Monona County, IA Building Permits, Zoning & Septic

Unincorporated Monona County, Iowa requires an approved construction permit before new construction, an addition or moving a building onto a property.¹ Monona County also has county zoning, while Environmental Health & Zoning handles private septic permits countywide.²³

At a glance

Building permit: Required for new construction, additions and moving a building onto property in unincorporated areas¹
Zoning: County zoning applies in unincorporated Monona County²⁴
Septic: County permit required for a new system or renovation of the soil-treatment portion³⁵
RV or tiny home: Occupancy rules were not confirmed; ask Environmental Health & Zoning before relying on either as housing²⁶
Owner-builder: Own-property work is exempt from state contractor registration, not the county permit requirement⁷¹
Private well: A construction permit is required, including for property inside city limits¹
Floodplain: A separate permit is required before development in a county floodplain district⁸

Who to call

Building permits

Monona County Environmental Health & Zoning

Construction permits, zoning, floodplain permits, private wells and geothermal permits

712-433-3400

610 Iowa Ave. Onawa, IA 51040

Online permits →

Septic permits

Monona County Environmental Health & Zoning

Permits for new septic systems and renovation of soil-treatment systems

712-433-3400

610 Iowa Ave. Onawa, IA 51040

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Monona County, Iowa?

Yes. Unincorporated Monona County requires a building construction permit for new construction, additions and moving a building onto a property, and work may not start until the application is approved.¹ A non-farm principal-structure permit costs $100, while qualifying farm construction on at least 40 acres is fee-exempt.¹ The county requires a buildable-parcel designation and compliance with Chapter 100 before issuing the permit.¹ Private septic systems, private wells and geothermal heat-pump systems need construction permits even inside city limits.¹ The county's adoption of a general building code and its ordinary building-inspection requirements could not be confirmed; ask Environmental Health & Zoning what reviews and closeout steps apply to the project.⁶

Who handles Monona County building permits, and how do you reach them?

Monona County Environmental Health & Zoning is the practical first stop for construction permits, zoning, private wells, septic systems and floodplain questions.⁶ The office is on the second floor of the courthouse at 610 Iowa Ave., Onawa, IA 51040, and its main phone number is 712-433-3400.⁶ The county's Common Forms page publishes the construction-permit materials along with variance, special-use, rezoning, subdivision, septic and floodplain forms.⁶ Use the office's forms page to begin, but speak with the department before construction because approval is required before work starts.¹ For an entrance onto an Iowa primary highway, the Iowa Department of Transportation district office administers the access-permit process and must approve the application before work begins.⁹

Does Monona County have zoning?

Yes. Monona County has adopted zoning ordinances administered by Environmental Health & Zoning, with a Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment.² Iowa county zoning applies outside city corporate limits, so land inside a city can have a different municipal zoning answer.⁴ Ask Environmental Health & Zoning to confirm the parcel's district, allowed use, setbacks and any variance or special-use process before settling on a house location.⁶ Iowa generally keeps qualifying agricultural land, farmhouses, barns, outbuildings and structures primarily adapted to agricultural purposes outside county zoning while they remain in that use, but floodplain regulation may still apply.⁴ Monona County separately requires floodplain approval for development in its floodplain districts, including buildings, fill, grading, paving, excavation and factory-built homes.⁸

How do septic permits work in Monona County?

Monona County Environmental Health & Zoning requires a permit for a new septic system or renovation of the soil-treatment portion of an existing system.⁵ The office publishes both septic and repair applications and can be reached at 712-433-3400.⁵ Contact the department before fixing the house location: only about 30.7% of mapped county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so parcel-level evaluation may materially affect system type and cost.¹⁰ Iowa law shares private-sewage regulation between county boards of health and the Department of Natural Resources.¹¹ A qualifying ownership transfer of a building served by a private sewage system also requires an inspection by a certified inspector before transfer, subject to statutory exceptions.¹²

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Monona County?

Monona County's rule for living in an RV on private land could not be confirmed, and neither could a general temporary-camping rule. Ask Environmental Health & Zoning about the parcel's zoning district, occupancy duration and sanitation before buying land for RV living.²⁶ A county-specific tiny-home occupancy rule and a general numeric minimum dwelling size also could not be confirmed.² Iowa provides a clearer rule for a manufactured home: a county cannot reject a proposed residence solely because it is manufactured, but the home remains subject to the permanent-foundation, setback and minimum-square-footage standards applied to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot.¹³ Any private septic system or well serving the dwelling requires county permitting.¹

Building a home in Monona County: the steps, in order

Ask Environmental Health & Zoning to identify the zoning district, confirm the residential use and explain the buildable-parcel and Chapter 100 requirements.¹⁶
Check whether the site lies in a floodplain district because covered development needs a separate floodplain permit.⁸
Plan the private well and septic system with Environmental Health & Zoning before fixing the house location.³⁵
Submit the construction-permit application and applicable fee, and wait for approval before starting work.¹
Ask the office which inspections and occupancy documents apply because a general county rule could not be confirmed.⁶
An owner working on their own property is exempt from Iowa contractor registration, not from Monona County's construction-permit requirement.⁷¹

What should you check before buying land in Monona County?

Confirm the zoning district, allowed use, setbacks and buildable-parcel status with Environmental Health & Zoning before relying on a listing description.²¹ Screen the site for floodplain limits because Monona County requires a permit before covered development in a floodplain district.⁸ Investigate soils early: about 30.7% of mapped soils lack severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, while about 80.5% of county land has a slope of 15% or less.¹⁰¹⁴ Confirm road access with the proper road authority; an entrance onto a state primary highway goes through an Iowa Department of Transportation district office.⁹ For budgeting, the effective property-tax rate is about 1.2%, the median annual property-tax bill is about $1,412, and USDA census farmland value is about $8,044 per acre.¹⁵¹⁶¹⁷

Watch-outs

Do not begin covered construction in unincorporated Monona County until the construction-permit application is approved.¹
A farm fee exemption does not erase floodplain review; Monona County's floodplain permit applies to covered development in a floodplain district.¹⁸
Monona County's RV-living, temporary-camping, tiny-home and minimum-dwelling-size rules could not be confirmed; get a parcel-specific answer from Environmental Health & Zoning before buying for one of those uses.⁶

Sources

Written September 27, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

How Monona County scores

Seclusion61100% ev.

Self-Sufficiency42100% ev.

Admin Boringness61100% ev.

Durability44100% ev.

Property Autonomy51100% ev.

Carry Cost64100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$167kTypical home

1.2%Property tax

$8,044Land / acre

30.9"Annual rain

17.4% of yrsSevere drought

6.8 / yr (+6)Mid-century 100°F days

19.8 daysMid-century dry spell

1.92" (+6.9%)Mid-century 1-day rain

1.65×Wildfire change factor

100%Forward climate coverage

$1,850Home insurance / yr

4.3% / yrInsurance growth

0.46%Nonrenewal rate

county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis

9,207People within 30 min

1,805,572People within 2 hr

9,362Radius comparison (15 mi)

12.2People / sq mi

0.6%Federal land

80.5%Land at 15% slope or less

30.7%Septic soil without severe limits

133,965 acWorkable land screen

11.3%Wooded land

47.5 tonsBiomass / forest ac

49°FAvg temp

Answers from the rulebook for Monona County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Monona County rules

Building permitRequired
New construction, additions, and moving a building onto property in unincorporated Monona County.
- No construction is to be started until permit applications are approved.
- A buildable parcel designation and Chapter 100 compliance are required before issuance.
- Private septic systems, private wells, and geothermal heat pump systems require a construction permit even inside city limits.
non-farm principal structure construction permit fee: 100 USD · farm 40+ acres construction permit fee: exempt
“building construction permit application is required”
Common Forms - Environmental Health/Zoning - Monona County ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Who permits septicCounty
Private onsite wastewater permitting administered by Monona County Environmental Health/Zoning.
- The county page identifies Environmental Health/Zoning as the permitting source; individual systems remain subject to applicable Iowa requirements.
“required from Environmental Health/Zoning”
Private Water Wells & Onsite Septic Systems ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Private sewer facilities, septic tanks, and private sewage treatment systems in subdivisions where public sewer is not reasonably available.
- Private facilities must meet County Board of Health requirements.
- A proposed private sewage treatment system requires evidence of Iowa DNR approval in the subdivision context.
- County septic permits are required for new systems and specified renovations.
“private sewer facilities or septic tanks”
Chapter 200 Division of Land and Subdivision Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Mandatory utility hookupConditional
Subdivision improvements and lots in unincorporated Monona County.
- Subdivision sanitary-sewer connections are required where applicable.
- Where existing sewer outlets are not within reasonable distance, private sewer facilities or septic tanks may be permissible if they meet County Board of Health requirements.
- Private water supply systems may be proposed with Iowa DNR approval; private wells must meet County Board of Health requirements.
“connection for each lot to the sanitary sewer”
Chapter 200 Division of Land and Subdivision Regulations ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
Building in a floodplainRequired
Floodplain development in Monona County floodplain districts.
- The permit is required before any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including buildings, structures, mining, filling, grading, paving, storage, excavation, drilling, and placement of factory-built homes.
- Before use or occupancy, the applicant must submit appropriate professional certification that required flood-protection measures comply.
- Routine maintenance listed in the ordinance does not trigger a building permit.
“secured prior to any floodplain development”
Monona County Floodplain Management Ordinance ↗Re-checked Sep 26, 2026
County-wide zoningPresent
Monona County has adopted county zoning ordinances administered by the Environmental Health/Zoning department, with a Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment.
Monona County IA Zoning Ordinances ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Iowa rules that apply here

Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)
A person performing work or having work performed on the person's own property, for purposes of Iowa Code chapter 91C contractor registration.
- The exemption is from being treated as a contractor for purposes of chapter 91C; it is not stated to waive building permits, building-code compliance, inspections, or certificates of occupancy.
- The separate annual-earnings threshold is less than $2,000, but the own-property exemption is stated independently.
- A contractor doing business in Iowa must register under chapter 91C unless an applicable statutory exclusion applies.
“However, a person who earns less than two thousand dollars annually or who performs work or has work performed on the person’s own property is not a contractor for purposes of this chapter.”
Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 91C — Construction Contractors ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Building code adoptedPartial
The Iowa State Building Code, including the 2024 International Building Code adopted by reference with Iowa amendments, applies statewide to state-owned buildings and structures, qualifying state-funded construction, certain cities over 15,000 that lack a substantially equivalent local building code, and governmental subdivisions that accept the code by ordinance. Factory-built-structure provisions apply throughout Iowa.
- In a governmental subdivision, the code generally applies only after the governing body enacts an ordinance accepting applicability and files a certified copy with the commissioner.
- The local ordinance fixes the effective date, which must be no more than six months after adoption.
- A governmental subdivision may withdraw after one year by ordinance, following the required public hearing and written notice; the withdrawal date must be at least 180 days after ordinance adoption, and previously issued permits are unaffected.
- The state building code applies to state-owned buildings and structures and to newly constructed buildings and structures paid for in whole or in part with state-appropriated money but not wholly state-owned.
- Cities with populations over 15,000 that lack a local building code substantially in accord with nationally recognized standards must enforce the state building code.
- Factory-built-structure provisions apply throughout the state; an approved factory-built structure is deemed compliant with building regulations applicable to its manufacture and installation and is exempt from other state or local building regulations, subject to the statutory exceptions concerning professional engineering and architecture and manufactured homes.
- The current administrative rule adopts the 2024 International Building Code by reference with amendments; detached one- and two-family dwellings, certain townhouses not more than three stories, and their accessory structures instead comply with the amended International Residential Code.
adopted model building code: 2024 International Building Code (Adopted by reference with Iowa amendments.) · current administrative-rule effective date: 2025-09-10 (Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 481.301 source identifies ARC 9474C as effective September 10, 2025.) · local ordinance effective-date limit: <= 6 months after adoption · local withdrawal waiting period: >= 1 year after code became applicable (A governmental subdivision may withdraw only after this period has elapsed.) · withdrawal effective-date minimum: >= 180 days after ordinance adoption (Previously issued permits remain unaffected.)
“The state building code shall be applicable: [...] In each governmental subdivision where the governing body has enacted an ordinance accepting the application of the code.”
Building Code Plan Review ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
InspectionsLimited
Buildings and structures subject to Iowa Code section 103A.10A, including newly constructed state-owned buildings, state-board-of-regents buildings, and certain state-funded buildings.
- Newly constructed state-owned buildings and structures subject to the state building code are subject to plan review and inspection, excluding renovations and repairs except as provided by statute.
- Newly constructed buildings owned by the state board of regents are subject to plan review and inspection, excluding renovations and repairs except as provided by statute.
- State-funded buildings not wholly owned by the state are subject to state plan review and inspection when the governmental subdivision has not adopted the listed codes or does not perform inspections; otherwise they must comply with the local codes and inspections.
- For ordinary privately owned construction, inspection administration is governed by the applicable local law or ordinance.
“All newly constructed buildings or structures subject to the state building code, including any addition, but excluding any renovation or repair of such a building or structure, owned by the state or an agency of the state, except as provided in subsection 2, shall be subject to a plan review and inspection by the commissioner or an independent building inspector appointed by the commissioner.”
Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 103A — State Building Code ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Certificate of occupancyLimited
Certificates of occupancy or use for buildings subject to Iowa's State Building Code and certificates approving specified buildings, facilities, or installations for licensure.
- A local building department issues certificates of occupancy or use when required by ordinance.
- When issued for a building constructed under the state building code, the certificate must certify conformity with the code and is in the form prescribed by the governing body of the governmental subdivision.
- For facilities governed by Iowa Administrative Code chapter 481.280, if a certificate of occupancy is required for use, it will not be issued until the inspection fee is paid.
- Chapter 481.280.5 applies to a certificate approving a building, facility, or installation for occupancy upon request from an owner or owner's agency when applicable rules are satisfied and all fees are paid.
- The state sources do not require a certificate of occupancy for every building statewide.
additional reinspection fee: 125 USD (Applies for each additional reinspection after the initial reinspection when original deficiencies remain uncorrected.)
“Issue certificates of occupancy or use, permits, licenses, and other documents in connection with the construction of buildings or structures as may be required by ordinance. (1) A certificate of occupancy or use for a building or structure constructed in accordance with the provisions of the state building code shall certify that the building or structure conforms to the requirements of the code. The certificate shall be in the form the governing body of the governmental subdivision prescribes.”
Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 103A — State Building Code ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)
Placement and residential occupancy of manufactured homes under county zoning statewide in Iowa
- A county may not disallow the proposed residential structure solely because it is a manufactured home.
- The home must be located and installed under the same standards applicable to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot, including permanent foundation, setback, and minimum square footage standards.
- The home must be assessed and taxed as a site-built dwelling.
- A county may not require an incompatible perimeter foundation system and may not require more than one permanent foundation system.
- Outside a manufactured home community or mobile home park, requirements may ensure visual compatibility of the permanent foundation system with surrounding residential structures.
- Recorded restrictive covenants are not abrogated.
- Counties may regulate transportation, water, sewerage, and other land development; the statute also bars width standards greater than twenty-four feet and certain design standards when federal standards are met.
maximum mandated width standard: <= 24 feet (if the housing otherwise complies with 42 U.S.C. §5403)
“A county shall not adopt or enforce zoning regulations or other ordinances which disallow the plans and specifications of a proposed residential structure solely because the proposed structure is a manufactured home. However, a zoning ordinance or regulation shall require that a manufactured home be located and installed according to the same standards, including but not limited to a permanent foundation system, set-back, and minimum square footage, which would apply to a site-built, single family dwelling on the same lot, and shall require that the home is assessed and taxed as a site-built dwelling.”
Iowa Code §335.30, Manufactured and modular homes ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)
City regulation of accessory dwelling units statewide in Iowa, within a zoning district where a single-family residence is an allowed principal use
- At least one accessory dwelling unit must be allowed on the same lot as a single-family residence.
- The accessory dwelling unit must comply with applicable building regulations under chapter 103A.
- The unit may not exceed 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the size of the single-family residence, whichever is larger; unfinished basements are excluded from the size calculation.
- Historic-building-code restrictions, deed restrictions, and common-interest-community rules may limit or prohibit construction or use.
- A manufactured or mobile home used as the accessory dwelling unit must be converted to real property by placement on a permanent foundation and assessed for real-estate taxes under section 435.26.
- A historic-preservation area may regulate the unit to the extent the city or commission determines it incongruous and records its reasons.
- Effective July 1, 2026.
maximum accessory dwelling unit size: 1,000 square feet or 50% of the single-family residence, whichever is larger (unfinished basements excluded from the size calculation)
“A city shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:”
Senate File 2369 — Enrolled ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
One more reviewed finding on this topic
- Allowed (with conditions) — County regulation of accessory dwelling units statewide in Iowa, within a zoning district where a single-family residence is an allowed principal use
  “A county shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:”
  Senate File 2369 — Enrolled ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Septic inspectionRequired
Private sewage disposal systems serving buildings with one through four dwelling units, before qualifying ownership transfers statewide.
- Inspection is required before transfer of ownership, including seller-financed real estate contracts.
- The county recorder may not record the deed or conveyance document without a certified inspector report, unless weather or temporary physical conditions prevent inspection and the buyer executes a binding acknowledgment.
- The requirement applies to sale, exchange, real estate contract, or other purchase of real estate and improvements.
- Exceptions include specified court-ordered, foreclosure-related, fiduciary, family, demolition, recently installed system, partition, tax-sale, low-consideration, and qualifying family-entity transfers.
- The septic tank must be opened and pumped at inspection, unless evidence shows it was properly pumped within three years before inspection by a licensed commercial septic tank cleaner.
- A failing system must be renovated; a properly treating system without an unsanitary condition need not meet current construction standards.
- Only a department-certified inspector may conduct the inspection.
- An inspection is valid for two years for ownership transfers during that period.
dwelling units: 1-4 · inspection validity: 2 years (for ownership transfers during that period) · prior septic pumping evidence: <= 3 years (must be by a department-licensed commercial septic tank cleaner) · civil penalty for fraudulent report: 5000 USD (and certification suspension for one year)
“If a building where a person resides, congregates, or is employed is served by a private sewage disposal system, the sewage disposal system serving the building shall be inspected prior to any transfer of ownership of the building.”
Iowa Code §455B.172, Jurisdiction of department and local boards ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Permit feesPublished
Fees imposed and collected by Iowa state agencies, including any state-agency permit fees listed on the Iowa Government Fees Website.
- The website does not include fees for universities or community colleges, open record requests, or costs for purchase of a product or good.
- This claim does not establish local county or municipal permit-fee schedules.
“Fees Imposed & Collected by State Agencies”
State of Iowa Fees ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
Permit processPartial
Requests for access connections, driveways, or entrances to Iowa primary highways administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
- The permitting process is administered by Iowa DOT district offices.
- The permit application must be approved before work may begin.
- The approval process may include internal Iowa DOT review by different offices.
- The applicant may be asked for more information.
- A traffic impact analysis is required for all Type A and Type B access permits.
“In Iowa, the permitting process is administered by the Iowa DOT's district offices.”
Access Management ↗Re-checked Sep 11, 2026
county zoning authorityGeneral
Iowa counties may adopt zoning ordinances for land and structures within the county but outside the corporate limits of any city.
- Chapter 335 applies to any Iowa county at the option of its board of supervisors.
- The zoning power is subject to Iowa Code section 335.2: ordinances generally do not apply to agricultural land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, or other structures primarily adapted for agricultural purposes while so used, except that ordinances may apply to structures, buildings, dams, obstructions, deposits, or excavations in or on river or stream floodplains.
- A county may not require an application, approval, or fee for an ordinance to be deemed inapplicable to qualifying agricultural land or structures.
- A county may not regulate, restrict, or prohibit the location of permanent buildings or temporary structures used for consumer-fireworks sales pursuant to section 10A.519 in locations zoned commercial or industrial.
- The board of supervisors may divide the county into zoning districts, and regulations may differ among districts.
- Regulations and restrictions require public-hearing and notice procedures under sections 335.6 and 331.305; district boundaries must identify the affected township and section and, if possible, streets or roads.
- Energy-conservation and solar-access objectives do not require zoning in a county that did not have zoning before July 1, 1981.
“applicable to any county [...] at the option of the board of supervisors [...] outside of the corporate limits of any city.”
Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 335 — County Zoning ↗Re-checked Sep 21, 2026

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area.
Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage.
Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles as dwellings on private land.
Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land.
Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy.

2 more unanswered

Driveway access
Short-term rentals

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.

Living off-grid in Monona County, Iowa

Is Monona County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Monona County scores 60/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and sparse surroundings — about 9,207 people within a 30-minute drive. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (30.9″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Monona County, Iowa?

Monona County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Monona County Environmental Health/Zoning (local board of health). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Monona County, Iowa?

Land in Monona County runs about $8,044 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Monona County?

Monona County gets about 30.9" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 17.4% of years.

How remote is Monona County?

A representative private-land location has about 9,207 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,805,572 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Monona County, Iowa

At a glance

Who to call

Do you need a building permit in Monona County, Iowa?

Who handles Monona County building permits, and how do you reach them?

Does Monona County have zoning?

How do septic permits work in Monona County?

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Monona County?

Building a home in Monona County: the steps, in order

What should you check before buying land in Monona County?

Watch-outs

Sources

Monona County in Iowa

How Monona County scores

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Parcel due diligence

Answers from the rulebook for Monona County

Monona County rules

Iowa rules that apply here

Still unanswered

Living off-grid in Monona County, Iowa

Is Monona County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Do you need a building permit in Monona County, Iowa?

How much does land cost in Monona County, Iowa?

What is the water situation in Monona County?

How remote is Monona County?

How Monona compares in Iowa