/ADU; no off-street parking required; garage not required for a second dwelling unit (including manufactured/mobile and tiny homes); any parking provided must meet Chapter 15 standards and not cause the primary dwelling to be deficient
Rental Restrictions
- –Manufactured or Mobile Home ADUs and Tiny Home ADUs must be used for long-term occupancy (>180 consecutive days per calendar year); short-term/vacation rentals prohibited.
What's allowed on your lot?
These are the municipality-wide rules. What's allowed on a specific property also depends on state laws, setbacks, floor area ratio, lot coverage, environmental constraints, topography, and other property-specific factors. Search your address on FutureLot to see what's allowed on your property.
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ADU rules in other Iowa municipalities
Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.
Polk County