West Des Moines, IA Public Records
West Des Moines is in Polk County, Iowa. Public records for West Des Moines residents are administered at the county level — use the Polk County record types below.
- Population
- 71,083
- County
- Polk County
- Time zone
- Chicago
- ZIP codes
- 15
Local offices
City offices in West Des Moines
Records administered by West Des Moines directly — police and incident reports, municipal court, the city clerk, and permits. For property, vital, and county-court records, use the Polk County record types below.
- West Des Moines Police Department — RecordsOfficial · Free
Submit an online request for crash, crime, and other police records through the department's public records request page.
- West Des Moines — Building & PermitsOfficial · Free
Apply for residential, commercial, and trade building permits online through the City Access Portal permit applications page.
Records
Public records in Polk County
Select a record type to see how and where to obtain it for West Des Moines and the rest of Polk County.
Vital
Birth RecordsCertified birth certificates issued by the state vital-records office, often through the county where the birth occurred. Access is generally limited to the person, immediate family, or a legal representative.Death RecordsDeath certificates from the state vital-records office or county registrar — used to settle estates and claim benefits. Older records are frequently open to the public.Divorce RecordsDivorce decrees from the county court that granted the divorce; the state vital-records office keeps a searchable index.Marriage RecordsMarriage licenses and certificates filed with the county clerk where the license was issued, and indexed by the state vital-records office.
Criminal
Arrest RecordsArrests booked by county sheriffs and local police, compiled in the state criminal-history repository. An arrest is not a conviction.Criminal & Felony RecordsA person's criminal history — charges, convictions, and sentencing — held by county courts and the state criminal-history repository.DUI RecordsDUI/DWI charges and convictions found in county court records and on a driver's record at the state DMV.Inmate RecordsCurrent and former inmates located through the state Department of Corrections locator, county jail rosters, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.Police RecordsIncident and arrest reports held by local police and sheriff's departments; many are released on request under state public-records law.Sex Offender RecordsRegistered sex offenders, published free to the public in each state's registry and the national NSOPW registry.Warrant RecordsActive arrest, bench, and search warrants issued by county courts and served by the sheriff's office. Availability varies by county.
Property
Property RecordsDeeds, ownership, assessments, and parcel data held by county recorders and assessors.Asset RecordsOwnership and valuation of real property and titled assets, recorded with the county recorder and assessor.Unclaimed PropertyForgotten funds — dormant accounts, uncashed checks, refunds, and deposits — held by the state unclaimed-property office. Free to search and claim.
Court
Court RecordsCivil, criminal, traffic, and probate case records from state and county courts.Bankruptcy RecordsFederal bankruptcy filings, searchable through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). Registration is free; documents carry a small per-page fee.Judgments & LiensCivil money judgments and recorded liens from the county civil court and recorder — a check on outstanding debts and claims.Probate & Family Court RecordsEstate, guardianship, adoption, and family-law matters heard by the county probate and family courts.
Business
Licensing
Vehicle
License Plate RecordsRegistration and title status tied to a plate, from the state DMV. Owner lookup is restricted to authorized parties under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).VIN RecordsTitle, brand (salvage/flood), odometer, and theft history by VIN — through NMVTIS, the official federal title system. Owner details are not public (DPPA).
Coverage
ZIP codes in West Des Moines
- 50265
- 50266
- 50061
- 50336
- 50339
- 50359
- 50360
- 50361
- 50362
- 50363
- 50364
- 50367
- 50368
- 50369
- 50398
Nearby
Other cities in Polk County
Public records for other cities and towns across Polk County.