Building Inspection (City of Waterloo, under contract with Black Hawk County)

Building Permit (unincorporated Black Hawk County)

Black Hawk County Code 18.110.010 provides that no land may be occupied or used, and no building erected or structurally altered may be occupied or used, until a building permit is issued "by the County Building Inspector", and that a change of use also needs a permit; agricultural and utility uses under chapter 18.115 need none. The county's FAQ states: "The County contracts with the City of Waterloo for this service. To obtain a building permit information call Building Inspection at 319-291-4319"; a second FAQ entry gives Waterloo City Hall, 715 Mulberry Street, for the unincorporated areas. This applies in the unincorporated area of Black Hawk County. The county's FAQ, asked whether the county is the correct department for a building permit or inspection within city limits, answers: "No, Please contact the Building Inspection and Permits office for the city in which you reside." Under BHCC 15.05.010 the county adopts the 2009 International Building Code and International Residential Code as adopted and amended by the City of Waterloo (Ordinances 4995 and 4996, June 21, 2010, and 5096, February 27, 2012), and the adoption is continuing, so later Waterloo amendments apply. Under 15.05.020 the sprinkler threshold is lowered to 9,000 square feet regardless of building use, and the chapter does not apply to a person who owns more than 35 acres designated for agricultural use. The fee is Waterloo's building permit fee as filed with the Board of Supervisors (15.05.030); the amount is not published in the County Code. Permits are issued to complying applicants within seven days and become void after six months if work has not begun.