Bolthole Index

Clarke County, Iowa

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Clarke County, Iowa

62Index Score / 100
#28 of 99 in Iowa

Unincorporated Clarke County, Iowa requires a building permit for any new construction or expansion of a building, issued under the county's zoning ordinance12. Clarke County has adopted countywide zoning, administered by a Zoning Administrator whose office now sits with the County Engineer32. Septic systems are handled separately, through the shared Clarke, Decatur, and Ringgold County Environmental Health Office45. If your land is inside Osceola, Murray, or Woodburn city limits instead of unincorporated Clarke County, the city, not the county, sets the rules2.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction or expansion of a building in unincorporated Clarke County1
Zoning
Countywide zoning ordinance adopted; administered by the Zoning Administrator3
Septic permits
Clarke, Decatur, and Ringgold County Environmental Health Office; new construction needs an application and permit before work starts45
Owner-builder
Someone doing work on their own property is not treated as a contractor under Iowa's contractor-registration law, but that doesn't waive the county's building permit67
Manufactured homes
The county can't reject a manufactured home for being manufactured, but it must meet the same foundation, setback and square-footage standards as a site-built home on the same lot8
Accessory dwelling unit
Starting July 1, 2026, the county must allow at least one ADU per single-family lot where a single-family home is an allowed use, up to 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the main home's size9
Agricultural exemption
Farmhouses, farm barns and other structures primarily adapted for agricultural use are generally exempt from the zoning ordinance while so used, with no application or fee allowed to make that exemption conditional10
Septic transfer inspection
A certified inspector must inspect the septic system before most property transfers statewide, valid for 2 years11

Who to call

Zoning

Clarke County Zoning Administrator (Engineer's Office)

Zoning building permits for new construction or expansion of a building in unincorporated Clarke County, plus zoning district review; the Board of Adjustment (variances, conditional use permits, appeals) and the Planning and Zoning Commission (major subdivisions) work alongside this office

641-342-2716

[email protected]

Clarke County Courthouse, 100 South Main Street, Osceola, Iowa 50213

Septic permits

Clarke, Decatur, and Ringgold County Environmental Health Office

Septic (on-site wastewater treatment) permits and inspections for Clarke County, serving Clarke, Decatur, and Ringgold counties together

641-223-8299

144 W. Jefferson St., Osceola, IA 50213

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Clarke County, Iowa?

Yes. Unincorporated Clarke County requires a building permit for any new construction or expansion of a building, issued under the county's zoning ordinance12. The permit application is reviewed against the standards for the zoning district the land sits in, and county staff check whether the proposed building is for agricultural use, which changes what applies2. If your land is instead inside Osceola, Murray, or Woodburn, the city runs its own permitting and you'd check with city hall rather than the county2. Statewide, Iowa's own building code applies directly only to state-owned buildings and to governmental subdivisions that specifically adopt it by ordinance, so it's Clarke County's own zoning-based permit requirement, not the state code, that governs an ordinary home here12.

Who is the Clarke County zoning office, and how do you reach them?

Zoning in Clarke County is handled by the Zoning Administrator, whose office has moved and now operates alongside the County Engineer's office2. Reach the Zoning Administrator at 641-342-2716 or [email protected], at the Clarke County Courthouse, 100 South Main Street, Osceola, Iowa 502132. Two other bodies work alongside that office: the five-member Board of Adjustment grants variances, conditional use permits, and hears appeals of the zoning director's decisions, and the Planning and Zoning Commission reviews major subdivisions2. Start with the Zoning Administrator for a straightforward building-permit question; you'd only reach the Board of Adjustment if you need an exception to the ordinance2.

Does Clarke County have zoning?

Yes, Clarke County has adopted zoning for unincorporated land, administered by the Zoning Administrator3. Iowa law generally exempts agricultural land, farmhouses, farm barns, and other structures primarily adapted for agricultural use while so used, and the county cannot condition that exemption on an application, approval, or fee10. Manufactured homes cannot be rejected solely for being manufactured, but they must meet the same foundation, setback, and minimum-square-footage standards as a site-built home on the same lot8. Starting July 1, 2026, the county must allow at least one accessory dwelling unit where a single-family home is an allowed principal use, up to 1,000 square feet or 50% of the main home's size, whichever is larger9. A planned-development rezoning petition requires a tract of at least 10 acres; after approval, individual minimum lot and yard requirements do not apply inside the development, subject to boundary-yard or screening requirements13. Ask the Zoning Administrator for the standards governing your parcel's district2.

How do septic permits work in Clarke County?

Septic systems in Clarke County are permitted through the Clarke, Decatur, and Ringgold County Environmental Health Office, which serves all three counties together45. New construction requires a completed application and an issued permit before a contractor starts work on the septic system, and replacing a septic tank (even if only part of the system fails) triggers the same permit and often an upgrade of the whole system to current standards5. Iowa law puts this authority in the hands of county boards of health, which must adopt and enforce septic standards at least as strict as the state's, with the Department of Natural Resources retaining backup authority if a county falls short14. Before most property transfers involving a home on a private sewage system, Iowa law separately requires a certified inspector to inspect the system, with the inspection valid for two years and the tank generally opened and pumped as part of it11. Buyers should budget for soil work too: only 0.7% of Clarke County's soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so a straightforward gravity system is the exception here, not the rule15.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Clarke County?

Clarke County's rules do not confirm whether a single RV may be occupied on an individual private parcel or whether temporary camping is allowed, so ask the Zoning Administrator about the parcel and proposed duration before relying on an RV living plan2. The county also has not confirmed a distinct tiny-home occupancy rule. A tiny home that is a new building in unincorporated Clarke County would require the county's zoning building permit1. A manufactured home used as a residence must meet the same foundation, setback, and minimum-square-footage rules as a site-built home on the same lot8. These categories are not interchangeable, so describe the unit's construction, foundation, utilities, and intended use when calling the Zoning Administrator2.

Building a home in Clarke County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Clarke County and not inside Osceola, Murray, or Woodburn, where city requirements apply2.
  2. Ask the Zoning Administrator to confirm the zoning district and the site standards that apply2.
  3. Submit the zoning building-permit application before beginning new construction or expanding a building21.
  4. Apply to the Clarke, Decatur, and Ringgold County Environmental Health Office for a septic permit before septic work starts; only 0.7% of county soils lack severe limitations for a conventional drain field515.
  5. If the driveway connects to a state primary highway, obtain the Iowa DOT entrance permit16.
  6. Take a requested variance, conditional use, or appeal to the Board of Adjustment2. Iowa's owner-property contractor-registration exemption does not waive the county permit7.

What to check before you buy land in Clarke County

Soils deserve the most attention: only 0.7% of Clarke County's land is free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so budget for a site evaluation and likely an engineered system before you commit15. If a home on the property already has a septic system, remember Iowa generally requires a certified pre-transfer inspection, valid two years, before the deed can be recorded11. Confirm which side of the city-limit line your land falls on, since Osceola, Murray, and Woodburn each run their own permitting separate from the county2. Terrain is gentle here, with 80.8% of land at 15% slope or less, so grading is rarely the limiting factor17; the county sees drought in about 10.8% of years against roughly 37.2 inches of annual precipitation, worth factoring into well and pond planning1819. Property tax runs an effective rate near 1.5%, with a median bill around $2,335 a year against a typical home value near $201,474202122.

Watch-outs

  • Clarke County's zoning office recently moved and now operates with the County Engineer's office; confirm you're using current contact details before visiting in person2.
  • The confirmed 10-acre threshold applies only to a petition for planned-development rezoning, not as a general minimum lot size13.
  • Clarke County has not confirmed a rule for single-parcel RV occupancy, temporary camping, or tiny-home occupancy; ask the Zoning Administrator before committing to that use2.

Sources

  1. Zoning (2026 county census)
  2. Clarke County Zoning Administrator (Engineer's Office) (clarkecounty.iowa.gov)
  3. Clarke County Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Regulations Update – In Effect from 9-9-2024 (2026 county census)
  4. Clarke County Board of Health Rules and Regulations Chapter 01 (2026 county census)
  5. Clarke, Decatur, and Ringgold County Environmental Health Office (clarkecounty.iowa.gov)
  6. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 91C — Construction Contractors (2026 county census)
  7. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 91C — Construction Contractors (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Iowa Code §335.30, Manufactured and modular homes (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Senate File 2369 — Enrolled (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 335 — County Zoning (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Iowa Code §455B.172, Jurisdiction of department and local boards (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 103A — State Building Code (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Zoning Ordinance No. 42 — Land Use Regulations Amended, quoted and re-checked
  14. Iowa Code §455B.172, Jurisdiction of department and local boards (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  16. Access Management (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Share of years in severe drought: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Found land here? Start a Property Hunt →

County locator

Clarke County in Iowa

62
County map
Clarke County highlighted among the Iowa counties · colored by Index score

How Clarke County scores

Seclusion58100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency54100% ev.
Admin Boringness48100% ev.
Durability47100% ev.
Property Autonomy51100% ev.
Carry Cost69100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$201kTypical home
1.5%Property tax
$5,329Land / acre
37.2"Annual rain
10.8% of yrsSevere drought
6.1 / yr (+5.2)Mid-century 100°F days
18.4 daysMid-century dry spell
2.07" (+13.1%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.77×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,636Home insurance / yr
3% / yrInsurance growth
1.48%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
9,974People within 30 min
1,275,218People within 2 hr
12,934Radius comparison (15 mi)
22.2People / sq mi
0.1%Federal land
80.8%Land at 15% slope or less
0.7%Septic soil without severe limits
2,023 acWorkable land screen
19.7%Wooded land
26.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
50.1°FAvg temp

Scout Clarke County

Camp here before you commitBook a few nights nearby on Hipcamp →Already own land here?Earn money hosting campers — get $100 when you become a Hipcamp host →

Some links are affiliate or referral links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.

Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

View your full hunt →
ZillowLand & lotsRealtor.comLand listingsLandSearchRural & vacant land

Each button opens a current land search for Clarke County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

Analyze a property
Add setup-cost allowances

Use rough quotes or placeholders. Blank fields count as $0.

Working estimate

—land + entered setup costs
Asking $ / acre
—
Setup allowance
—
All-in $ / acre
—

A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

Before an offer

Parcel due diligence

0/8 checked

Saved properties and checklist progress stay on this device. Bolthole Index does not receive them.

Answers from the rulebook for Clarke County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Clarke County rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction or expansion of a building in unincorporated Clarke County.

    • Agricultural buildings may receive a zoning exemption when they meet zoning requirements for agricultural exemptions.
    • Municipal requirements may differ in Osceola, Murray, and Woodburn.
    “Clarke County zoning ordinance requires a building permit for any new construction or expansion of a building.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    County zoning in the unincorporated area of Clarke County, Iowa.

    • The county zoning page directs residents of Osceola, Murray, and Woodburn to check with their local city halls for specific requirements.
    • Agricultural exemptions and other ordinance exceptions may apply.
    “If you live in the City of Osceola, Murray or Woodburn you will need to check at you local city hall about specific requirements.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Present (with conditions) — County zoning in the unincorporated area of Clarke County.
      “the unincorporated area of Clarke County, Iowa, is hereby divided into eight (8) zoning district classifications”
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate conclusion for county and incorporated municipalities; the county administers zoning in the unincorporated area, while incorporated cities may have separate requirements.

    • Osceola, Murray, and Woodburn have local city-hall requirements.
    • This aggregate claim does not attribute municipal ordinances to the county.
    “If you live in the City of Osceola, Murray or Woodburn you will need to check at you local city hall about specific requirements.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    The county zoning districts and official zoning map for unincorporated Clarke County.

    • The Official Zoning Map is incorporated by reference and kept on file in the Zoning Administrator's office.
    • The ordinance lists eight classifications: A-1, R-1, R-2, P-1, C-1, I-1, FP, and AP.
    “the unincorporated area of Clarke County, Iowa, is hereby divided into eight (8) zoning district classifications”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwelling units in the R-1 Rural Residential District.

    • The cited standard is district-specific and subject to modifications in Section 3.

    minimum first-floor area: >= 900 square feet · mean dwelling width: >= 20 feet (garage space is not counted)

    “Dwelling Unit, not counting garage space: Mean width of at least twenty (20) feet and total minimum first floor area of nine hundred (900) square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    PD Planned Development District in unincorporated Clarke County.

    • The tract proposed for rezoning to the planned development classification must comprise at least 10 acres.
    • Within an approved planned development, minimum lot and yard requirements do not apply, but district-specified yards or suitable boundary screening/buffering must be provided.
    • Any land gained by reducing lot sizes below ordinary zoning requirements must be placed in common land dedicated to the County or retained and managed by a homeowners association.
    • Public water and publicly owned sewage treatment works are required; semipublic sewage disposal systems are not allowed.
    • No building permit or zoning certificate may issue until the final development plan and final plat are approved by the Board of Supervisors.

    minimum proposed tract area: >= 10 acres (Applies to petition for change to the planned development zoning classification) · minimum individual lot area within approved planned development: none (Minimum lot and yard requirements do not apply within the development, subject to boundary-yard or screening requirements)

    “The owner or owners of any tract of land comprising an area of not less than ten (10) acres may petition the Board of Supervisors for a change to the P-1 Zoning District Classification. [...] Minimum lot and yard requirements within the development shall not apply, except that minimum yards specified in the district or suitable screening or buffering shall be provided around the boundaries of the development.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings and structures in county zoning districts.

    • Height standards vary by district and use.
    • Certain public, semi-public, service, hospital, sanitarium, school, church, and temple buildings may exceed ordinary district limits only under the ordinance's setback conditions.

    R-1 principal building maximum height: 35 feet · R-1 accessory building maximum height: 12 feet

    “Maximum Height: principal building: 35 feet. Accessory building: 12 feet”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured, modular, and mobile homes in the county zoning districts.

    • Single-family manufactured and modular homes are permitted in R-1 when developed according to R-1 regulations.
    • Mobile homes may be placed only in an R-2 Manufactured Home Community District.
    • R-2 districts require publicly owned water supply and Iowa DNR-approved and regulated sewage treatment works.
    “No mobile homes, as defined in this ordinance, shall be placed in the county except in an R-2 zone.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems in Clarke County, including incorporated cities and towns.

    • County rules adopt and supplement Iowa Administrative Code 567 Chapter 69.
    • The County Sanitarian and County Board of Health administer county procedures; Iowa DNR requirements also apply.
    “requirements set forth by the Department in the most current edition of the Iowa Administrative Code 567, Chapter 69, and to such additional requirements as are prescribed by regulations of the Board of Health.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction or repair of an on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system in Clarke County.

    • The permit must be obtained before construction of or addition to any dwelling or building served by the system.
    • Applications for subsurface absorption systems must include a professional soil analysis or percolation test.
    • A property sketch showing dwellings and affected wells is required.
    • The permit is issued after approval and payment of applicable fees.
    • The permit must remain on site during construction and is valid for a maximum of twelve months.
    • No on-site system may be installed when a public sewer is reasonably accessible as determined by the Board of Health.

    permit validity: <= 12 months (another permit is required if the system is not completed during the validity period)

    “No person shall begin construction or repair of any on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system for any purpose in the County without first having obtained a permit as set out in this chapter.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    On-site wastewater systems constructed, repaired, altered, reconstructed, or installed to replace an existing system.

    • The County Sanitarian must receive notice at least 24 hours before inspection or testing.
    • The system must not be used, covered, or constructed so as to impede mandatory inspection.
    • For existing-system work, the building must be connected to the building sewer before inspection.
    • A completed drawing showing system layout, dimensions, and wells must be submitted and approved.
    • Transfer inspections are available upon request, and systems inspected or permitted within two years before transfer are exempt from further inspection until the next ownership change.

    inspection notice: >= 24 hours (notice is given during the stated Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. hours)

    “No part of any private sewage disposal system shall be used, covered or constructed so as to deny or impede the mandatory inspection by the County Sanitarian.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sanitation through an on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system.

    • A county permit is required before construction or repair.
    • Construction must comply with Iowa Administrative Code 567 Chapter 69 and County Board of Health regulations.
    • Discharge to ditches, streams, lakes, ponds, waterways, drain tiles, or the ground surface is prohibited.
    • An on-site system cannot be installed when public sewer is reasonably accessible.
    “It is prohibited for any household drainage and/or sewage, to discharge to any ditch, stream, lake, pond, natural or artificial waterway, county drain tile, surface water drain tile, or to the surface of the ground.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Use of private on-site wastewater systems where public sewer service may be available.

    • An on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system may not be installed when a public sewer is reasonably accessible, as determined by the Board of Health.
    “No on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system shall be installed when a public sewer is reasonably accessible, as determined by the Board of Health.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, and other buildings or structures primarily adapted for agricultural purposes while so used.

    • The exemption does not apply to regulations concerning structures, buildings, dams, obstructions, deposits, or excavations in floodplains.
    • The person claiming the exemption must demonstrate that the property is used for agricultural purposes.
    • The county states that it seeks voluntary compliance for agricultural uses, specifically minimum yard requirements.
    “no regulation or restriction adopted under the provisions of this ordinance shall be construed to apply to land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, or other buildings, structures, or erections which are primarily adapted, by reason of nature and area, for use for agricultural purposes while so used”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Plats, replats, and divisions of land in unincorporated Clarke County, including land within two miles of a city.

    • The subdivision ordinance applies to plats, replats, and divisions of land into parcels in the unincorporated area, including subdivision within two miles of any city.
    • Major subdivision preliminary and final plats are reviewed by the county Planning and Zoning Commission and recommended to the Board of Supervisors.
    “This Ordinance shall apply to all plats, replats, and divisions of land into parcels, and lying in the unincorporated area of Clarke County, Iowa, including the subdivision of land within two (2) miles of any city.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Residential lots and dwellings governed by the county zoning ordinance.

    • A residential lot must abut a public street for at least 40 feet, or have an exclusive unobstructed private access easement/right-of-way at least 20 feet wide.
    • A common easement at least 50 feet wide may serve two or more single-family dwellings or one or more two-family or multiple dwellings.
    • The ordinance page separately lists a county Driveway Entrances ordinance.

    minimum public-street frontage: >= 40 feet (private access easement alternative) · minimum private access easement width: >= 20 feet (exclusive unobstructed easement or right-of-way) · common easement width: >= 50 feet (for two or more single-family dwellings or one or more two-family or multiple dwellings)

    “no lot shall contain any building used in whole or in part for residence purposes unless such lot abuts for at least forty (40) feet on at least one public street, or unless it has an exclusive unobstructed private easement of access or right-of-way of at least twenty (20) feet wide to a street”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    County zoning certificates/building permits, commercial and industrial permits, hearings, subdivision plat review, and related zoning materials.

    • The schedule was revised and approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 25, 2003 and states that it goes into effect upon publication in the paper.
    • Square footage is determined from the perimeter base of the entire structure at ground level.
    • Fees are paid to the Zoning Administrator and deposited in the Rural Basic Fund; checks are payable to the Clarke County Treasurer.

    principal building or dwelling fee: 150 USD · accessory building under 600 square feet: 25 USD · accessory building over 600 square feet: 50 USD · deck, porch, or room addition fee: 20 USD · final plat fee: 200 USD (plus $25 per lot over 6 lots)

    “Principal Building or Dwelling | $150.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    County zoning certificate/building permit process for construction in unincorporated Clarke County.

    • An application must be submitted before construction for review and approval.
    • Review considers agricultural exemption status, zoning district and use, lot size, setbacks, special district/use requirements, and possible subdivision regulations.
    • Municipal requirements may differ in Osceola, Murray, and Woodburn.
    “Written application on approved forms shall be filed with the Zoning Administrator and shall be accompanied by plans in duplicate, drawn to scale”

Iowa rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    A person performing work or having work performed on the person's own property, for purposes of Iowa Code chapter 91C contractor registration.

    • The exemption is from being treated as a contractor for purposes of chapter 91C; it is not stated to waive building permits, building-code compliance, inspections, or certificates of occupancy.
    • The separate annual-earnings threshold is less than $2,000, but the own-property exemption is stated independently.
    • A contractor doing business in Iowa must register under chapter 91C unless an applicable statutory exclusion applies.
    “However, a person who earns less than two thousand dollars annually or who performs work or has work performed on the person’s own property is not a contractor for purposes of this chapter.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    The Iowa State Building Code, including the 2024 International Building Code adopted by reference with Iowa amendments, applies statewide to state-owned buildings and structures, qualifying state-funded construction, certain cities over 15,000 that lack a substantially equivalent local building code, and governmental subdivisions that accept the code by ordinance. Factory-built-structure provisions apply throughout Iowa.

    • In a governmental subdivision, the code generally applies only after the governing body enacts an ordinance accepting applicability and files a certified copy with the commissioner.
    • The local ordinance fixes the effective date, which must be no more than six months after adoption.
    • A governmental subdivision may withdraw after one year by ordinance, following the required public hearing and written notice; the withdrawal date must be at least 180 days after ordinance adoption, and previously issued permits are unaffected.
    • The state building code applies to state-owned buildings and structures and to newly constructed buildings and structures paid for in whole or in part with state-appropriated money but not wholly state-owned.
    • Cities with populations over 15,000 that lack a local building code substantially in accord with nationally recognized standards must enforce the state building code.
    • Factory-built-structure provisions apply throughout the state; an approved factory-built structure is deemed compliant with building regulations applicable to its manufacture and installation and is exempt from other state or local building regulations, subject to the statutory exceptions concerning professional engineering and architecture and manufactured homes.
    • The current administrative rule adopts the 2024 International Building Code by reference with amendments; detached one- and two-family dwellings, certain townhouses not more than three stories, and their accessory structures instead comply with the amended International Residential Code.

    adopted model building code: 2024 International Building Code (Adopted by reference with Iowa amendments.) · current administrative-rule effective date: 2025-09-10 (Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 481.301 source identifies ARC 9474C as effective September 10, 2025.) · local ordinance effective-date limit: <= 6 months after adoption · local withdrawal waiting period: >= 1 year after code became applicable (A governmental subdivision may withdraw only after this period has elapsed.) · withdrawal effective-date minimum: >= 180 days after ordinance adoption (Previously issued permits remain unaffected.)

    “The state building code shall be applicable: [...] In each governmental subdivision where the governing body has enacted an ordinance accepting the application of the code.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Buildings and structures subject to Iowa Code section 103A.10A, including newly constructed state-owned buildings, state-board-of-regents buildings, and certain state-funded buildings.

    • Newly constructed state-owned buildings and structures subject to the state building code are subject to plan review and inspection, excluding renovations and repairs except as provided by statute.
    • Newly constructed buildings owned by the state board of regents are subject to plan review and inspection, excluding renovations and repairs except as provided by statute.
    • State-funded buildings not wholly owned by the state are subject to state plan review and inspection when the governmental subdivision has not adopted the listed codes or does not perform inspections; otherwise they must comply with the local codes and inspections.
    • For ordinary privately owned construction, inspection administration is governed by the applicable local law or ordinance.
    “All newly constructed buildings or structures subject to the state building code, including any addition, but excluding any renovation or repair of such a building or structure, owned by the state or an agency of the state, except as provided in subsection 2, shall be subject to a plan review and inspection by the commissioner or an independent building inspector appointed by the commissioner.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificates of occupancy or use for buildings subject to Iowa's State Building Code and certificates approving specified buildings, facilities, or installations for licensure.

    • A local building department issues certificates of occupancy or use when required by ordinance.
    • When issued for a building constructed under the state building code, the certificate must certify conformity with the code and is in the form prescribed by the governing body of the governmental subdivision.
    • For facilities governed by Iowa Administrative Code chapter 481.280, if a certificate of occupancy is required for use, it will not be issued until the inspection fee is paid.
    • Chapter 481.280.5 applies to a certificate approving a building, facility, or installation for occupancy upon request from an owner or owner's agency when applicable rules are satisfied and all fees are paid.
    • The state sources do not require a certificate of occupancy for every building statewide.

    additional reinspection fee: 125 USD (Applies for each additional reinspection after the initial reinspection when original deficiencies remain uncorrected.)

    “Issue certificates of occupancy or use, permits, licenses, and other documents in connection with the construction of buildings or structures as may be required by ordinance. (1) A certificate of occupancy or use for a building or structure constructed in accordance with the provisions of the state building code shall certify that the building or structure conforms to the requirements of the code. The certificate shall be in the form the governing body of the governmental subdivision prescribes.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    City regulation of accessory dwelling units statewide in Iowa, within a zoning district where a single-family residence is an allowed principal use

    • At least one accessory dwelling unit must be allowed on the same lot as a single-family residence.
    • The accessory dwelling unit must comply with applicable building regulations under chapter 103A.
    • The unit may not exceed 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the size of the single-family residence, whichever is larger; unfinished basements are excluded from the size calculation.
    • Historic-building-code restrictions, deed restrictions, and common-interest-community rules may limit or prohibit construction or use.
    • A manufactured or mobile home used as the accessory dwelling unit must be converted to real property by placement on a permanent foundation and assessed for real-estate taxes under section 435.26.
    • A historic-preservation area may regulate the unit to the extent the city or commission determines it incongruous and records its reasons.
    • Effective July 1, 2026.

    maximum accessory dwelling unit size: 1,000 square feet or 50% of the single-family residence, whichever is larger (unfinished basements excluded from the size calculation)

    “A city shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — County regulation of accessory dwelling units statewide in Iowa, within a zoning district where a single-family residence is an allowed principal use
      “A county shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Iowa counties may adopt zoning ordinances for land and structures within the county but outside the corporate limits of any city.

    • Chapter 335 applies to any Iowa county at the option of its board of supervisors.
    • The zoning power is subject to Iowa Code section 335.2: ordinances generally do not apply to agricultural land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, or other structures primarily adapted for agricultural purposes while so used, except that ordinances may apply to structures, buildings, dams, obstructions, deposits, or excavations in or on river or stream floodplains.
    • A county may not require an application, approval, or fee for an ordinance to be deemed inapplicable to qualifying agricultural land or structures.
    • A county may not regulate, restrict, or prohibit the location of permanent buildings or temporary structures used for consumer-fireworks sales pursuant to section 10A.519 in locations zoned commercial or industrial.
    • The board of supervisors may divide the county into zoning districts, and regulations may differ among districts.
    • Regulations and restrictions require public-hearing and notice procedures under sections 335.6 and 331.305; district boundaries must identify the affected township and section and, if possible, streets or roads.
    • Energy-conservation and solar-access objectives do not require zoning in a county that did not have zoning before July 1, 1981.
    “applicable to any county [...] at the option of the board of supervisors [...] outside of the corporate limits of any city.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage limits under Clarke County zoning.
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles or travel trailers on private land in unincorporated Clarke County.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping in unincorporated Clarke County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated Clarke County.
  • Well permit — Private wells associated with on-site wastewater systems in Clarke County.
2 more unanswered
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Living off-grid in Clarke County, Iowa

Is Clarke County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Clarke County scores 62/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost.

Do you need a building permit in Clarke County, Iowa?

Clarke County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Clarke County Environmental Health / Sanitation Office (Clarke-Decatur-Ringgold Tri-County). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Clarke County, Iowa?

Land in Clarke County runs about $5,329 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Clarke County?

Clarke County gets about 37.2" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 10.8% of years.

How remote is Clarke County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,974 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,275,218 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Clarke County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

How Clarke compares in Iowa

Compare side-by-side →See all 99 Iowa counties ranked →