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:
23,519 parcels · 36 districts
PUD/R-1
24%(5,695)
R-1
18%(4,206)
RS
17%(3,968)
PUD/RM
15%(3,619)
Other
26%(6,031)
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 internal ADU size is 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the single-family home’s above-grade gross floor area (including any attached garage), whichever is larger.
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum detached ADU size is the larger of 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the single-family home’s gross floor area.
Max Units
- –1 ADU per single-family lot (attached or detached)
Owner Occupancy
- –No owner-occupancy requirement.
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
- –Tiny Home or Manufactured/Mobile Home ADU: minimum occupancy >180 days/year; short-term rentals prohibited.
- –Park Home/Model ADU: max 180 days/year; no year-round rental.
- –Recreational Vehicle ADU: not allowed as rental; sleeping use on single-family property limited to 30 days/year.
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