Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Oakland Acres, Iowa

Oakland Acres’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Oakland Acres city limits: the city's own Zoning Ordinance No. 8 (adopted May 8, 1976, with amendments) is listed in the city code as in force. The Chapter 165 zoning text itself was not read.

  • The code note says the zoning ordinance and its amendments are in the code appendix and not codified in Chapter 165; the amendments are saved from repeal but not reproduced in the Chapter 165 text.
  • Jasper County's zoning ordinance (Ordinance #04F) governs unincorporated areas, not land inside the city; not applied here.

  “ordinance no. 8 entitled city of oakland acres, iowa, zoning ordinance, adopted may 8, 1976, and amendments thereto are contained in the appendix of this code of ordinances and are in full force and effect.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater systems serving buildings inside Oakland Acres city. The city adopts the state standard, and the county board of health issues permits and sets added rules.

  • Type, capacity, location and layout must follow Iowa Administrative Code 567, chapter 69, plus any added requirements of the county board of health.
  • No separate city septic permit was found in Chapter 95; the permit is issued by the county board of health.

  “no person shall install or alter an on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system without first obtaining a permit from the county board of health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installing or altering an on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system inside Oakland Acres city; the permit is from the county board of health.

  • Permit comes from the county board of health, not the city.
  • Construction must follow IAC 567 chapter 69 and any added county board of health requirements (Section 95.05).

  “no person shall install or alter an on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system without first obtaining a permit from the county board of health.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Wastewater disposal for buildings inside Oakland Acres city: every occupied building must have an approved on-site system, and discharge to the surface is barred.

  • Every building where people live, gather or work must have an approved on-site system (Section 95.03).
  • Discharge of wastewater to any ditch, stream, pond, lake, waterway, drain tile or the ground surface is unlawful, except under an NPDES permit (Section 95.06).
  • Systems must be permitted by the county board of health (Section 95.04).

  “every building wherein persons reside, congregate or are employed shall be provided with an approved on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system complying with the provisions of this chapter.”

• Well permitLimited

  Private water wells inside Oakland Acres city

  • New private wells are allowed only if the applicant shows one of three conditions to the city's satisfaction: an existing well predating the 1989 code; location away from a rural water main as determined by the council; or undue hardship as determined by the council.
  • Council decisions on undue hardship are final.

  “private wells shall be allowed only if one or more of the following conditions are established by the applicant to the satisfaction of the city:”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

  New homes inside Oakland Acres city: water comes from Central Iowa Water Association, and new private wells are restricted.

  • Private wells are allowed only if one of these is shown to the city: an existing well that predates the 1989 code; the property is not within a reasonable distance of a rural water main as determined by the council; or undue hardship as determined by the council.
  • No public sewer connection requirement was found in the code. Chapter 95 requires on-site wastewater systems.

  “water service for the city shall be provided by the central iowa water association and in accordance the rules and regulations established by the association.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Oakland Acres or Jasper County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for new homes inside Oakland Acres city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building work inside Oakland Acres city
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Oakland Acres city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Oakland Acres city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Oakland Acres 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.