Shed permit checklist — Des Moines, Iowa
Assembled from Des Moines’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
Des Moines requires a permit for a shed.
When a permit is not required
A storage shed of 120 square feet or less does not require a building permit. A storage shed that exceeds 120 square feet requires a building permit and is treated as a new detached garage.
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Sources
- shed — fee schedule ↗verified August 2026
Other permits Des Moines publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Fence permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Retaining wall permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
- General building work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Des Moines before you build.