Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lone Tree, Iowa

Lone Tree’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Building permits issued by the City of Lone Tree itself, inside city limits: fence and portable shed permits

  • The city page says it accepts permits for fences and portable sheds only.
  • Electrical, new construction, additions and other permits are handled by Johnson County (see the county claim).

  “the city of lone tree accepts permits for fences and portable sheds.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Lone Tree city limits

  • The 2019 city-county agreement describes the Lone Tree building code as identical to the Johnson County building code.
  • The ordinance number adopting the code was not located in this run.

  “the city of lone tree has adopted the lone tree building code which is identical to the johnson county building code”

Rules another office applies inside Lone Tree

Lone Tree 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 Lone Tree city limits, where no public sewer serves the lot. The state rule applies statewide and names the local board of health as an administrative authority; the specific Johnson County Iowa program that serves Lone Tree was not confirmed.

  • Chapter 69 applies only to private sewage disposal systems.
  • The chapter header states: chapter rescission date pursuant to iowa code section 17a.7: 1/1/28. The rule text should be rechecked before 2028.
  • The Johnson County Kansas septic pages surfaced in search are a different county and were not used.

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

• Permit processPartial

  Construction permit application process for land inside Lone Tree city limits; the city accepts only fence and portable shed permits, and Johnson County handles other construction permits

  • Paper and PDF applications to Johnson County are no longer accepted, per the city page (as of 7/18/25).
  • Applicants create an account on the county's Citizenserve portal.
  • The city's own process for fence and shed permits is covered by the city's permit forms, which were not opened in full.

  “paper and pdf permit applications are no longer accepted (as of 7/18/25).”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Lone Tree or Johnson County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home built inside Lone Tree city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Lone Tree city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Lone Tree city limits
• Local zoning — Land inside Lone Tree city limits, zoning ordinance status
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts for land inside Lone Tree 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.