Asbestos removal and abatement in Des Moines, Iowa

Does Advanced Environmental Services work in Des Moines, Iowa?

AES takes projects within 300 miles of its St. Louis office, measured in a straight line. Des Moines, Iowa is about 273 miles away that way and about 349 by road. It is a long-distance project, so plan scheduling early and send your details before you need a start date.

The office is at 3100 Gravois Ave in St. Louis, so plan lead time for the trip. AES has 30 years of experience and serves residential, commercial, industrial, governmental and healthcare customers. See the asbestos abatement page for scope.

AES holds Missouri DNR asbestos contractor registration 27-06-0640.

What asbestos notice does Iowa require before work starts?

As of November 2026, Iowa requires an asbestos demolition and renovation notice postmarked at least 10 working days before the activity begins. Iowa also runs an online notification system through the DNR. Read both official pages before you file, because they describe the filing route differently.

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL) publishes the notification page. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) runs the online system. Confirm with the state which office receives your notice. The notice rule comes from federal NESHAP rules, which Iowa applies alongside its own program.

Iowa’s DNR also says the demolition or significant renovation of any building requires a certified asbestos inspection first, with narrow exceptions. The source is an older fact sheet, so confirm the current wording on the DNR site. A thorough asbestos survey is how you find out what the building holds.

Who must be licensed to remove asbestos or lead in Iowa?

Iowa licenses the people and the businesses. DIAL licenses asbestos workers, contractors, supervisors, inspectors, management planners and project designers. Businesses that remove or cover asbestos must have a DIAL asbestos permit. These are the state’s rules, as of November 2026.

For lead, DIAL’s Lead Professional Certification covers lead abatement contractors and workers, inspectors, risk assessors and lead-safe renovators. It also requires certification of the firms that employ them. Read the official pages for asbestos and lead.

Never plan to remove asbestos or lead paint yourself on a regulated project. Hire a contractor that holds the credentials Iowa requires, and ask to see them. Our guide to hiring an asbestos contractor in Missouri lists the questions to ask, and most of them apply in any state. For terms, see lead abatement and lead-based paint in the glossary.

Do I need a demolition permit in Des Moines?

Yes. Des Moines Municipal Code Sec. 26-303 says no one may begin demolishing a building or structure until the building official issues a permit. The permit expires if work does not start within seven calendar days or finish within 30. Sewer and water must be disconnected and approved first.

The text we read is Ordinance 15,405 in the city’s council archive. We did not confirm its date. Check the current Municipal Code with the city before you plan a schedule around those day counts.

The short permit window matters for a long-distance job. A crew that travels 349 miles cannot wait for a permit to lapse. Line up the utility disconnects, the asbestos notice and the permit before the crew leaves St. Louis. Our demolition and interior demolition pages explain the work itself. For the sequence, read demolition from survey to debris.

How old are the homes in Des Moines?

Older than in most of the region. About 66.6% of Des Moines’ 95,681 housing units were built before 1980, and 56.2% before 1970, per the 2024 American Community Survey. The city is much older than Polk County overall, at 47.0% before 1980.

Age is a reason to test, not a verdict. Floor tile, joint compound, roofing and pipe wrap from that era can contain asbestos, and the only way to know is a sample. Read about asbestos-containing material. AES offers asbestos testing and an asbestos survey. For the St. Louis comparison, see St. Louis, MO.

Is there a Superfund site in Des Moines?

Yes. EPA says the Des Moines TCE Superfund site is southwest of downtown, covers nearly 200 acres in the floodplain of the Raccoon River, and joined the National Priorities List in 1983. A listing is one record, so it does not clear or condemn any one parcel.

For land or building deals near industrial areas, ask for environmental records first. AES offers soil contamination testing and soil remediation. Learn the term soil remediation in the glossary.

Which AES services fit Des Moines projects?

AES offers these services, and each page explains scope on its own. Large projects suit a long trip best, so ask about timing for any of them.

• Asbestos abatement and asbestos testing.
• Lead abatement.
• Mold remediation and mold inspection.
• Demolition and interior demolition.
• Hazardous material disposal.

Closer to the office? See St. Louis County, Columbia, Missouri and the full list of service areas.

How should I plan a job that is 273 miles away?

Send details early and build the notice period into the schedule. A Des Moines job needs the same steps as any regulated project, plus lead time for a trip of about 349 road miles. Early information lets AES scope the work before anyone travels.

1. Gather the basics. Address, building age, what you plan to renovate or demolish, and any past survey.
2. Order a survey if you have none. Results set the scope for abatement or demolition.
3. Confirm the Iowa credentials. Check Iowa’s DIAL pages for what the state requires.
4. File the notice. Iowa requires it postmarked at least 10 working days before work.
5. Get the city permit. Apply to the Des Moines building official, with sewer and water disconnected first.
6. Set the schedule. Confirm the site walk, the start date and the expected duration in writing.

Nothing here is a claim about past AES work in Des Moines.

Next step

Call (314) 865-2662 or send our quote form with your Des Moines address, building age and the work you plan. We will tell you what the distance means for scheduling. Start with the asbestos abatement page.