City of Des Moines Minor Home Repair Program

The City of Des Moines Minor Home Repair Program provides grant funds to subsidize repairs and maintenance for qualified homeowners.  Housing repair services focus on maintaining health and safety, preserving the home and increasing energy efficiency.  The program serves both low and moderate income Des Moines homeowners, and includes the following eligibility requirements:

• The homeowner must reside within the Des Moines city limits.

• The homeowner must own and occupy the home requiring services for at least one year (and indicate that you have no intent of leaving the home in the foreseeable future).

• The homeowner is required to carry current homeowner’s insurance.

• The gross annual income for the household must not exceed the moderate income level by household size, as defined by current federal income guidelines (i.e. a family of three cannot exceed an annual income of $53,650).

The Minor Home Repair program has a $2,000 project limit per year, and the maximum expenditure per qualified home is $5,000 every 10 years.  However, repairs estimated to exceed $2,000 can be referred to King County Housing Rehabilitation for a deferred home loan application. 

If your project is approved, the cost of materials, supplies and labor will be covered by Minor Home Repair grant funds.  Some project examples are listed below:

• Installing smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detectors
• Repairing/replacing exterior doors, windows and stairways if broken
• Repairing/replacing dangerous or non-working electrical circuits
• Repairing furnaces
• Repairing/replacing hot water tanks
• Repairing clogged drains
• Pest extermination
• Installing exterior ramps
• Installing/repairing/replacing special equipment like handrails and/or grab bars
• Repair/replace gutters and downspouts
• Repairing/replacing faucets, toilets, sinks, drains, broken or leaking pipes
• Repairing minor roof leaks
• Weather stripping/insulation

When your application is approved for the program, a City of Des Moines Building Inspector will contact you to inspect your Minor Home Repair project.  When the inspection is complete, a contractor is hired by the City of Des Moines to perform the necessary repair(s).  Contractors are required to provide proof of liability insurance and a current City of Des Moines business license.

If you have any questions about Minor Home Repair, please contact Erika Sullivan at 206.870.6558 or email to esullivan@desmoineswa.gov.