Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Clarksville, Iowa

Clarksville’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, reconstruction or alteration of buildings and building footprints inside Clarksville city

  • Application must be made in writing on a form provided by the city clerk, with plans and specifications sufficient to show compliance.
  • A permit may not be issued for buildings that do not comply with city ordinances.
  • Concrete or cement improvements are subject to the permit process regardless of project valuation.

  “a. no building footprint, area, or size shall hereafter be altered or improved unless a building permit, provided by the city clerk, approved by the city code enforcement officer, has been approved for each erection, reconstruction, or alteration.”

• InspectionsLimited

  Alterations and improvements for which a city building permit is issued inside Clarksville city

  • The code gives the building official a right of entry to inspect the improvement; it does not set out a schedule of required inspections in the text opened.
  • A permit may be revoked if the applicant made a false statement on the application or plans.

  “applicant grants to the city building official the right to enter onto applicant’s property to inspect the improvement or alteration to determine its compliance with the city code.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and uses in all zoning districts inside Clarksville city

  • A certificate of occupancy is not to be issued for uses that do not comply with city ordinances.
  • There is no fee for a certificate of occupancy, per the same section.

  “no change in the use or occupancy of land, nor any change in use or occupancy in an existing building shall be made, nor shall any new building be occupied for any purpose or use until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building official.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Clarksville city limits, under the city's own Restricted Residence District (R-1) zoning in code chapter 155

  • The official restricted residence district map is kept on file with the city clerk and is not reproduced in the 2023 code text opened.
  • Land annexed to the city is automatically classified R-1 until the classification is changed by amendment.
  • Search note: the code's ordinance-history listing contains the phrase 'restricted residence district not adopted'. Its meaning was not resolved; confirm with the city clerk that chapter 155 is in force.

  “all land that is hereafter annexed to the city of clarksville shall be automatically classified as being in an r-1 restricted residence district until such classification is changed by amendment of this chapter, as provided herein.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning district classifications in Clarksville city

  • The code names the R-1 restricted residence district and an N-R nonresidential district.
  • The official district map is on file with the city clerk and was not reproduced in the code text opened.

  “said map delineates various areas of the city into the following classifications: r-1 - restricted residence district n-r - nonresidential district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots using a sub-surface soil absorption septic system inside Clarksville city. This is a septic permit threshold, not a zoning lot minimum.

  • Applies only where a sub-surface soil absorption system is used.
  • Lots at or above this area are not restricted by this section; the zoning lot minimum is separate and was not found.

  minimum lot area for subsurface soil absorption septic system: >= 20000 square feet

  “98.09 minimum lot area. no permit shall be issued for any on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system employing sub-surface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is less than 20,000 square feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes (as defined in code chapter 155) used as a dwelling on land inside Clarksville city

  • The manufactured home is treated as a dwelling under chapter 155.
  • Width limit in the definition.

  minimum width: >= 22 feet

  “a manufactured home shall be a minimum of 22 feet in width and will be considered as a dwelling under the provisions of this chapter.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Mobile homes (as defined in code chapter 155) used for dwelling purposes inside Clarksville city

    “mobile homes to be used for dwelling purposes shall be placed only in an approved mobile home park.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site wastewater disposal (septic or other private sewage facility) on land inside Clarksville city

  • Construction or maintenance of an on-site system is unlawful except as otherwise provided in the code.
  • An on-site system is allowed where a public sanitary sewer is not available (section 98.02); the system must meet the county board of health permit rule.

  “98.01 when prohibited. except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful to construct or maintain any on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses, buildings and properties used for human occupancy that abut a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sanitary or combined sewer inside Clarksville city

  • Owner must install toilet facilities and a building sewer connected to the public sewer.
  • Compliance must be completed within 60 days after official city notice (section 95.05).
  • No city water-connection requirement was found in the text opened; water-and-sewer is not established.

  sewer connection compliance period: <= 60 days (after date of official notice from the city)

  “95.05 sewer connection required. the owners of any houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located, or may in the future be located, a public sanitary or combined sewer, are hereby required to install, at such owner’s expense, suitable toilet facilities therein and a building sewer connecting such facilities directly with the proper public sewer”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land into lots inside Clarksville city

  • The chapter 165 text was not opened; procedure, lot size and plat requirements are unknown.

  “chapter 165 subdivision regulations 165.01 definitions 165.02 preliminary plat required”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process inside Clarksville city

  • Application is made in writing on the form the city clerk provides, with plans and specifications.
  • Fees, review timelines and the permit form were not established from the text opened.

  “said permit shall be applied for in writing on a properly completed application form, provided by the city clerk, that is accompanied by plans and specifications sufficient to determine compliance with the applicable ordinances of the city.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from city building permits inside Clarksville city
• Building code adopted — Adoption of a state or model building code by Clarksville city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in the R-1 district inside Clarksville city
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear yard setbacks in the R-1 district inside Clarksville city
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in the R-1 district inside Clarksville city

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.