Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Martelle, Iowa

Rules another office applies inside Martelle

Martelle 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 septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage disposal systems in Jones County, Iowa, administered by the Jones County environmental office; applies inside Martelle city only if the county ordinance reaches city parcels, which the ordinance text does not state

  • The county 'administrative authority' is the county environmental sanitarian or a designee of the county board of health.
  • Jones County adopts Iowa Administrative Code chapter 567-69 as part of its sewage rules.

  “the "administrative authority" is the jones county environmental sanitarian or an agent designated by the jones county board of health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, reconstruction or alteration of a private sewage disposal system in Jones County; applies to a Martelle city parcel only if the county septic ordinance reaches city land, which the ordinance text does not state

  • Work may not start until the permit application is approved and the permit is issued by the Jones County environmental office.
  • Repairs that do not change treatment or disposal need only a notification within 14 days of completion; any other work that changes the treatment portion (for example replacing a septic tank or absorption field trench) requires a septic permit.
  • No private sewage disposal system permit is issued if the property is within 200 feet of a public sewer.

  “no work shall commence on any construction, reconstruction, or alteration of any private sewage disposal system until the permit application has been approved, and the permit has been issued by the jones county environmental office.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private (non-sewered) sanitation in Jones County; allowed only through the county septic permit process, applicability inside Martelle city not confirmed

  • A private sewage disposal system may be built or altered only after a county permit is issued.
  • No private system permit is issued within 200 feet of a public sewer.

  “no work shall commence on any construction, reconstruction, or alteration of any private sewage disposal system until the permit application has been approved, and the permit has been issued by the jones county environmental office.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  A new home on a parcel in Jones County within 200 feet of a public sewer; whether Martelle city operates a public sewer serving the parcel was not confirmed

  • The county does not issue a private sewage system permit where the property is within 200 feet of a public sewer.
  • Properties required to connect to the public sewer must connect under the public sewer owner/operator's conditions and specifications.
  • Water connection requirements for Martelle city were not found.

  distance to public sewer: <= 200 feet (no private sewage disposal permit is issued within this distance)

  “no permit for any private sewage disposal system shall be issued if the property is located within 200 feet of a public sewer.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Fee for a private sewage disposal system construction or alteration permit in Jones County; no Martelle city building-permit fee was found

  • The fee is set by the Jones County Board of Health and is payable to the county treasurer at application.
  • Permit fees are not refundable after percolation tests and site evaluations are complete.

  “the fee for a permit to construct, alter a private sewage disposal system shall be determined by the board of health and be made payable to the jones county treasurer at the time of application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Whether a building permit is required for construction inside Martelle city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner-builder exemption applies to work inside Martelle city limits
• Building code adopted — Which building code, if any, Martelle city adopts for construction inside city limits
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required for construction inside Martelle city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required for new buildings inside Martelle 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.