Is Airbnb legal in Des Moines, IA?
RestrictedAirbnb is restricted in Des Moines, IA
An STR requires conditional-use approval from the board of adjustment, and advertising is prohibited until approval. Rentals are capped at 120 cumulative days a year, except an owner-occupied home where the owner is present past that. In residential districts the STR must be an owner-occupied primary residence, with a 700-foot separation between STR lots.
Verified July 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Confirm with the city before you list.
Key rules at a glance
Permit or registration
Required
Primary residence only
Yes
Annual night cap
120 nights
Registration fee
See ordinance
How short-term rentals work in Des Moines
An STR requires conditional-use approval from the board of adjustment, and advertising is prohibited until approval. Rentals are capped at 120 cumulative days a year, except an owner-occupied home where the owner is present past that. In residential districts the STR must be an owner-occupied primary residence, with a 700-foot separation between STR lots.
Only owner-occupants can run a short-term rental in Des Moines. Non-owner, investor-owned whole-home STRs are generally not permitted, which rules out the classic buy-and-Airbnb strategy here.
What it means for investors
Des Moines is a tough market for a non-owner-occupied short-term rental. If you own or want to buy here, a long-term rental or a house-hack (living in the property while renting part of it) is usually the more realistic play.
Last reviewed July 2026. Informational and educational only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Verify the current ordinance with your local jurisdiction or counsel before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb legal in Des Moines?
An STR requires conditional-use approval from the board of adjustment, and advertising is prohibited until approval. Rentals are capped at 120 cumulative days a year, except an owner-occupied home where the owner is present past that. In residential districts the STR must be an owner-occupied primary residence, with a 700-foot separation between STR lots. This reflects the rules as of July 2026; confirm the current ordinance with the city before you list.
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Des Moines?
Yes. Des Moines requires a permit or registration to operate a short-term rental, and platforms increasingly require the permit number on the listing.
Can I run a non-owner-occupied Airbnb in Des Moines?
Generally no. Des Moines limits short-term rentals to the host's primary residence, so an investor-owned property you do not live in typically cannot be used as a whole-home STR.
Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent in Des Moines?
Yes. Des Moines caps rentals at about 120 nights a year for the relevant category (often unhosted or non-primary stays); hosted stays are frequently uncapped. Confirm which cap applies to your setup.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Des Moines?
Short-term rentals in Des Moines are generally subject to state and local lodging or occupancy taxes on top of income tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect some of these automatically, but not always all of them, so confirm the current rate and who remits it with Iowa and the city.