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County zoning is authorized under
Iowa Code Chapter 335. Article 335.3 states : . . . the
board of supervisors may by ordinance regulate and restrict the
height, number of structures, and size of buildings and other
structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size
of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of
population, and the location and use of buildings, structures,
and land for trade, industry, residence, or other purposes, and
may regulate, restrict and prohibit the use for residential
purposes of tents, trailers, and portable or potentially
portable structures. However, such powers shall be
exercised only within the county but lying outside the corporate
limits of any city." |
| What is
the minimum size of lot I must own to have a house? |
| Zoning
Ordinance Requirements |
| IF the land is Class I or II
(prime farm ground) and has no house already
existing (bare ground) you are required to have
ten (10) acres. [Article 7.09] |
| IF there is a house already
standing (more than two years old) and the house is
not hooked up to rural or city water, you are
required to have two (2) acres. [Article
7.15] |
| IF there is a house already
standing (more than two years old) and the house is
hooked up to rural water, you are required to have
twenty thousand (20,000) square feet, about
1/2 acre. [Article 7.15a] |
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| Sub
Division Ordinance Requirements |
| "Any tract of land which is
subdivided into three or more lots, any of which are
five acres or less, and regardless of
ownership of any of the lots, shall be considered a
major subdivision and will require plats as herein
set forth." [Article 5.04b] |
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| Can I start a
business in my home? |
| Under certain circumstances, home
occupations are permitted. These include
beauty parlors, handicrafts, music schools but no
retail sales. [Article 7.25] |
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| How far from
the lot line can I build? |
| In the agricultural area the set
backs for single family dwellings are as follows: |
| Front yard, 50 feet |
| Side yard, 15 feet |
| Rear yard, 50 feet or 20% of lot
depth [Article 7.4] |
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| Are any
structures exempt from County Zoning? |
| Yes, Iowa Code Chapter 335.2
states "...no ordinance adopted under this chapter
applies to land, farm houses, farm barns, farm
outbuildings or other buildings or structures which
are primarily adapted, by reason of nature and area,
for use for agricultural purposes while so used." |
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| Are there
permits required before I can build and is there a fee? |
| Yes, there is a Zoning Compliance
Certificate required for construction outside the
corporate limits. There is no fee for this
certificate. |
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| If my request
is denied, what is my next step? |
| If your request for a zoning
compliance certificate is denied, you may apply for
a variance before the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
This is a public hearing and there is a $50 fee to
cover the official publication costs and mailings. |
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| Do I have to
appear at this hearing? |
| No. Of course no one can state
your case better than you, but your attendance is
not mandatory. |
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| How long does
this appeal process take? |
| Generally the administrator
processes the appeal within 1 - 2 working days of
receipt. The Notice of Public Hearing must be
published in the local paper not less than 15 nor
more than 30 days prior to the hearing date.
Notice is also mailed to adjacent landowners and to
the owners of the property in question. |
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| How do I get
my zoning district changed? |
| This would take a meeting of the
Planning and Zoning Board to hear your request.
There is a $50 fee for this hearing to cover
official publications and mailings. |
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