Community Compliance

City Code provides important rules for keeping properties safe and well-maintained. Following these guidelines helps make West Des Moines a better and more livable community for everyone. The Public Services Department helps make sure these rules are followed.

Common Property Concerns

To keep our neighborhoods safe and clean, please be aware of these common rules:

  • Vehicles: Junk cars (broken, missing parts, or unlicensed) cannot be kept on private property. All vehicles and trailers must be parked on paved surfaces.
  • Yard Maintenance: Yards must be kept free of junk and debris. Grass and weeds must be kept shorter than 10 inches.
  • Sidewalks: Property owners must remove snow and ice from sidewalks within 24 hours after a storm ends. Sidewalks must also be kept in good repair.

Watch videos about common property violations

Report a Violation

If you see a property concern, you can report it in two ways:

  • Online: Use SeeClickFix or download the app for your smartphone.
  • Phone: Call (515) 222-3480 between 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

How to use SeeClickFix

 

Our Process

When a report is made, we follow these steps:

  1. Investigation: We visit the site to see if there is a code violation.
  2. Notification: If a problem is found, we mail a letter to the property owner.
  3. Correction: In most cases, the owner has 7 to 10 days to fix the issue.

Learn more about the process


Mortgage Lenders: Please register abandoned or foreclosed properties with the City.

Foreclosure Property Registration Form (PDF)

Learn about rules for feeding waterfowl