Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Des Moines, IA (2026)

Des Moines, IA allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Short-Term Rental Registration) before listing their property. Des Moines regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Des Moines.

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Short-Term Rental Registration. Registration fee: $50. Annual renewal: $50 annually. Register through the Des Moines Permit and Development Center or Des Moines Community Development Department. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Operational Rules

Short-Term Rental Rules in Des Moines: 1. STR registration required for rentals of less than 30 consecutive days 2. Iowa does not have statewide STR preemption — Des Moines may regulate STRs locally 3. Building must meet occupancy and safety code requirements 4. All listings must include Des Moines registration number 5. Iowa Hotel/Motel Tax (5%) plus local hotel tax applies to STR revenues 6. Certificate of Occupancy required for rental properties

• •STR registration required for rentals of less than 30 consecutive days
• •Iowa does not have statewide STR preemption — Des Moines may regulate STRs locally
• •Building must meet occupancy and safety code requirements
• •All listings must include Des Moines registration number
• •Iowa Hotel/Motel Tax (5%) plus local hotel tax applies to STR revenues
• •Certificate of Occupancy required for rental properties

Platform-Specific Rules

Platform-Specific Rules in Des Moines: Airbnb: Airbnb collects and remits Iowa Hotel and Motel Tax on behalf of Des Moines hosts VRBO: Similar platform tax collection Always verify current platform tax collection and remittance policies directly with your platform — these can change without advance notice to hosts.

Penalties for Violations

Penalties for STR Violations in Des Moines: $250-$1,000 per violation for unregistered STR operation; Registration revocation for multiple code violations. Des Moines has enforcement mechanisms to identify unlicensed short-term rental listings on platforms. Hosts should ensure all registrations are current and listings display valid registration numbers.

• ⚠$250-$1,000 per violation for unregistered STR operation
• ⚠Registration revocation for multiple code violations

Frequently Asked Questions