Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Underwood, Iowa

Underwood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition or occupancy change of a building or structure inside Underwood city limits that is regulated by the adopted building codes

  • Gas, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work has its own permit requirement under the same brochure.
  • Exempt from building permit per brochure: one-story detached accessory structures of one- and two-family residences used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, with floor area not exceeding 200 sq. ft.; fences not over 6 feet in height; retaining walls not over 4 feet in height; sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade; painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work; swings and playground equipment; partitions not higher than 5 feet 9 inches.
  • The brochure is rev 4 2019; confirm current requirements with the Building & Safety Department, 241 Third Street, Underwood, IA 51576, (712) 566-2373.

  exempt detached accessory structure floor area: <= 200 sq ft (one-story detached accessory structure of a one- or two-family residence used as tool/storage shed, playhouse or similar use)

  “any owner, contractor, or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure which is regulated by the adopted building codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building & safety department and obtain the required permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside Underwood city limits

  • The adopted edition and local amendments of the state building code were not extracted; the chapter says certified copies are on file with the city clerk.

  “pursuant to published notice and public hearing, as required by law, the iowa state building code, promulgated pursuant to chapter 103a of the code of iowa is hereby adopted by reference.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Underwood city limits: the city code contains its own zoning chapter, Chapter 165 Zoning Regulations.

  • Only the table of contents entry was confirmed; the text of Chapter 165 was not reached, so district rules are not stated here.
  • The 2009 zoning ordinance PDF hosted by mapacog.org is a regional-council copy with a blank ordinance number and was not used as evidence.

  “zoning and subdivision chapter 160 - floodplain regulations 751 chapter 165 - zoning regulations 785”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage disposal inside Underwood city limits

  • Construction or maintenance of an on-site system is unlawful except as otherwise provided in Chapter 98.
  • Where no public sanitary sewer is available under section 95.05, an approved on-site system is required; the county Board of Health permits and inspects septic systems.
  • Chapter 98 also covers discharge restrictions, maintenance and septage disposal (98.05-98.08); those sections were not read.

  “except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful to construct or maintain any on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Buildings used for human occupancy inside Underwood city limits that abut a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sanitary or combined sewer

  • Owner must install suitable toilet facilities and a building sewer connecting directly to the public sewer.
  • Compliance is due within 60 days after official notice from the city.
  • Connection requires a state-licensed plumber (section 96.03) and a permit; residential connection charge is $200 (section 96.02).

  time to connect after official notice: 60 days (extensions may be granted for conditions beyond owner's control or peculiar hardship)

  “the owners of any houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the city and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located, or may in the future be located, a public sanitary or combined sewer, are hereby required to install, at such owner's expense, suitable toilet facilities therein and a building sewer connecting such facilities directly with the proper public sewer”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside Underwood city limits

  • Subdivision Chapters 170 (general provisions), 171 (procedures) and 172 (improvements and design standards) apply.
  • Where public sewer is not available and individual disposal systems are proposed, minimum lot areas must conform to zoning and subdivision requirements, and percolation tests and test holes are made as directed by the city and submitted to the local board of health.

  “if public sewer facilities are not available and individual disposal systems are proposed, minimum lot areas shall conform to the requirements of applicable zoning regulations and these regulations. percolation tests and test holes shall be made as directed by the city and the results submitted to the local board of health.”

Rules another office applies inside Underwood

Underwood 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)

  On-site wastewater (septic) systems serving land inside Underwood city limits: county Board of Health regulates systems; city Chapter 98 sets city rules where no public sewer is available.

  • The county page is a countywide statement; that it applies inside Underwood city limits is inferred from the countywide rule and the city's Chapter 98 cross-reference, not separately quoted.
  • Chapter 98.02 of the city code requires an approved on-site system only where no public sanitary sewer is available under section 95.05.
  • Pottawattamie County Public Health is the permit and inspection office named by the county page.

  “the type, capacity, location, and layout of a private on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system shall comply with the specifications and requirements set forth by the iowa administrative code 567, chapter 69, and with such additional requirements as are prescribed by the regulations of the county board of health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic installations and septic repairs serving buildings in Pottawattamie County, including land inside Underwood city limits (county statement is countywide)

  • Permit is required before the system is installed or repaired; the county site says septic permits can be completed online.
  • The county page does not state a fee; the county cites Iowa Administrative Code 567 ch. 69 and Pottawattamie County Code chapter 5.50.
  • Whether the Underwood-specific 98.04 permit requirement is separate was not confirmed.

  “permits are required for all new septic installations or repairs.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New septic installations and repairs in Pottawattamie County, including land inside Underwood city limits

  • Inspection occurs before the system is covered and ends with a certificate of completion to the owner.
  • Separately, all buildings served by a private sewage disposal system must have a time of transfer inspection before the property transfers to a new owner (the county notes certain exceptions under IAC 567 ch. 69).

  “the environmental health inspectors perform site evaluations and approve the design before the permit is issued; inspect the final product before it is covered up; and issue a certificate of completion to the owner.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Underwood city limits
• Inspections — Inspections of building work inside Underwood city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings inside Underwood city limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list inside Underwood city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for single-family homes inside Underwood 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.