This page has information about licensing your cats and dogs, pet requirements for the City of Des Moines, Pet restrictions, animal related contact information.

Due to city and/or state regulations & insurance requirements: 
THE FOLLOWING DOG BREEDS ARE NOT ALLOWED

The  Grand Trees are pet friendly apartments in Des Moines, IA.  We allow many pets, including many dog breeds, cats, fish, birds, etc.

Please contact the manager before deciding on a pet as there are certain rules, possible fees and matters like insurance, dog size limitation and deposits that must be discussed first.

Management reserves the right to disallow certain pets due to size, safety, cleanliness etc.  Local, State, County and City regulations may apply.  If you have a Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier or similar dog, please scroll scroll down to the bottom of this page for important information.

Here at the Grand Trees Apartments, we have a spacious area where you can walk your dog, a private park, trees for shade and close proximity to walking trails and public parks.  Please be aware that dogs must be on leashes when outside for their safety and the safety of others.  We are located in between Grand Ave. (south) and Ingersoll Ave. (north), two very busy streets.   With a little courtesy and caution, the Grand Trees will be a safe and rewarding home for you and your pets.

The Grand Trees Apartments is one of the few apartment complexes in Des Moines that offers a large, fenced in, outdoor dog park. Click the photos below to enlarge.

FACT:  Did you know that Onions are bad for your cats?
How about that Daffodils and Aloe Vera can kill your pets? check out this ASPCA list of toxic and non toxic plants

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PET(S)

In the City of Des Moines, all dogs and cats six months old or older are required to have a city license. When applying for a dog or cat license, a current rabies certificate must be provided. Display of the city license and current rabies tag on a dog or cat is required at all times.

City licenses are available at the City Clerk’s Office, Des Moines City Hall, 400 East 1st Street or at the City of Des Moines Animal Shelter, 1615 SE 14th Street.

The cost for city licenses are $35.00 for an intact dog or cat or $15.00 for a spayed or neutered dog or cat. The cost to senior citizens for city licenses is $5.00 for the first pet and the regular price for additional pets. The city licenses are due January 1st of every year. A late charge of $50.00 is added April 1st.

Here are the license forms for you to print out DOG & CAT LICENSE FORMS

Below are helpful links for the Iowa pet owner compliments of the Grand Trees Apartments
(please let us know if a link is not working, thank you!)

The facts about de-clawing your cat

Helpful list of veterinarians in Des Moines, IA

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PETS IN DES MOINES:

Animal Licensing and Regulations Frequently Asked Questions

Licensing

Q: Why should I license my pet?

A: Obtaining the annual tag is required by City Ordinance, and enables the City to contact you immediately should your pet be found.

Q: What is the cost of a pet license?

A: A spayed or neutered pet may be licensed for a fee of $15.00; a non-spayed or non-neutered pet is $35.00. A senior citizen may license one cat for $5.00 and one dog for $5.00 with any additional pets at regular rates. A service dog may be licensed at no charge when proof is provided. Any application received after March 31st will be assessed a $50 late fee, with the following exceptions:

• If you obtain a new pet under the age of six months, you are not required to purchase a license until the animal is six months old.
• If you are a new resident of Des Moines, you are required to purchase a license immediately.

Q: What is the license fee used for?

A: Fees collected for animal licenses are deposited into the City’s general fund and are used for enforcement of animal ordinances and to fund expenses for the Animal Shelter.

Q: What if my pet has a license from another City?

A: You may bring the current tag issued from another City, along with a current rabies certificate, and we will exchange your existing tag, at no charge, for a City of Des Moines pet license.

Q: What information do I need to obtain a pet license?

A: You will need to submit a current rabies certificate and proof of spay or neuter, if applicable, along with the application and required fee.

Q: What is required for proof of a service dog?

A: We accept a certificate or letter of completion from any recognized training facility stating the animal has been trained to assist a person with a disability.

Q: Where can I purchase a City of Des Moines pet license?

A: You may purchase your license in the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive or print the application form which is available on the City of Des Moines website and mail it with the appropriate information and fee to City Clerk’s Office, PO Box 10326, Des Moines, IA 50306-0326.

Q: Are there any restrictions for a Pit Bull?

A: Des Moines’ ordinance defines any Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog, American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dog, American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog or any dog that has the appearance and characteristics of being predominately of the breeds of Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier as vicious. The owner of such an animal must provide a current rabies certificate, written proof of spaying/neutering, if applicable, proof of insurance coverage, as in a homeowners policy, with a minimum liability amount of $100,000 in addition to a letter from the agent on his/her letterhead that states the insured’s vicious dog, by name, is specifically covered by the policy in force. The pet must be confined as required by S ection 18-56 of the Municipal Code.

Enforcement

Q: What happens if I don’t license my pet?

A: Any owner of any unlicensed pet is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by a fine up to $500 or by imprisonment up to 30 days.

Q: Is there a limit on the numbers of dogs/cats I may have living at my residence?

A: Yes, City Ordinance allows a total of six cats and dogs, not more than three* of which may be dogs, per household..

Q: If I have four dogs, am I in violation of the ordinance?

A: *Not necessarily. The ordinance allows the City Clerk to grant a waiver of the three-dog limit for one additional dog under the following conditions:

• The dog’s full grown weight is not more than 20 pounds as certified in writing by a veterinarian (certification must be within thirty days prior to purchasing license),
• The owner provides a current rabies vaccination certificate for the dog,
• The owner provides proof the dog has been spayd or neutered, and
• No more than two cats reside on the property subject to the waiver.

The waiver certificate shall be maintainted by the owner, and must be available upon request.

Other Regulations

Q: What are the requirements for pet waste?

A: No onwer or possessor, or person in charge of a dog, cat, horse or other animal shall fail to clean up or remove immediately any excrement or droppings deposited by such dog, cat, horse or other animal on any public or private property not owned or in control of that owner, possessor or person in charge of such dog, cat, horse or oter animal. In addition, the owner of the pet is also required to remove any excrement or droppings from his or her property.

Q: Does the City of Des Moines have a leash law?

A: Yes, if the dog is on the owner’s property it must be restrained by an adequate protective fence or by leash, cord, chain or other similar restraint or the pet must be at all times within the actual physical presence of and immediately obedient to the commands of the owner or person given charge of the dog and at no time be more than six feet from such person. If the dog is off the owner’s premises it must be on a leash, cord, or chain or other similar restraint not more tha nsix feet in length and under the control of a person competent to restrain and control the dog.

Cats are not required to be leashed; ohwever, if a cat is not confined within a premise, it is required to be spayed or neutered, propertly licensed and must display a spay/neuter tag issued by the City.

Q: Is there a noise ordinance regarding barking dogs?

A: Yes. No person shall own, possess or harbor any animal or bird which frequently or for continued duration emits sounds native to the species which are a noise distrubance across a residential real property boundary or within a noise sensitive area.

Q: Who do I contact if my pet is lost?

A: Effective July 23, 2005, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa began providing animal shelter services for the City of Des Moines. Anyone who has lost a pet is encouraged to visit the ARL of Iowa Animal Care and Control Center at 1615 SE 14th Street in Des Moines. We also encourage more than one visit to the shelter because stray animals are found daily and taken to the shelter. We recommend that pets display ID tags/licenses and rabies tags and/or microchips for identification, so the City can quickly return them to thier families.

Q: Where do I go to adopt a new pet?

A: There are many pets of various breed and ages awaiting a new home and available through the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. These pets are available at the following locations:

• Southridge Mall, 1111 E. Army Post Road, (515) 285-9870
• 5452 NE 22nd Street, (515) 262-9503
• 1420 22nd Street, West Des Moines, (515) 440-0979
• PetsMart, 1715 Delaware, Ankeny, (515) 289-0667

City of Des Moines, Iowa
City Clerk

• 400 Robert D. Ray Drive
• Des Moines, Iowa 50309
• Phone: (515) 283-4500
• Web Site: http://www.dmgov.org 

What dogs may have special rules or regulations in Des Moines?
(please refer to disallowed dogs list at top of page for Grand Trees policy)

Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Terrier and other dogs defined by the state as "vicious".

Des Moines’ ordinance defines any Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog, American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dog, American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog or any dog that has the appearance and characteristics of being predominately of the breeds of Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier as vicious. The owner of such an animal must provide a current rabies certificate, written proof of spaying/neutering, if applicable, proof of insurance coverage, as in a homeowners policy, with a minimum liability amount of $100,000 in addition to a letter from the agent on his/her letterhead that states the insured’s vicious dog, by name, is specifically covered by the policy in force. The pet must be confined as required by Section 18-56 of the Municipal Code.

Municipal Code Section 18-56:

Sec. 18-56. Confinement of vicious dogs.

(a) All vicious dogs shall be securely confined within an occupied house or residence or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel, except when leashed as provided in this section. Such pen, kennel or structure must have secure sides and a secure top attached to the sides or, in lieu of a top, walls at least six feet in height and at least six feet taller than any internal structure.

(b) All pens or other structures designed, constructed or used to confine vicious dogs must be locked with a key or combination lock when such animals are within the structure. Such structure must have a secure bottom, floor or foundation attached to the sides of the pen, or the sides of the pen must be embedded in the ground no less than two feet so as to prevent digging under the walls by the confined dog.

(c) All structures erected to house vicious dogs must comply with all city zoning and building regulations. All such structures must be adequately lighted and ventilated and kept in a clean and sanitary condition. No vicious dog may be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog to exit such building on its own volition.

(d) No person shall permit a vicious dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than six feet in length. No person shall permit a vicious dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen unless both the dog and the leash are under the actual physical control of a person 18 years of age or older.

(e) Such dogs may not be leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts, buildings, or any other object or structure.

(f) Violation of this section is a misdemeanor.

(C85, § 7-27.01; O.11,095, 11,558; C91, § 7-27.01)
Further important information from the City of Des Moines:

Sec. 18-44.01. Insurance on vicious dogs not licensed.
The owner of every dog which is defined as vicious under section 18-41 of this article, or which is both vicious and under six months of age, or is vicious and not licensed shall maintain insurance as set forth in section 18-44(d)of this article.
Sec. 18-57. Vicious dogs not properly confined/leashed.
A vicious dog which is found more than twice not to be confined or leashed as required by this article shall be required to be  destroyed.

Sec. 18-58. Unlicensed vicious dogs.
All unlicensed vicious dogs shall be deemed illegal animals and shall be destroyed.