Zoning, building permits and septic rules in New Vienna, Iowa

Rules another office applies inside New Vienna

New Vienna does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems on land inside New Vienna city (the state rule's local administrative authority is the local board of health)

  • The state rule makes the state department and the local board of health the administrative authority; the specific local board that serves New Vienna city was not confirmed from an official New Vienna page.
  • The chapter's rescission date is stated as: chapter rescission date pursuant to iowa code section 17a.7: 1/1/28.
  • Local city ordinances (if any) were not found and may add requirements.

  ““administrative authority” means the department and the local board of health as authorized by iowa code section 455b.172 and iowa code chapter 137.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installing or altering a private sewage disposal system on land inside New Vienna city, under the statewide rule

  • Applies to systems installed or altered as described in 567 IAC 69.1(3)c.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued by the administrative authority (the department or the local board of health).
  • The chapter's rescission date is stated as: chapter rescission date pursuant to iowa code section 17a.7: 1/1/28.

  “69.1(4) construction permit required. no private sewage disposal system shall be installed or altered as described in paragraph 69.1(3)“c” unless a construction permit issued by the administrative authority has been obtained.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Transfer of ownership of an existing building served by a private sewage disposal system on land inside New Vienna city

  • Exemptions listed in 567 IAC 69.2(1)a apply (for example court-ordered transfers).
  • An inspection is valid for two years for ownership transfers during that period (69.2(1)c).
  • The subrule's amendment history states effective 8/15/12; no current effective date was adopted as the effective_at value.
  • The chapter's rescission date is stated as: chapter rescission date pursuant to iowa code section 17a.7: 1/1/28.

  “prior to any transfer of ownership of a building where a person resides, congregates, or is employed that is served by a private sewage disposal system, the sewage disposal system serving the building shall be inspected.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Required — Newly constructed private sewage disposal systems on land inside New Vienna city

    “all newly constructed private sewage disposal systems shall be inspected by the administrative authority before the system is backfilled or at a time prescribed by the administrative authority. a final as-built drawing shall be made as part of the final inspection.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Buildings on land inside New Vienna city that are not served by a public sewer (off-grid sanitation)

  • Where no publicly owned treatment works is available, every building must be provided with an approved private sewage disposal system installed under a construction permit.
  • Discharge of wastewater from private systems is restricted by the rule's discharge restrictions.

  “(3) when a potw is not available, every building wherein persons reside, congregate, or are employed shall be provided with an approved private sewage disposal system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Buildings on land inside New Vienna city where a publicly owned treatment works (sewer) is or becomes available; New Vienna city's own sewer availability was not confirmed

  • Under the statewide rule, a building must connect to an available publicly owned treatment works (potw), and a potw is treated as unavailable when it is more than 200 feet from the proposed building or exterior drainage facility.
  • Final determination of availability is made by the administrative authority.
  • Local ordinance may also require connection to a potw.
  • The chapter's rescission date is stated as: chapter rescission date pursuant to iowa code section 17a.7: 1/1/28.

  distance threshold for sewer availability: 200 feet (potw considered unavailable when more than 200 feet from any proposed building or exterior drainage facility on a lot that abuts and is served by the potw)

  “no private sewage disposal system shall be installed, repaired, or rehabilitated where a publicly owned treatment works (potw) is available or where a local ordinance requires connection to a potw. the potw may be considered as unavailable when such potw, or any building or any exterior drainage facility connected thereto, is located more than 200 feet from any proposed building or exterior drainage facility on any lot or premises which abuts and is served by such potw. final determination of availability shall be made by the administrative authority.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask New Vienna or Dubuque County directly.

• Building permit — Whether a building permit is required for new construction inside New Vienna city
• Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner-builder exemption exists for New Vienna city permits
• Building code adopted — Whether New Vienna city has adopted a building code for construction inside its limits
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required for construction inside New Vienna city
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required for buildings in New Vienna 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.