Deck Building Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines had 214,133 residents in the 2020 Census, and its permit office accepts deck applications through an online portal only. The city publishes its own deck handout with footing, ledger and guard rules. This page walks through what Des Moines asks for, so you know the requirements before you collect bids.
- Des Moines at a glance
Des Moines in eight numbers
Owners live in 60.5 percent of Des Moines homes, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $194,700. The deck figures come straight from the city’s deck handout and its fee schedule.
214,133
Residents, 2020 Census
60.5%
Homes lived in by owners
$194,700
Median owner-occupied value
2024 IRC
Code the city enforces now
$77.25
Flat deck permit fee
42 inches
Footing depth for frost
12 inches
Thinnest footing allowed
36 inches
Minimum guard height on deck
- Permits and rules
Building a deck in Des Moines: the city's rules
Plan on a permit for any new deck in Des Moines. The city’s exemption list names only one deck job, replacing decking boards on an open wood deck, and it publishes no size or height cutoff. These six cards cover the rest.
Apply through the portal
The handout says deck applications must be made in the Customer Self Service portal. Pick the Residential Other Building Permit type. The fee is a flat $77.25 under the schedule that took effect January 1, 2026. Electrical, plumbing or mechanical work on the deck needs its own trade permit and inspection.
Two drawings to submit
The site plan shows the lot, where the house sits and where the deck will go, with rough distances to the property lines. The deck plan shows footing sizes and spots, post and beam sizes, spans and connections. It also covers joists, decking material, stair and guard details, and handrail elevations.
Three inspections
The footing inspection comes first, once the holes are dug, clean and free of debris, and before any concrete goes in. Framing comes next, then a final. Request each one from your permit page in the portal. The city does not publish a lead time, so plan a few days of slack.
Footings, ledger and the house
Footings must reach the 42-inch frost depth and be at least 12 inches thick. An attached deck needs a ledger no smaller than a 2×8. The city will not let a deck hang off a house cantilever or brick veneer unless the design uses specialty fasteners or structural engineering.
Guards, stairs and handrails
Guards must stand at least 36 inches tall on the deck and 34 inches along the stairs, measured from a line across the nosings. No gap may pass a 4-inch sphere. Stairs with four or more risers need a handrail on at least one side, set 34 to 38 inches above the nosing.
Setbacks and the handout's age
Des Moines has not published a deck-specific setback, so the distances on your site plan matter. Show Me My House lists your lot’s zoning district and whether it sits in a local historic district. One note: the handout is based on the 2021 IRC, while the city now enforces the 2024 edition.
- Our process
How Busy Builders builds your Des Moines deck
We file your application in the city portal with both drawings the handout lists. Footing holes go to 42 inches, and the concrete waits until the inspector has seen the open holes. Ledgers stay off cantilevers and brick veneer unless an engineered connection is part of the plan. Guards, stairs and rails follow the handout’s heights, and we build in composite or pressure-treated wood.
Busy Builders is a registered Iowa contractor (DIAL C140184). Since 2020 we have completed more than 1,285 projects across Central Iowa. One customer had us build a deck, then came back to have the basement remodeled.
- Portal application and both drawings filed
- Footing holes inspected before any concrete
- Guards and rails built to the city handout
From portal to final
- Achievement
Trusted Deck Builders in Des Moines
Since 2020, Busy Builders has completed more than 1,285 construction and remodeling projects across Central Iowa.
- Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Deck Building in Des Moines
How much does a new deck cost in Des Moines?
It depends on size, height above grade, the number of stairs and whether you choose composite or treated wood. Those choices set the footing count, the framing and the railing run. We give a written estimate after we see the yard. The city’s own permit fee is a flat $77.25.
Is there a deck size that skips the permit in Des Moines?
Not that the city publishes. Des Moines lists permit-exempt work under Municipal Code 26-302(a)(11), and the only deck item is replacing decking boards on an open wood deck. The deck handout and fee schedule give no size or height cutoff. Treat any new deck as one that needs a permit.
How deep do footings go for a Des Moines deck?
At least 42 inches, the frost depth the city lists in both its deck handout and its design criteria table. Each footing must also be at least 12 inches thick. The inspector looks at the holes after they are dug and cleaned, before any concrete is placed.
Can a deck attach to brick or a cantilever in Des Moines?
Not as a standard detail. The handout bars attaching a deck to a house cantilever or brick veneer without specialty fasteners or structural engineering. In those spots we plan an engineered connection or a deck carried on its own posts. Any ledger on an attached deck must be at least a 2×8.
What does the city check at a deck inspection?
The handout lists three visits: footings or post holes, framing, and final. Separate electrical, plumbing or mechanical inspections apply if the deck includes that work. You request each one through the permit page in the portal, and Show Me My House lists the inspector assigned to your address.
Which code does Des Moines use for decks?
The city enforces the 2024 International Residential Code, effective January 1, 2026, with local amendments. Its deck handout still says it is based on the 2021 IRC. When the two differ, the adopted code wins, so we confirm current values with the Permit and Development Center before we draw.
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