Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Alleman, Iowa

Alleman’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Property improvement and building projects inside Alleman city limits

  • Some projects may require multiple permits depending on the scope of work.
  • Permit applications go to Alleman City Hall, 14000 NE 6th St, Alleman, IA 50007; incomplete applications may be denied or put on hold.
  • Work must comply with applicable building codes and permits; the page says to check with city hall before starting any project.

  “most property improvement or building projects in the city of alleman require a permit. some may require multiple permits depending on the scope of work being completed.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building and trade construction inside Alleman city limits

  • Adopted code is the 2018 building code series, as stated on the city's building permit page.
  • Plan review and inspection are performed under a service agreement with Veenstra & Kimm, not by city staff.

  adopted building code series: 2018 year

  “the city has signed a service agreement with veenstra & kimm, based in west des moines, to provide building and trade permit review and inspection services, and has adopted the 2018 building code series.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Formal building permits and trade permits issued by Alleman city

  • Inspections are scheduled by phone with Veenstra & Kimm at 515-850-2980; a 24 hour notice is needed for all inspections.
  • Work may proceed only after the city clerk confirms plan review is complete.

  inspection notice: >= 24 hours

  “all formal building permits and trade permits require an inspection of the work performed.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway paving construction or replacement inside Alleman city

  • The page lists driveway paving construction or replacement among projects that need a permit; access/curb-cut specifications were not reviewed.
  • Sidewalks, some sheds and all fencing also need permits per the same page.

  “some examples of projects that need a permit that you may not think of are sidewalks, driveway paving construction or replacement, some sheds, and all fencing.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for construction inside Alleman city limits

  • Fee schedule was reviewed and approved by the Alleman City Council, per the city permits page.
  • Excerpt was read from the city fee PDF text; the lowest-valuation rows and any non-building fees (trade, demo, fence) were not verified in full and should be confirmed against the PDF.
  • Completed applications with fees may be sent to City Hall; cash or checks are accepted.

  permit fee, valuation 150,001 to 500,000: base: 1137.5 USD (plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000 of valuation) · permit fee, valuation 500,001 to 1,000,000: base: 2887.5 USD (plus $4.25 for each additional $1,000 of valuation (base covers first $500,000)) · permit fee, valuation above 1,000,000: base: 5012.5 USD (plus $2.75 for each additional $1,000 of valuation (base covers first $1,000,000))

  “from 150,001 to 500,000 permit fee is $1,137.50 for the first $150,000 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building, trade, demo, fence, right-of-way and tree-planting permit process inside Alleman city

  • Submit completed application with fee to City Hall (14000 NE 6th St, Alleman, IA 50007).
  • Clerk completes plan review and notifies the applicant; then inspections are scheduled with Veenstra & Kimm (515-850-2980).
  • Incomplete applications may be denied or put on hold; processing time varies.

  “upon completing a permit, please send it to alleman city hall, attention city clerk, where it will be processed.”

Rules another office applies inside Alleman

Alleman 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 on-site wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Alleman city, which is in Polk County. Polk County's Environmental Health Services Division administers septic rules there. Countywide scope applies because Polk County's stated jurisdiction covers the whole county except Des Moines.

  • Septic rules are set by Iowa Administrative Code 567-69 and Polk County Code of Ordinances chapter III (Health Regulations), as cited by the county page.
  • Per the county page, aerobic treatment units are not allowed in Polk County.

  “polk county has jurisdiction throughout the county except for the city of des moines.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation, abandonment, repair or replacement of a septic system on land inside Alleman city, under Polk County's permit

  • Only licensed contractors with an annual professional license from Polk County Environmental Health Services may perform work on systems, except septic abandonments, which anyone may obtain a permit for.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued.

  “the environmental health division section issues permits and inspects the installation of new systems, the abandonment of existing systems, and repairs/replacement to systems.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Installation of a new septic system on land inside Alleman city, inspected by Polk County Environmental Health Services

  • Separate time-of-transfer septic inspection rules also exist on the county page; this claim covers installation, abandonment and repair inspections only.
  • Other septic inspection timing and fees are not stated in the excerpt used.

  “inspections are required, and in cases of system abandonment, the inspector must be present to observe the tank pumping and deconstruction.”

• Well permitRequired

  Installation of a new water well on land inside Alleman city, under Polk County's permit

  • Wells must be installed by State of Iowa licensed contractors.
  • A permit fee must be paid before the permit is issued; well plugging permits are free of charge.
  • Inspections are required and the permittee must schedule them.

  “the environmental health services division is responsible for issuing permits and conducting inspections for both the installation of new wells and the plugging of existing wells.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a homeowner building on their own property inside Alleman city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new or altered buildings inside Alleman city
• Local zoning — Whether Alleman city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside Alleman city limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts for land inside Alleman city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for single-family residential districts inside Alleman 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.