Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Westwood, Iowa

Westwood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building or other structure work inside Westwood city limits

  • Permit required for new homes, additions, patios, decks, porches, garages, above- or at-grade pools, or work that changes outside dimensions of an existing building.
  • Permit not required for interior remodeling, roofing, window replacement, or siding.
  • Non-residential structures in the district also need a special building permit from the council (155.04).

  “155.07 building permits. no building or other structure shall be erected or altered within the city without first receiving a permit. a permit is required for work such as new homes, additions, patios, decks, porches, garages, above or at-grade swimming pools, or for work that would change the outside dimensions of an existing building. a permit is not required for interior remodeling, roofing, window replacement, or siding a building.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Westwood city limits. The city's own Chapter 155 'Restricted Residence District' is a single district covering the entire corporate limits.

  • Chapter 155 cites Code of Iowa sec. 414.24 (zoning enabling statute) and states its purpose as regulating erection, alteration and repair of buildings and limiting use in the district.
  • Only residences, school houses, churches and residential accessory uses (attached garage up to three cars, or a fenced private pool) are allowed without a special building permit from the council (155.04).
  • Source is the August 2017 supplement of the city code; the current code was not confirmed.

  “155.03 restricted residence district. the following area is hereby defined and established as a restricted residence district: all that area lying within the corporate limits of the city.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Westwood city limits. Only one district is established: the Restricted Residence District.

  • Chapter 155 defines the whole corporate area as the restricted residence district; no map of multiple districts was found.
  • The code table of contents lists no other zoning-district chapter (August 2017 supplement).

  “155.03 restricted residence district. the following area is hereby defined and established as a restricted residence district: all that area lying within the corporate limits of the city.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings erected, placed or occupied in the Restricted Residence District, which is the entire city.

  • Applies to every dwelling in the single district; no separate agricultural or rural-residential district was found.

  minimum dwelling width: >= 22 feet (measured at the narrowest point of the dwelling)

  “155.06 minimum size. no dwelling shall be erected, placed or occupied within the restricted residence district unless such dwelling shall have a minimum width of twenty-two (22) feet measured at the narrowest point of such dwelling.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential and residential accessory buildings in the Restricted Residence District (entire city).

  • Front: a residential building may not sit closer to the street property line than the nearest adjacent existing building, and new construction may not be closer than 25 feet, with consideration of a perpetual easement over existing water mains.
  • Side: residences and accessory buildings 20 feet minimum from side lot lines.
  • Attached garage or carport: 35 feet minimum from the side lot line on the garage or carport side.
  • Rear setback not stated in sections read (155.05 read in full).

  front setback (new construction): >= 25 feet (nearest adjacent existing building setback governs where it is farther; water-main easement consideration) · side setback (residence or accessory building): >= 20 feet (attached garage or carport: see garage side setback) · side setback (attached garage or carport, garage side): >= 35 feet

  “no new construction shall be constructed closer than twenty-five (25) feet with consideration of a perpetual easement reserved over existing water mains.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured and mobile homes placed on private land inside Westwood city limits

  • Mobile homes may not be constructed in the restricted residence district (155.04).
  • Any dwelling must be at least 22 feet wide at its narrowest point (155.06).
  • A mobile or manufactured home outside a manufactured home community or park is converted to real estate by placement on a permanent foundation (chapter 146.02), except listed cases.

  “no mobile homes shall be constructed in the restricted residence district.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders in Westwood city limits
• Building code adopted — Construction in Westwood city limits
• Inspections — Construction inspection inside Westwood city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new buildings inside Westwood city limits
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Westwood 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.