New codes took effect January 2026
Des Moines adopted the 2024 International Residential Code effective January 1, 2026, and uses Iowa’s mechanical code based on the 2024 IMC.
Local details
Wood stove installation in Des Moines, Iowa
Polk County / Des Moines metro. Heat your home, even when the power goes out: the permit, the local rules, and who installs here.
Free to request · No obligation to hireBefore you install in Des Moines.
Suburbs issue their own permits
The Permit and Development Center serves the City of Des Moines. West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale and other suburbs are separate cities.
Local detailsHistoric districts need a COA
Des Moines requires a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior modifications in a Local Historic District, including visible chimney changes.
Local detailsThe coldest month here, January, has a 1991–2020 normal of 22.3°F at the DES MOINES INTL AP, IA station. One station is a planning reference, not a reading for every address. NOAA station normals
Local businesses to contact directly
Wood stove installers in Des Moines.
Compare installation providers and nearby showrooms. Check service coverage and assessment fees directly, or request help finding an installer.
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Chim Cherie’s House of Fireplaces
Sales & installation · 534 35th Street, Des Moines; site names Des Moines and central IowaIts site describes wood and gas fireplace and stove sales, installation and design, and its wood page covers wood stoves and inserts for existing masonry fireplaces. The site says chimney sweeping is currently suspended, so ask who handles chimney inspection, liner work and the Des Moines permit.
View business & contact detailsChim Cherie’s home pageWebsite reviewed Sep 28, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - II
Des Moines Chimney Sweep
Chimney service & installation · 7500 Bloomfield Road, Des Moines; serves the Des Moines metro including Clive, Johnston, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des MoinesIts about page lists wood and gas insert installation and describes a decade of experience with clay and metal chimney liners and with wood stoves, prefabricated fireplaces and masonry fireplaces. It does not say outright that it installs freestanding stoves, so confirm that scope and who pulls the permit.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Sep 28, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab - III
Fireplace Stone & Patio
Retailer & showroom · Des Moines-area showroom at 850 SE Alices Road, WaukeeIts inserts page lists wood-burning fireplace inserts and names a Des Moines-area showroom in Waukee. The pages we read do not state that it installs wood-burning appliances, so treat it as a retailer and ask whether it installs, subcontracts, or expects you to hire an installer.
View business & contact detailsWebsite reviewed Sep 28, 2026 · Not contacted by FireplaceLab
Unpaid listings, shown alphabetically. Website research is not contractor vetting or confirmation of a partnership. Confirm qualifications and insurance before hiring.
Details your installer can help confirm
Wood stove permits in Des Moines.
Plan on a mechanical permit from the Permit and Development Center.
The City of Des Moines Permit and Development Center, at 1200 Locust St., handles construction permits for the city. Its fee schedule (new fees effective 1-1-26) lists a residential mechanical permit for alterations and additions to existing dwellings, a mechanical permit for fireplaces in new dwellings, and mechanical permit items for chimneys, appliance vents and fuel-burning fireplaces or stoves. Ask the Center which permits and inspections apply to your stove, liner or chimney. The Center suggests checking property jurisdiction with its Show Me My House tool, since suburbs such as West Des Moines issue their own permits.
Des Moines Permit and Development Center fee schedule (new fees 1-1-26, PDF)Polk County has its own air-quality agency.
The Air Quality Division of Polk County Public Works is authorized by the U.S. EPA and the Iowa DNR to enforce the Clean Air Act and Polk County Board of Health rules. Its listed work centers on industrial permits, inspections, ambient monitoring and complaints such as illegal open burning; we did not find an indoor wood-stove curtailment rule. Iowa DNR recommends EPA-certified stoves and seasoned wood. Contact the Division at 5885 NE 14th Street with questions about smoke complaints.
Polk County Air Quality Division: About UsIn a Local Historic District? Get a COA first.
The City of Des Moines says Certificates of Appropriateness are required for exterior modifications in a Local Historic District. Use the city’s Show Me My House lookup, where local and national districts appear under the District section, and apply through the Customer Self-Service Portal. A new chimney, cap or visible exterior flue may count as an exterior modification, so check before scheduling installation.
City of Des Moines: Historic PreservationAsk which code edition your installer is working to.
Des Moines says that effective January 1, 2026, it adopted the 2024 International Building Code, 2024 International Residential Code, 2024 International Existing Building Code and 2024 International Fire Code with local amendments. It also adopts Iowa’s state mechanical code, based on the 2024 International Mechanical Code. Ask your installer to confirm the clearances, hearth and chimney details meet the current editions.
City of Des Moines: Construction CodesThis is a planning guide, not a permit determination. The local authority and your installer must confirm current requirements for your property and appliance. We have not verified project-specific approvals or fees.
Choose the right project
Wood stoves and fireplace inserts in Des Moines.
INew stove or replacement
Install a wood-burning stove.
An enclosed stove with a chimney system designed for your home. An installer assesses placement, venting, and the space you want to heat.
About wood stoves
IIExisting fireplace
Explore a fireplace insert.
Use a suitable existing fireplace as the starting point. Have the opening, chimney, and liner assessed for the proposed insert.
About insertsCan you install a wood stove without a chimney?
A new wood stove can sometimes be installed with a new chimney system. Ask a Des Moines-area provider to assess a suitable route and quote the complete job. Installation without an existing chimney
Want heat during a power outage?
Many cordwood stoves provide heat without electricity. Ask about your exact model, any powered blower, and the rooms it can heat. Read the power-outage heating guide
Room photographs illustrate project starting points; they are not installations completed through FireplaceLab.
Wood stove installation costs in Des Moines.
U.S. planning ranges to prepare for a Des Moines quote. They are national estimates, not measured Des Moines averages or offers from listed businesses.
Freestanding wood stove$2,500–$7,500
Wood-burning insert$3,000–$8,000+
New installation, no chimney$5,500–$9,000+
Unit and typical installation ranges from HomeGuide’s national cost guide, reviewed Sep 28, 2026. These are alternative project scenarios, not amounts to add together. Repairs, access, venting, permits, and premium models can move costs higher.
What to ask a Des Moines installer.
- Is my address inside Des Moines city limits, and will you pull the Permit and Development Center mechanical permit?
- Will the installation meet the 2024 codes Des Moines adopted on January 1, 2026?
- If my home is in a Local Historic District, will exterior chimney work need a Certificate of Appropriateness first?
Compare quotes on the same scope.
Request separate details for the appliance, chimney or liner, hearth work, labor, removal, permits, inspections, and exclusions. Confirm any paid assessment before booking.
Will you save on heating?
There is no reliable single savings figure for every Des Moines home. Compare your current heating cost with delivered dry wood, appliance efficiency, how much heat you will replace, maintenance, and the upfront installation. Backup comfort and financial payback are separate decisions. Compare all heating options
Des Moines wood stove installation FAQs.
Does a Des Moines mailing address mean the city issues my permit?
Not always. West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny, Clive and other suburbs are separate cities with their own ordinances, as Polk County’s list of city burning ordinances shows. The Permit and Development Center suggests using its Show Me My House lookup to confirm jurisdiction before you apply.
Does Polk County restrict wood stoves?
Polk County runs its own air-quality program, but its public pages focus on industrial permits, monitoring and open-burning complaints. We did not find an indoor wood-stove curtailment rule. Iowa DNR recommends EPA-certified stoves and dry, untreated wood. Ask the Air Quality Division if you have a smoke question.
My house may be in a Des Moines historic district. What changes?
Des Moines requires a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior modifications in a Local Historic District. An interior stove connected to an existing chimney may raise fewer issues than a new exterior flue or chimney, but confirm with city preservation staff before scheduling work.
What FireplaceLab does
Explore your options. Then get a quote for your home.
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Answer two simple questions
Tell us what’s there now and what you want from wood heat. No contact details needed.
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See options and rough costs
Explore a suitable starting point and national installed cost ranges.
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Request a local quote
When you’re ready, share your home details. We’ll look for an installer to assess the job and quote the work.
FireplaceLab is an installer-matching service. Your installer handles the assessment, quote, and installation. A request does not book work or guarantee a match.
Get a plan and a price for your home.
Tell us where you live and what you want to install. We’ll look for a local professional to assess the work.
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