Bolthole Index

Tama County, Iowa

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Tama County, Iowa

58Index Score / 100
#37 of 99 in Iowa

Tama County, Iowa requires a Building Permit/Zoning Certificate before most construction, moving or structural alteration, including accessory buildings larger than 120 square feet1. The county has zoning but has not adopted building-code regulations23. Private septic systems and water supplies need separate county permits, and development in mapped Zone A needs floodplain approval456.

At a glance

Building permit
A Building Permit/Zoning Certificate is required for most building work1
Building code
Tama County has not adopted building-code regulations3
Zoning
Yes; district-specific uses and dimensional rules apply27
Septic permit
Required for a new private septic system4
Private well
A county well permit is required for new construction using a private supply5
Owner-builder
Own-property work is exempt from state contractor registration, not local permits8
RV or tiny-home living
No general county occupancy rule could be confirmed; ask Zoning9

Who to call

Zoning

Tama County Zoning Office

Zoning certificates, site-plan and setback review, subdivision questions, and floodplain development permits

(641) 654-7045

[email protected]

129 W. High Street, Toledo, IA 52342

Septic permits

Tama County Sanitarian

Private septic-system permits and questions, site analysis, soil sampling, well testing and well plugging

641-481-3550

[email protected]

South Annex Building, 129 W. High St., Toledo, IA 52342

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Tama County, Iowa?

Yes—Tama County calls its approval a Building Permit/Zoning Certificate, and it must be obtained before erecting, constructing, moving in or structurally altering a building or structure1. An accessory building triggers the certificate requirement when it is larger than 120 square feet1. The application needs a detailed site plan so zoning staff can check the applicable district setbacks9. An E911 address must be issued before the building permit, while projects using private septic or a private water supply also need septic and well permits1. Tama County has not adopted building-code regulations, which is different from saying no county approval is required3. Iowa's state code still applies to the particular state-owned, state-funded, locally adopted and factory-built construction covered by state law10.

Who handles building and zoning permits in Tama County?

The Tama County Zoning Office is the first stop for a Building Permit/Zoning Certificate, zoning-district questions, setbacks, subdivisions and floodplain review9. The office is in the Public Health & Home Care Building at 129 W High Street in Toledo and can be reached at 641-654-7045 or [email protected]9. Ask the office whether a planned repair or accessory structure needs a certificate before work begins9. Tama County publishes certificate fees by project value, beginning with a $60 minimum, and doubles the zoning-certificate fee if construction starts before the permit is issued11. Land division is also regulated: county subdivision rules apply to a division into two or more parts, and a plat is required when an original parcel is divided into three or more lots for sale, transfer or development12.

Does Tama County have zoning?

Tama County has zoning districts with district-specific permitted uses, conditional uses and dimensional controls27. Iowa county zoning applies outside city corporate limits, so land inside a city is governed by that city's rules rather than Tama County's county zoning ordinance13. A parcel's district matters because zoning staff review the site plan against the setbacks for the appropriate district before issuing a certificate9. Iowa law generally makes county zoning inapplicable to qualifying agricultural land and structures while they remain primarily adapted to agricultural purposes, except for specified floodplain controls13. Tama County's own permit materials did not confirm a general minimum dwelling size, lot-coverage limit or county-specific agricultural exemption; ask the Zoning Office how the current district rules apply to the exact parcel and proposed use.

How do septic permits work in Tama County?

Tama County Environmental Health regulates private onsite wastewater systems and requires a septic permit for a new private system144. Contact the Tama County Sanitarian at 641-481-3550 before fixing a house location, because the office coordinates site analysis and soil sampling for septic installations15. Only about 0.6% of Tama County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so the site evaluation can materially affect the system design and budget16. Iowa also requires a time-of-transfer inspection for covered private systems serving buildings with one through four dwelling units, subject to statutory exceptions, and an inspection remains valid for two years for transfers during that period17. New construction using a private water supply needs a separate well permit5.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Tama County?

Tama County's published materials do not confirm a general rule allowing residential occupancy of an RV or a tiny home, so ask the Zoning Office about the parcel's district, the proposed duration and the sanitation plan before relying on either option. A small structure is not automatically exempt from land-use review: the county requires a zoning certificate for buildings and structures generally, with a stated size threshold only for accessory buildings larger than 120 square feet1. A manufactured home cannot be rejected solely because it is manufactured, but it must meet the same permanent-foundation, setback and minimum-square-footage standards that apply to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot18. An owner working on the owner's own property is outside Iowa's contractor-registration definition, but that exemption does not erase zoning certificates, septic permits or other applicable approvals8.

Building a home in Tama County: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Tama County Zoning Office to identify the parcel's zoning district and confirm the permitted or conditional use and setbacks29.
  2. Obtain an E911 address before the county issues the Building Permit/Zoning Certificate1.
  3. Submit the zoning application and a detailed site plan before construction, moving or structural alteration begins19.
  4. If the home will use private wastewater or water, arrange the septic and well permits with Environmental Health and the Tama County Sanitarian4515.
  5. If the parcel lies in mapped Zone A, obtain a floodplain development permit before any farm or non-farm development6.
  6. If access connects to an Iowa primary highway, obtain Iowa DOT district approval before driveway work begins19.
  7. Pay the value-based zoning-certificate fee before starting; beginning early doubles that fee11.

What should you check before buying land in Tama County?

Confirm the zoning district, permitted use, setbacks and any conditional-use process with the Tama County Zoning Office before making the purchase contingent-free279. Check the flood map because development of farm and non-farm property in mapped Zone A needs a floodplain permit6. Test septic feasibility early: only about 0.6% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field16. For access onto an Iowa primary highway, state district approval must come before entrance work starts19. Tama County's effective property-tax rate is about 1.4%, with a median annual bill of about $1,945, while the typical home value is about $175,936202122. The county averages about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year, and roughly 85.2% of its land has a slope of 15% or less2324.

Watch-outs

  • Tama County has not adopted building-code regulations, but it still requires a Building Permit/Zoning Certificate for most building work31.
  • Starting construction before the zoning certificate is issued doubles the certificate fee11.
  • Only about 0.6% of Tama County soils are rated without severe limits for a conventional drain field, so settle septic feasibility before committing to a homesite16.
  • Tama County's general RV-occupancy, tiny-home and minimum-dwelling-size rules could not be confirmed; ask the Zoning Office about the proposed parcel and use9.

Sources

  1. Zoning Permit - Zoning Department, quoted and re-checked
  2. Tama County Zoning Ordinances (2026 county census)
  3. Zoning Permit - Zoning Department, quoted and re-checked
  4. Zoning Permit - Zoning Department, quoted and re-checked
  5. Zoning Permit - Zoning Department, quoted and re-checked
  6. Floodplain Management - Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  7. Zoning Ordinances - Zoning Department, quoted and re-checked
  8. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 91C — Construction Contractors (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Tama County Zoning Office (tamacounty.iowa.gov)
  10. Building Code Plan Review (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Fee Schedule - Zoning Department, quoted and re-checked
  12. Zoning Ordinances - Zoning Department, quoted and re-checked
  13. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 335 — County Zoning (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Septic System - Sanitarian Department, quoted and re-checked
  15. Tama County Sanitarian (tamacounty.iowa.gov)
  16. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  17. Iowa Code §455B.172, Jurisdiction of department and local boards (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Iowa Code §335.30, Manufactured and modular homes (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Access Management (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  23. Annual precipitation: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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County locator

Tama County in Iowa

58
County map
Tama County highlighted among the Iowa counties · colored by Index score

How Tama County scores

Seclusion57100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency37100% ev.
Admin Boringness61100% ev.
Durability50100% ev.
Property Autonomy51100% ev.
Carry Cost59100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$176kTypical home
1.4%Property tax
$9,563Land / acre
36.5"Annual rain
11.9% of yrsSevere drought
4 / yr (+3.8)Mid-century 100°F days
17 daysMid-century dry spell
1.87" (+11.8%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.86×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,613Home insurance / yr
2.8% / yrInsurance growth
0.98%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
13,163People within 30 min
1,798,342People within 2 hr
18,364Radius comparison (15 mi)
23.3People / sq mi
1.6%Federal land
85.2%Land at 15% slope or less
0.6%Septic soil without severe limits
2,701 acWorkable land screen
7.2%Wooded land
55.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
47.9°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Tama County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Tama County rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Construction, moving, structural alteration, and accessory buildings in Tama County.

    • A Zoning Certificate is required before erection, construction, moving in, or structural alteration of a building or structure.
    • Accessory buildings require a Zoning Certificate only when larger than 120 square feet.
    • An E911 address must be issued before issuance of a building permit.
    • Private septic and water supply construction requires septic and well permits.

    accessory-building threshold: > 120 square feet (Accessory buildings at or below 120 square feet are not stated to require a Zoning Certificate.)

    “A Zoning Certificate shall be obtained from the Administrative Officer before starting or proceeding with the erection, construction, moving in or the structural alteration of a building or structure. Accessory buildings shall require a Zoning Certificate if the structure is larger than 120 square feet.”
  • Building code adoptedNot adopted

    Tama County building-code regulations.

    • The county recommends, but does not adopt, compliance with the Uniform Building Code or State of Iowa Building Code.
    “At this time, Tama County has not adopted building code regulations.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Tama County zoning districts and district-specific controls.

    • The county ordinance contains district-specific permitted uses, conditional uses, dimensional rules, and zoning maps or district references.
    “ARTICLE VIII. “A”, AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT........................................................................... 23”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Private onsite wastewater systems in Tama County.

    • The county program operates alongside Iowa DNR and Iowa Administrative Code requirements.
    “The Environmental Health Program regulates private on-site waste treatment systems, provides new septic system inspections, administers the Time of Transfer (TOT) septic inspection program, and reviews waste treatment plans in accordance with rezoning and subdivision requests in Tama County.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New private septic systems and private water/septic construction associated with new construction.

    • The county septic permit form requires compliance with Board of Health rules, county ordinances, and Iowa Administrative Code 567.69.
    • Fees are non-refundable and noncompliance by the stated date incurs additional permit fees.
    “If your new construction will be using a private septic system or water supply, you will need to obtain septic and well permits.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Private water supplies used for new construction in Tama County.

    • The county zoning page directs applicants using a private water supply to obtain a well permit from Environmental Health.
    “If your new construction will be using a private septic system or water supply, you will need to obtain septic and well permits.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land division in Tama County.

    • The county publishes a Subdivision Ordinance dated March 1, 2005.
    • Subdivision review may involve waste-treatment plans.
    “The Subdivision Regulations apply to any division of land into two or more parts. Certain regulations apply to the division of a single lot. A subdivision plat is required in Tama County when an original lot, tract or parcel of land is divided into 3 or more lots for the purpose of immediate or future sale or transfer for development purposes.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development of farm or non-farm property located in Zone A of the Tama County Flood Insurance Rate Map.

    • A floodplain development permit must be obtained before development.
    • The Tama County Planning and Zoning office reviews applications as submitted.
    • Applications do not require a hearing by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
    “A floodplain development permit must be obtained prior to the development of any property (farm or non-farm) located with Zone "A" of the Flood Insurance Rate Map for Tama County.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Tama County zoning certificates.

    • Fees are determined by structure, building, or addition value.
    • If construction begins before a permit is issued, fees are doubled.
    • The ordinance states the fees were revised as of Fall 2025 and recommended for review/update by Fall 2030.

    minimum fee: 60 USD (For structure value from $0.00 through $1,000.00) · fee through $20,000: per 1 USD per $1,000 (Each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof) · fee through $50,000: per 0.5 USD per $1,000 (Each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof) · fee above $50,000: per 0.2 USD per $1,000 (Each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof)

    “Fees shall be paid to Tama County at either the office of the Zoning Administrator (129 W High St, Toledo IA 52342) or with the Auditor (104 W State St, Toledo IA 52342). Checks should be made out to Tama County Treasurer.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Tama County administers a 1998 zoning ordinance with zoning districts, permitted/conditional uses, a Zoning Commission, and Board of Adjustment.

    Tama County Zoning Ordinances ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Iowa rules that apply here

  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    A person performing work or having work performed on the person's own property, for purposes of Iowa Code chapter 91C contractor registration.

    • The exemption is from being treated as a contractor for purposes of chapter 91C; it is not stated to waive building permits, building-code compliance, inspections, or certificates of occupancy.
    • The separate annual-earnings threshold is less than $2,000, but the own-property exemption is stated independently.
    • A contractor doing business in Iowa must register under chapter 91C unless an applicable statutory exclusion applies.
    “However, a person who earns less than two thousand dollars annually or who performs work or has work performed on the person’s own property is not a contractor for purposes of this chapter.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Buildings and structures subject to Iowa Code section 103A.10A, including newly constructed state-owned buildings, state-board-of-regents buildings, and certain state-funded buildings.

    • Newly constructed state-owned buildings and structures subject to the state building code are subject to plan review and inspection, excluding renovations and repairs except as provided by statute.
    • Newly constructed buildings owned by the state board of regents are subject to plan review and inspection, excluding renovations and repairs except as provided by statute.
    • State-funded buildings not wholly owned by the state are subject to state plan review and inspection when the governmental subdivision has not adopted the listed codes or does not perform inspections; otherwise they must comply with the local codes and inspections.
    • For ordinary privately owned construction, inspection administration is governed by the applicable local law or ordinance.
    “All newly constructed buildings or structures subject to the state building code, including any addition, but excluding any renovation or repair of such a building or structure, owned by the state or an agency of the state, except as provided in subsection 2, shall be subject to a plan review and inspection by the commissioner or an independent building inspector appointed by the commissioner.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificates of occupancy or use for buildings subject to Iowa's State Building Code and certificates approving specified buildings, facilities, or installations for licensure.

    • A local building department issues certificates of occupancy or use when required by ordinance.
    • When issued for a building constructed under the state building code, the certificate must certify conformity with the code and is in the form prescribed by the governing body of the governmental subdivision.
    • For facilities governed by Iowa Administrative Code chapter 481.280, if a certificate of occupancy is required for use, it will not be issued until the inspection fee is paid.
    • Chapter 481.280.5 applies to a certificate approving a building, facility, or installation for occupancy upon request from an owner or owner's agency when applicable rules are satisfied and all fees are paid.
    • The state sources do not require a certificate of occupancy for every building statewide.

    additional reinspection fee: 125 USD (Applies for each additional reinspection after the initial reinspection when original deficiencies remain uncorrected.)

    “Issue certificates of occupancy or use, permits, licenses, and other documents in connection with the construction of buildings or structures as may be required by ordinance. (1) A certificate of occupancy or use for a building or structure constructed in accordance with the provisions of the state building code shall certify that the building or structure conforms to the requirements of the code. The certificate shall be in the form the governing body of the governmental subdivision prescribes.”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Placement and residential occupancy of manufactured homes under county zoning statewide in Iowa

    • A county may not disallow the proposed residential structure solely because it is a manufactured home.
    • The home must be located and installed under the same standards applicable to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot, including permanent foundation, setback, and minimum square footage standards.
    • The home must be assessed and taxed as a site-built dwelling.
    • A county may not require an incompatible perimeter foundation system and may not require more than one permanent foundation system.
    • Outside a manufactured home community or mobile home park, requirements may ensure visual compatibility of the permanent foundation system with surrounding residential structures.
    • Recorded restrictive covenants are not abrogated.
    • Counties may regulate transportation, water, sewerage, and other land development; the statute also bars width standards greater than twenty-four feet and certain design standards when federal standards are met.

    maximum mandated width standard: <= 24 feet (if the housing otherwise complies with 42 U.S.C. §5403)

    “A county shall not adopt or enforce zoning regulations or other ordinances which disallow the plans and specifications of a proposed residential structure solely because the proposed structure is a manufactured home. However, a zoning ordinance or regulation shall require that a manufactured home be located and installed according to the same standards, including but not limited to a permanent foundation system, set-back, and minimum square footage, which would apply to a site-built, single family dwelling on the same lot, and shall require that the home is assessed and taxed as a site-built dwelling.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    City regulation of accessory dwelling units statewide in Iowa, within a zoning district where a single-family residence is an allowed principal use

    • At least one accessory dwelling unit must be allowed on the same lot as a single-family residence.
    • The accessory dwelling unit must comply with applicable building regulations under chapter 103A.
    • The unit may not exceed 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the size of the single-family residence, whichever is larger; unfinished basements are excluded from the size calculation.
    • Historic-building-code restrictions, deed restrictions, and common-interest-community rules may limit or prohibit construction or use.
    • A manufactured or mobile home used as the accessory dwelling unit must be converted to real property by placement on a permanent foundation and assessed for real-estate taxes under section 435.26.
    • A historic-preservation area may regulate the unit to the extent the city or commission determines it incongruous and records its reasons.
    • Effective July 1, 2026.

    maximum accessory dwelling unit size: 1,000 square feet or 50% of the single-family residence, whichever is larger (unfinished basements excluded from the size calculation)

    “A city shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — County regulation of accessory dwelling units statewide in Iowa, within a zoning district where a single-family residence is an allowed principal use
      “A county shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage disposal systems serving buildings with one through four dwelling units, before qualifying ownership transfers statewide.

    • Inspection is required before transfer of ownership, including seller-financed real estate contracts.
    • The county recorder may not record the deed or conveyance document without a certified inspector report, unless weather or temporary physical conditions prevent inspection and the buyer executes a binding acknowledgment.
    • The requirement applies to sale, exchange, real estate contract, or other purchase of real estate and improvements.
    • Exceptions include specified court-ordered, foreclosure-related, fiduciary, family, demolition, recently installed system, partition, tax-sale, low-consideration, and qualifying family-entity transfers.
    • The septic tank must be opened and pumped at inspection, unless evidence shows it was properly pumped within three years before inspection by a licensed commercial septic tank cleaner.
    • A failing system must be renovated; a properly treating system without an unsanitary condition need not meet current construction standards.
    • Only a department-certified inspector may conduct the inspection.
    • An inspection is valid for two years for ownership transfers during that period.

    dwelling units: 1-4 · inspection validity: 2 years (for ownership transfers during that period) · prior septic pumping evidence: <= 3 years (must be by a department-licensed commercial septic tank cleaner) · civil penalty for fraudulent report: 5000 USD (and certification suspension for one year)

    “If a building where a person resides, congregates, or is employed is served by a private sewage disposal system, the sewage disposal system serving the building shall be inspected prior to any transfer of ownership of the building.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Requests for access connections, driveways, or entrances to Iowa primary highways administered by the Iowa Department of Transportation.

    • The permitting process is administered by Iowa DOT district offices.
    • The permit application must be approved before work may begin.
    • The approval process may include internal Iowa DOT review by different offices.
    • The applicant may be asked for more information.
    • A traffic impact analysis is required for all Type A and Type B access permits.
    “In Iowa, the permitting process is administered by the Iowa DOT's district offices.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Iowa counties may adopt zoning ordinances for land and structures within the county but outside the corporate limits of any city.

    • Chapter 335 applies to any Iowa county at the option of its board of supervisors.
    • The zoning power is subject to Iowa Code section 335.2: ordinances generally do not apply to agricultural land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, or other structures primarily adapted for agricultural purposes while so used, except that ordinances may apply to structures, buildings, dams, obstructions, deposits, or excavations in or on river or stream floodplains.
    • A county may not require an application, approval, or fee for an ordinance to be deemed inapplicable to qualifying agricultural land or structures.
    • A county may not regulate, restrict, or prohibit the location of permanent buildings or temporary structures used for consumer-fireworks sales pursuant to section 10A.519 in locations zoned commercial or industrial.
    • The board of supervisors may divide the county into zoning districts, and regulations may differ among districts.
    • Regulations and restrictions require public-hearing and notice procedures under sections 335.6 and 331.305; district boundaries must identify the affected township and section and, if possible, streets or roads.
    • Energy-conservation and solar-access objectives do not require zoning in a county that did not have zoning before July 1, 1981.
    “applicable to any county [...] at the option of the board of supervisors [...] outside of the corporate limits of any city.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Tama County zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage under Tama County zoning.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping outside expressly regulated campgrounds in Tama County.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Tama County.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems in Tama County.
4 more unanswered
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Living off-grid in Tama County, Iowa

Is Tama County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Tama County scores 58/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and higher long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: workable self-sufficiency basics (36.5″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Tama County, Iowa?

Tama County requires a building permit only in limited cases (such as floodplains or specific zones), and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Tama County Sanitarian / Environmental Health Department. Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Tama County, Iowa?

Land in Tama County runs about $9,563 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Tama County?

Tama County gets about 36.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 11.9% of years.

How remote is Tama County?

A representative private-land location has about 13,163 people within a 30-minute drive and 1,798,342 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Tama County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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How Tama compares in Iowa

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