Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Diagonal, Iowa

Rules another office applies inside Diagonal

Diagonal 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 (private) sewage systems on land inside Diagonal city (Ringgold County, IA): the Clarke, Decatur and Ringgold County environmental health office in Osceola administers the rules, under state rule 567-69

  • Diagonal city is in Ringgold County, which the 2017 tri-county guideline names as served by the Osceola environmental health office.
  • The state rule defines the administrative authority as the department or the local county board of health, so state rule and county office share the role (mixed).
  • The tri-county packet is a 2017 operating guideline stated to be reviewed yearly; current version not verified.

  “clarke, decatur, and ringgold county environmental health office: 641-223-8299 fax: 641-342-2603 144 w. jefferson st., osceola ia 50213”

• Septic permitRequired

  New on-site septic systems on land inside Diagonal city (Ringgold County, IA), per the Clarke, Decatur and Ringgold County environmental health office procedures

  • Applies to new construction; replacing short pipe sections does not need a permit; replacing a tank requires a permit and full system upgrade (per the same guideline).
  • Guideline dated 04/2017, updated 6/2017; reviewed yearly; current version not verified.

  “new construction requires an application be filled out and a permit issued prior to a contractor starting work on the septic system.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Required — Private sewage disposal systems installed or altered inside Diagonal city (statewide rule applied through the local county board of health)

    “69.1(4) construction permit required. 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 inside Diagonal city, inspected by the administrative authority (DNR or county board of health)

  • Final inspection occurs before the system is backfilled; an as-built drawing is kept on file with the construction permit.

  “c. final inspections. the administrative authority shall conduct an at-location inspection of all newly constructed psdss before the system is backfilled. a final as-built drawing shall be made as part of the final inspection and kept on file with the construction permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New home construction inside Diagonal city limits (building permit)
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Diagonal city limits
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for new construction inside Diagonal city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Diagonal city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Diagonal 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.