Do you need a permit to replace windows in Des Moines?
Usually not, for a same-size swap. The City of Des Moines exempts most window replacement from building permits, with exceptions that matter for basements and for safety glass. Historic districts add a separate review.
The city's exemption
The City of Des Moines' permit exemption policy (effective July 1, 2023) lets window replacement skip a building permit only when the rough opening keeps its size and the finished egress opening is not reduced. The window also must not be one the code requires for smoke control, fire separation distance or safety glazing.
When you do need a permit
- A new or bigger opening. Cutting a new or larger opening, such as a basement egress window, changes the rough opening, so it falls outside that exemption and needs a permit.
- A smaller egress window. Replacing a bedroom egress window with one that has a smaller clear opening is outside the exemption.
- Safety glazing locations. Windows that must be safety glass, such as some windows near tubs or stairs, are outside the exemption.
- Fire separation. Windows close to a property line that must be protected are outside it too.
West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale and the other suburbs run their own building departments. Ask the installer who pulls the permit and check with the city before work starts.
Historic districts
Des Moines has three local historic districts: Sherman Hill, plus Owl's Head and River Bend. Before any exterior alteration there, the Historic Preservation Commission must issue a Certificate of Appropriateness. That review can decide what replacement windows are made of and how big they are, so ask before you order. The review is separate from the building permit, so a window that needs no permit can still need a certificate. Windows for historic homes.
Who should handle it
Ask the installer in writing who pulls any permit or certificate and whether the cost is in the quote. Call the city's Permit and Development Center if you are not sure.
Questions Des Moines homeowners ask
Does West Des Moines require a permit for windows?
Each suburb sets its own rules. Ask the installer what the city requires and confirm with the city building department before work starts.
What happens if a window job needed a permit and did not get one?
It can come up when you sell the house or file an insurance claim, and the city can require the work to be inspected or corrected. Ask before you sign.