Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Waverly, Iowa

Waverly’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New construction and alterations of buildings inside Waverly city limits

  • Chapter 90 of the city code (building code) adopts the International Residential Code in its entirety except for the listed amendments (sec. 90.14).
  • The city contracts with the Bremer County building inspections office for building inspection and enforcement inside city limits.
  • Chapter 90 also adopts the International Building Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Existing Building Code and National Electrical Code (per the chapter's contents list).

  “90.14 international residential code the irc shall be adopted in its entirety except for the following:”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Waverly city limits, administered by the city of Waverly under its own zoning ordinance

  • The city's zoning ordinance is Chapter 100 of the Waverly city code.
  • Dimensional and use rules differ by district; see the district-specific claims.

  “the city of waverly is divided into fourteen zoning districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Waverly city limits

  • The city's zoning page lists fourteen districts, including the A-1 agricultural district, R-1 and R-1A residential districts, and the R-FBH planned factory built home district.
  • The zoning map is incorporated by reference and has the same legal authority as the code text.

  “these districts are officially designated as: a-1 agricultural district r-1 residential district r-1a residential district r-2 residential district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Dwellings on lots in the A-1 agricultural district inside Waverly city limits (annexed land is classed A-1 until rezoned, per sec. 100.3.03)

  • Other permitted uses in the A-1 district require 3 acres, 200 feet of width, and 50-foot yard frontage and rearage (sec. 100.5.03 item 3).
  • Source: Sec. 100.5.03 dimensional requirements, item 2.a, of the compiled code PDF.

  minimum lot area (dwelling): >= 3 acres (other permitted uses require 3 acres and 200 feet of width) · minimum lot width (dwelling): >= 200 feet (other permitted uses require 200 feet of width)

  “no dwelling shall be located on a lot which has less than the following minimum dimensions: (1) lot area: 3 acres. (2) lot area (per family): 3 acres. (3) lot width: 200 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the R-1 residential district inside Waverly city limits

    “the following minimum and maximum size regulations shall apply in the r-1 residential district: a. minimum lot size: 9,000 square feet b. minimum lot dimensions: (1) lot width: 75 feet”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 residential district inside Waverly city limits

  • Accessory buildings have separate rules in sec. 100.4.06 (for example, a minimum five foot setback from side and rear lot lines for detached accessory buildings more than 10 feet from the main building).

  front yard setback: >= 25 feet · side yard setback: >= 10 feet · rear yard setback: >= 30 feet

  “c. building setbacks: (1) front yard: 25 feet (2) side yard: 10 feet (3) rear yard: 30 feet”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 residential district inside Waverly city limits

  • Impervious coverage counts primary and accessory building area plus impervious paved surfaces.
  • Source: Sec. 100.6.03 dimensional requirements, item 1.d(2).

  maximum impervious coverage: <= 50 percent of lot area (inclusive of primary and accessory building square footage and impervious paved surface areas)

  “(2) impervious coverage: 50% of lot area, inclusive of primary and accessory building square footage area and impervious paved surface areas.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the R-1 residential district inside Waverly city limits

  • Height limits for A-1 were not located in the sections read; no A-1 height claim is recorded.
  • Source: Sec. 100.6.03 dimensional requirements, item 1.d.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (and three stories)

  “d. maximum building dimensions: (1) height: 35 feet and three stories.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways serving lots in the R-1 residential district inside Waverly city limits

  • Driveway width limits are stated for R-1; other districts have their own driveway rules in their sections.
  • Source: Sec. 100.6.03 dimensional requirements, item 1.g.

  maximum driveway width at right of way line: <= 32 feet · maximum driveway width at curb: <= 32 feet

  “g. driveway considerations: (1) width at the right of way line: 32 feet maximum (2) width at the curb: 32 feet maximum (3) distance from side property lines: 5 feet minimum”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Waverly or Bremer County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Waverly city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Waverly city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Waverly city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new buildings inside Waverly city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a dwelling inside Waverly city limits

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.