Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Liscomb, Iowa

Rules another office applies inside Liscomb

Liscomb 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 (septic) on land inside Liscomb city limits, Marshall County, Iowa. The Marshall County board of health (through the county sanitarian) is the administrative authority under state rule for PSDS, and no Liscomb city septic ordinance was located, so this county authority applies inside the city.

  • The state rule defines administrative authority as the local county board of health; the county environmental health office lists septic services.
  • Applies only where a city sewer rule does not apply; no Liscomb city septic or sewer ordinance was located.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation or alteration of a private sewage disposal system (PSDS) on land inside Liscomb city limits, issued by the Marshall County board of health as administrative authority under state rule 567-69.1

  • Applies to private sewage disposal systems only (567-69.1(1)).
  • A construction permit must be obtained before construction; construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • No Liscomb city septic ordinance located; a stricter city rule could apply if one exists.

  “no psds shall be installed or altered as described in 69.1(3) “b” unless a construction permit issued by the administrative authority is obtained prior to construction.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Newly constructed private sewage disposal systems on land inside Liscomb city limits, inspected by the Marshall County board of health as administrative authority under 567-69.1

  • Inspection occurs before the system is backfilled.
  • A final as-built drawing is kept on file with the construction permit.

  “the administrative authority shall conduct an at-location inspection of all newly constructed psdss before the system is backfilled.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Household sewage disposal on land inside Liscomb city limits where no public sewer (POTW) is available

  • Off-grid sanitation is allowed only through an approved private sewage disposal system, subject to a construction permit and county board of health administration.
  • A holding tank may be used only if all other PSDS options are impractical.
  • Applies only where a publicly owned treatment works is not available; a Liscomb city sewer rule could change this and none was located.

  “(3) when a potw is not available, every building wherein persons generate domestic sewage shall be provided with an approved psds. a holding tank for waste may be used only if all other psds options are impractical.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New homes on land inside Liscomb city limits, as to whether a private sewage disposal system may be used when public sewer (POTW) is available

  • No private sewage disposal system may be installed where a publicly owned treatment works is available or where a local ordinance requires connection.
  • Distance test: a POTW may be considered unavailable only when it is more than 200 feet from a proposed building or drainage facility on a lot that abuts and is served by a POTW; the administrative authority makes the final determination.
  • No Liscomb city sewer-connection ordinance was located; water connection requirements were not located and remain unknown.

  POTW unavailable distance threshold: > 200 feet (measured to the proposed building or exterior drainage facility on a lot that abuts and is served by a POTW; final determination by administrative authority)

  “(1) no psds 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. a potw may be considered unavailable when the 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 that abuts and is served by a 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 Liscomb or Marshall County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for new construction inside Liscomb city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Liscomb city limits
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for construction inside Liscomb city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Liscomb city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Liscomb 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.