Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Kelley, Iowa

Kelley’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, moving, converting, enlarging, reconstructing or structurally altering a building inside Kelley city limits.

  • For a building used as a dwelling, the permit requires conformance with the city's housing standards.
  • Permit fees apply (see 165.17(2)).

  “no building shall be erected, moved, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered without a permit from the city to do so.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Structures and property inside Kelley city limits.

  • Adopts the International Building Code, 2006 edition, by reference; the code text is on file with the clerk.
  • Section 153.02 lists sections revised (not reviewed here).

  “being marked and designated as the international building code, 2006 edition, as published by the international code council, is hereby adopted as the building code of the city”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Kelley city limits: the city's own zoning ordinance (Code Chapter 165) governs use and dimensions.

  • Zoning permits are issued by the city under 165.17.
  • Amendments follow Iowa Code ch. 414 through the planning and zoning commission and council (chapter 23).

  “this chapter shall be known and cited as “the zoning ordinance of the city of kelley, iowa.””

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-1 agricultural district (Section 165.08), principal structures, inside Kelley city limits.

  • Minimum lot width 200 feet.
  • Table is in the agricultural district section, which precedes 165.09 R-E.

  minimum lot area: >= 35 acres

  “4. minimum bulk requirements. a. principal structures: lot area........................35 acres minimum”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district principal structures, inside Kelley city limits.

  • Maximum lot coverage for principal structures 50 percent.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent

  “building height.............2½ stories or 35 feet maximum lot coverage.................50% maximum”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 single-family residential district principal structures, inside Kelley city limits.

  • Principal structure height 2½ stories or 35 feet maximum.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (or 2½ stories)

  “building height.............2½ stories or 35 feet maximum”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-1 agricultural district principal structures, inside Kelley city limits.

    “building height............ 35 feet maximum”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sewage disposal facilities inside Kelley city limits

  • The general ban applies except as provided in the code; the exception was not located.
  • Where the sewer connection rule applies (95.05), connection to public sewer is required.

  “construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool, or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage except as provided in these chapters.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Houses and buildings used for human occupancy inside Kelley city that abut a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sanitary or combined sewer.

  • Connection is required within 60 days after official city notice.
  • Applies only where the public sewer is within 100 feet of the property line and can convey sewage by gravity.
  • Billing starts on the date of official notice to connect.
  • No water-connection mandate was found in the sanitary sewer chapter (92 water rates was not checked).

  distance to public sewer: <= 100 feet (from property line; design must allow gravity conveyance) · connection deadline: 60 days (after date of official notice from the city)

  “such compliance to be completed within 60 days after date of official notice from the city to do so 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)

  Plans, plats and re-plats of subdivisions inside Kelley city limits, and adjacent land that lays out streets to be dedicated to the city.

  • Plans must go to the planning and zoning commission before council approval.
  • Subdivision regulations are Chapter 170 (not opened).

  “all plans, plats, or re-plats of subdivisions or re-subdivisions of land in the city or adjacent thereto, laid out in lots or plats”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits for buildings inside Kelley city limits

  • Applications are made by the builder or owner.
  • Permits must conform to Chapter 165 and, for dwellings, the city's housing standards.
  • Full application and fee steps were not located.

  “such permits shall be issued upon application therefor by the builder or owner.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders in Kelley city
• Inspections — Construction inside Kelley city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new construction inside Kelley city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Kelley city limits
• Living in an RV — Living in a recreational vehicle on private land inside Kelley 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.