ZIP Code
Finding the correct Polk County, Iowa ZIP Code can be useful when addressing mail, completing forms, checking service areas, reviewing property information, or identifying the postal city associated with an address. ZIP Codes are created for mail delivery and do not always follow city or county boundaries, so one ZIP Code may cover addresses in more than one community. This guide focuses on Standard ZIP Codes primarily associated with Polk County postal communities and identifies the primary postal city associated with each code.
ZIP Codes Across Polk County
Polk County includes a mix of ZIP Codes serving Des Moines and surrounding communities such as Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Elkhart, Grimes, Johnston, Mitchellville, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Runnells, Urbandale, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights. Some communities use more than one Standard ZIP Code. Ankeny, for example, uses 50021 and 50023, while West Des Moines uses 50265 and 50266.
Des Moines has the largest concentration of ZIP Codes in the county. Standard ZIP Codes associated with Des Moines include 50307 through 50317, as well as 50319, 50320, 50321, and 50395. Other nearby postal cities use codes such as 50322 and 50323 for Urbandale, 50324 for Windsor Heights, 50325 for Clive, and 50327 for Pleasant Hill.
Postal Cities and City Boundaries
The city name associated with a ZIP Code is a postal designation and does not necessarily match municipal boundaries. A ZIP Code may serve addresses located in or near more than one incorporated city, and the U.S. Postal Service may recognize alternate city names for certain addresses. The table below therefore uses the primary postal city rather than attempting to list every municipality or acceptable mailing name connected with each ZIP Code.
For example, ZIP Codes in the Des Moines metropolitan area may reach across municipal boundaries even when one city is listed as the primary postal city. Users should rely on the exact street address when determining the correct city and ZIP Code for mailing purposes.
Windsor Heights ZIP Code
Windsor Heights uses 50324 as its primary Standard ZIP Code. The ZIP Code was established specifically for Windsor Heights after portions of delivery areas previously associated with 50311, 50312, and 50322 were reassigned. Older address lists may therefore show Windsor Heights connected with other Des Moines-area ZIP Codes, but 50324 is the primary ZIP Code for current Windsor Heights street addresses.
PO Box and Special-Use ZIP Codes
Not every ZIP Code associated with Polk County is intended for ordinary residential street delivery. Some are assigned to post office boxes, government offices, businesses, or other specific organizations. Berwick, for example, is associated with the PO Box ZIP Code 50032, while Sheldahl is associated with the PO Box ZIP Code 50243.
Des Moines also has a number of PO Box and special-use ZIP Codes in addition to its regular street-delivery codes. These specialized codes are not included in the main table because the list focuses on Standard ZIP Codes rather than every administrative, institutional, Unique, or PO Box ZIP Code associated with Polk County.
Polk County ZIP Code List
| ZIP Code | Primary Postal City |
|---|---|
| 50007 | Alleman |
| 50009 | Altoona |
| 50021 | Ankeny |
| 50023 | Ankeny |
| 50035 | Bondurant |
| 50073 | Elkhart |
| 50111 | Grimes |
| 50131 | Johnston |
| 50169 | Mitchellville |
| 50226 | Polk City |
| 50237 | Runnells |
| 50265 | West Des Moines |
| 50266 | West Des Moines |
| 50307 | Des Moines |
| 50308 | Des Moines |
| 50309 | Des Moines |
| 50310 | Des Moines |
| 50311 | Des Moines |
| 50312 | Des Moines |
| 50313 | Des Moines |
| 50314 | Des Moines |
| 50315 | Des Moines |
| 50316 | Des Moines |
| 50317 | Des Moines |
| 50319 | Des Moines |
| 50320 | Des Moines |
| 50321 | Des Moines |
| 50322 | Urbandale |
| 50323 | Urbandale |
| 50324 | Windsor Heights |
| 50325 | Clive |
| 50327 | Pleasant Hill |
| 50395 | Des Moines |
This table focuses on Standard ZIP Codes primarily associated with Polk County postal communities. It is not intended to be a geographic inventory of every ZIP Code whose delivery area may cross the Polk County boundary, and it does not include every PO Box, Unique, institutional, or other special-purpose ZIP Code. ZIP Codes are postal delivery designations rather than municipal boundaries, and addresses near county or city boundaries may use a postal city that differs from the municipality in which the property is physically located. For mailing, applications, property records, or other address-sensitive uses, residents should verify the ZIP Code using the complete street address.