What do these permits involve in Black Hawk County?

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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.

Site Plan Review (Planning & Zoning Commission, unincorporated Black Hawk County)

Black Hawk County Code chapter 18.105 provides for site plan review of the development proposals listed in BHCC 18.105.020; the county's Request for Site Plan Review form covers new structures and additions to structures, each requiring a site plan. Under 18.105.030 the site plan is filed with the Zoning Administrator, who sends it to the County Engineer, the County Environmental Health Officer and the District Soil Conservationist and places it on the Planning and Zoning Commission's next agenda. The Commission determines conditions for approval within 60 days of the first meeting; if no action is taken in that time the site plan is deemed approved. The developer may appeal conditions to the Board of Supervisors within 30 days. Under 18.105.030(C), "A building permit may only be issued after Planning and Zoning Commission approval or decision of the Board of Supervisors on appeal." The $75 request fee is published on the county's Planning & Zoning Online Forms page and on the request form; 18.105.060 provides that fees follow the schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, on file in the Zoning Administrator's office. Planning and zoning services are provided by the City of Waterloo under a 28E agreement (715 Mulberry Street, 319-291-4366).

Rezoning, Special Permit and Variance Appeal (unincorporated Black Hawk County)

A business site in unincorporated Black Hawk County whose use is not permitted by right may need a rezoning, a special permit or a variance. As published on the county's Planning & Zoning Online Forms page and on its request forms: a Request for Rezone costs "$200 + $10 per acre ($750 max)", and the form adds "round amount down to nearest $10 increment"; a Request for Special Permit, for a conditional use (floodplain development) or a use exception, costs $125; a Board of Adjustment Request for Appeal for a variance costs $125. Each form states the fee is payable by check to Black Hawk County. Rezonings go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Supervisors; special permits and variances go to the Board of Adjustment. Black Hawk County Code 18.140.020 provides that fees follow the schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, on file in the Zoning Administrator's office, and lists rezoning, variance and special exception application fees. Applications go to the Zoning Administrator (715 Mulberry Street, Waterloo, 319-291-4366).

Floodplain Development Permit (unincorporated Black Hawk County)

Black Hawk County Code 18.110.030 (revised by Ord. 147, 2024) requires a floodplain development permit issued by the Zoning Administrator or designee before any floodplain development, defined as any manmade change to improved or unimproved real estate, including buildings or other structures, mining, filling, grading, paving, storage of materials or equipment, excavation or drilling, and the placement of factory-built homes; a site outside the mapped floodplain does not need one. The application, on forms supplied by the Zoning Administrator, describes the work, the land and the intended use and gives the 100-year flood elevation and the lowest floor elevation; a registered Iowa engineer or land surveyor certifies elevations and floodproofing before use or occupancy. Uses in the floodway, floodway fringe, general floodplain and shallow flooding districts that require special permits are allowed only with a special permit issued by the Board of Adjustment, and where required, Iowa Department of Natural Resources approval comes first (18.110.030(C)). The permit fee is not published in the code or on the Online Forms page; the special permit request costs $125.

Private Septic (On-Site Wastewater) Construction Permit (Black Hawk County)

A business site in Black Hawk County that is not served by a public sewer and uses a private sewage disposal (septic) system needs a permit under Black Hawk County Code chapter 8.25 (Ord. 138, 2016); a site on a public sewer has no septic permit. The Black Hawk County Board of Health is the administrative authority (8.25.030), the rules follow 567 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 69, a site evaluation precedes the construction permit (8.25.050) and the work is done by a certified installer. Black Hawk County Public Health's Environmental Health staff run the programme. Under 8.25.060, "Permit fee schedule shall be determined by the administrative authority. Permits are not transferable." The amount is not published in the County Code or on the Septic Program page; Environmental Health (319-291-2413) gives it. Black Hawk County Public Health's food establishment requirements add that, if an establishment has an on-site septic system, "the septic system must be approved by the county sanitarian for use with a food operation."

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Building Permit (unincorporated Black Hawk County)only if it applies to you	Building Inspection (City of Waterloo, under contract with Black Hawk County)	BHCC 15.05.030 incorporates "The building permit fees as adopted or amended by the City of Waterloo, Iowa, and on file with the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors"; the amounts are not published in the County Code. Contact Building Inspection (319-291-4319) for the current amount.	void six months after issuance unless work or use has commenced (BHCC 18.110.010(E)); issued to complying applicants within seven days of application (18.110.010(D))	2026-10-14
Site Plan Review (Planning & Zoning Commission, unincorporated Black Hawk County)only if it applies to you	Black Hawk County Planning & Zoning (Zoning Administrator, Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment)	$75 per request, as published on the county's Online Forms page ("Request for Site Plan Review (PDF) $75") and on the request form ("The Request Fee of $75 (payable by check to Black Hawk County) is required")	per request	2026-10-14
Rezoning, Special Permit and Variance Appeal (unincorporated Black Hawk County)only if it applies to you	Black Hawk County Planning & Zoning (Zoning Administrator, Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment)	As published on the county's Online Forms page and request forms: rezoning $200 + $10 per acre ($750 maximum), rounded down to the nearest $10 increment; special permit (conditional use for floodplain development, or use exception) $125; appeal for a variance $125. All payable by check to Black Hawk County.	per request	2026-10-14
Floodplain Development Permit (unincorporated Black Hawk County)only if it applies to you	Black Hawk County Planning & Zoning (Zoning Administrator, Planning & Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment)	The floodplain development permit fee is not published in BHCC chapter 18.110 or on the county's Online Forms page; contact the Zoning Administrator (319-291-4366) for the current amount. A use requiring a special permit in a flood district also pays the $125 special permit request fee.	per project	2026-10-14
Private Septic (On-Site Wastewater) Construction Permit (Black Hawk County)only if it applies to you	Black Hawk County Public Health	BHCC 8.25.060: "Permit fee schedule shall be determined by the administrative authority." The amount is not published in the County Code or on Black Hawk County Public Health's Septic Program page; contact Environmental Health (319-291-2413) for the current amount.	per system; a site evaluation precedes the construction permit (BHCC 8.25.050); permits are not transferable	2026-10-14

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