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Des Moines council advances unit-lot subdivision, lot-splitting and substandard-lot code updates to second reading
Summary
Council heard a staff presentation on proposed code changes to allow unit lot subdivisions and streamlined lot splitting under 2025 state legislation, asked technical questions about septic and dispute resolution, and voted unanimously to move draft ordinance 25-117 to a second reading on Jan. 22, 2026.
The Des Moines City Council held a public hearing and took first-reading action on proposed updates to the municipal code that would implement recent state legislation enabling unit lot subdivisions and streamlined lot-splitting.
Laura Tachiko, Planning and Development Services Manager, told the council the changes reflect 2025 state bills and Commerce model language to allow "unit lot subdivisions" (which permit separate fee-simple ownership of individual housing units and the land beneath them) and a recorded-survey lot-splitting process for qualifying lots. Tachiko also described proposed revisions to allow limited development on substandard or nonconforming lots to increase equity and consistency with middle-housing goals.
Councilmembers asked about county health/septic requirements, potential dispute-resolution mechanisms among unit-lot owners and homeowners-association governance for common areas. Tachiko said septic and health rules remain controlled by the county and that common areas would be governed by homeowners associations where required.
Councilmember Nutting moved to pass draft ordinance 25-117 to a second reading on Jan. 22, 2026; the motion was seconded and approved on the record. No public commenters signed up for the hearing portion of this agenda item.
