Zoning, building permits and septic rules in McCausland, Iowa

McCausland’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, removing, converting or demolishing buildings or structures inside McCausland city limits

  • Work requires preliminary approval from the city council first, then a separate building permit from the Scott County planning and development department.
  • Siding with no structural change and replacement windows are exempt, as stated in the same section.
  • Scott County chapter 5 requirements were not reviewed.

  preliminary submission fee: 10 USD (submitted with plans before council review)

  “no person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building or structure in the city or cause the same to be done without first obtaining preliminary approval from the council granting permission to obtain a separate building permit for each such building or structure from the county planning and development department, scott county courthouse.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside McCausland city corporate limits, under chapter 155 Restricted Residence District of the city code

  • Residences are excepted from the council special building permit requirement in section 155.04; other buildings and structures need the council special building permit.
  • Chapter 155 cites Iowa Code section 414.24 as its authority.
  • The city planning web page describes the whole city as restricted residential zoning, but that page was read only through a summary tool and is not quoted here.

  “the following area is hereby designated and established as a restricted residence district: all that area lying within the corporate limits of the city of mccausland, iowa.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning district map and designation for all land inside McCausland city limits

  • The city code designates one district: the restricted residence district covering the whole corporate area.
  • No zoning map was located in the code; the district is defined by the code's corporate-limits description.

  “the following area is hereby designated and established as a restricted residence district: all that area lying within the corporate limits of the city of mccausland, iowa.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings and accessory buildings in the restricted residence district (the whole city)

  • Front yard: the setback of the nearest adjacent existing building applies, but no new construction may be closer than 12 feet, and no construction may be required to be further than 30 feet from the front line.
  • Accessory buildings may sit in the rear yard, may not occupy more than 30 percent of the rear yard, and must be at least 2 feet from any side or rear lot line.
  • Section 155.07 special building permits and section 155.08 protest rules were not read in full.

  front yard minimum for new construction: >= 12 feet (nearest adjacent existing building setback governs otherwise) · front yard maximum required setback: <= 30 feet (from the front lot line) · side yard minimum: >= 4 feet (overhangs may not extend over any lot line) · rear yard minimum: >= 12 feet (measured from the rear lot line) · accessory building distance from side or rear lot line: >= 2 feet (overhangs may not extend over any lot line) · accessory building share of rear yard: <= 30 percent (garage or accessory building in rear yard)

  “within the restricted residence district no principal building shall be erected closer than four feet to either side lot line and overhangs shall not extend over any lot line regardless of the compliance of the main foundation with this setback rule.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings used for human occupancy that abut a street or alley with a public sanitary or combined sewer inside McCausland city limits

  • Connection is required only where the public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line and can convey sewage by gravity.
  • Compliance is due within 60 days after the city's official notice.
  • Water service connection requirements were not found in the sections read.

  distance from property line to public sewer: <= 100 feet (public sewer must also be of a design that receives and conveys sewage by gravity)

  “provided that said public sewer is located within 100 feet of the property line of such owner and is of such design as to receive and convey by gravity such sewage as may be conveyed to it.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside McCausland city limits

  • Preliminary plats are referred to the city engineer and council, and the council acts on them after the engineer's report.
  • Variances or waivers from the subdivision regulations require a three-fourths vote of the council and may not conflict with any zoning ordinance.

  “the clerk shall forthwith refer two copies of the preliminary plat to the engineer and a copy to the city council.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Submission fee for city council preliminary approval of construction plans inside McCausland city limits

  • This is the city's preliminary-approval submission fee only; Scott County building permit fees were not found.
  • Fee is submitted with the plans before council review.

  preliminary approval submission fee: 10 USD (submitted with plans before council review; county permit fees not included)

  “a $10.00 fee shall be submitted, along with the plans, prior to council review.”

Rules another office applies inside McCausland

McCausland does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  All construction inside McCausland city limits, under a 28E agreement between the city and Scott County

  • Applies only inside McCausland city, per city code 156.01; county areas outside the city are not covered by this claim.
  • Edition and amendments of Scott County chapter 5 were not opened; the city code adopts chapter 5 as amended from time to time.

  “pursuant to a 28e agreement by and between the city and scott county, chapter 5 of the code of ordinances of scott county, iowa, as it may be amended from time to time, is applicable to all construction within the city and shall be administered by the scott county planning and development department, except for the legal enforcement of violations thereof.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside McCausland city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside McCausland city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new construction inside McCausland city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the restricted residence district of McCausland city
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the restricted residence district of McCausland 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.