What do these permits involve in Johnson County?

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Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permits (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical (HVAC) work needs a trade permit from Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability (PDS). The county's Building Permits FAQ lists the trade codes enforced as the 2023 National Electrical Code, the 2024 International Mechanical Code and the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code, each as adopted by the State of Iowa. As published on the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule page, a trade permit for work related to one- and two-family dwellings and accessory buildings costs $50, and fees for all other occupancies, including commercial and industrial, follow the total value of the work on the same valuation table as building permits (from $50 for $1-$500, $71.00 plus $11.33 per additional $1,000 for $2,001-$40,000, and so on). A restaurant, salon, shop or other business fit-out therefore pays by the value of its electrical, plumbing or mechanical work. The state licenses that electricians, plumbers and mechanical contractors hold are separate state records. PDS can be reached at (319) 356-6085. A business inside one of the county's incorporated cities also checks with that city, which runs its own business license, building and zoning rules.

Site Plan Review (unincorporated Johnson County)

Johnson County's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), the county's zoning and development code for the unincorporated areas of Johnson County, provides in §8:1.26(A)(1) that "No building permit shall be issued for a new structure or addition in the RR, C, CH, AG-T, C-AG, ML, MH, or SWDRR districts which has not been shown on an approved Site Plan," and in §8:1.26(A)(3) that "No use shall be established in the C, CH, C-AG, ML, MH, or SWDRR districts which has not been shown on an approved Site Plan." Under the "Structure Remodel" exception in §8:1.26(A)(5), a building permit application in those districts is exempt from site planning where the proposed permits do not increase the footprint of the existing structures and the applicant shows that the parking required for the proposed occupancy is already provided. The UDO states that site plan review exists to provide a uniform set of requirements for the development of commercial, industrial and agritourism properties. As published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule page, a site plan review application, including an Administrator-approved site plan, costs $250. Planning, Development and Sustainability takes the application at 913 S Dubuque St, Iowa City. A business inside one of the county's incorporated cities also checks with that city, which runs its own business license, building and zoning rules.

Building Permit (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)

Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability (PDS) issues building permits under the Johnson County Building Code. The county's Building Permits FAQ lists the codes enforced as the 2024 International Residential Code, the 2024 International Building Code, and the 2023 National Electrical Code, 2024 International Mechanical Code, 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code and 2012 International Energy Conservation Code as adopted by the State of Iowa, and says permits are usually required for new buildings, additions, renovations, electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems and demolition. As published on the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule page, the fee follows the total valuation of the work, from $50 for $1-$500 up to $19,194.81 plus $1.05 per additional $1,000 above $5,000,000; projects under the International Building Code pay a separate plan review fee equal to 10% of the building permit fee, and residential-code projects pay no plan review fee. The same page lists a $100 sign permit, $50 to renew an expired permit, a retroactive fee equal to the permit fee for work started without a permit, $50 for a temporary certificate of occupancy and no charge for a certificate of occupancy. The FAQ states that work must begin within 180 days, may not stop for more than 180 days, that written 180-day extensions may be granted, and that an application may take 5 to 10 working days to process. PDS can be reached at (319) 356-6085. A business inside one of the county's incorporated cities also checks with that city, which runs its own business license, building and zoning rules.

Change of Occupancy Permit (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)

The county's Change of Occupancy Permits page states that whenever the use of any part of a building changes from one occupancy classification to another, a Change of Occupancy Permit is required, giving as examples changing a store (M occupancy) into a day care center (E occupancy) and enlarging restaurant seating from fewer than 50 (B occupancy) to more than 50 (A-2 occupancy); the building must then meet all current code requirements for the new use. The page describes the permit as a building permit, requiring two sets of plans (a site plan and floor plans showing the proposed use of each room, exits and seating) and a building permit application. PDS reviews the site for compliance with the Unified Development Ordinance, verifies that the site is zoned for the intended use and has the required parking, and reviews egress, fire separation and accessibility. The page states that inspections are required "even if no actual work is to be done"; once approved, a new Certificate of Occupancy is issued. As published on the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule page, the change of occupancy permit is $50 and the certificate of occupancy carries no charge. A business inside one of the county's incorporated cities also checks with that city, which runs its own business license, building and zoning rules.

Conditional Use Permit (Board of Adjustment, unincorporated Johnson County)

Where Johnson County's Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) lists a use as conditionally permitted in a zoning district of the unincorporated area, the use needs a conditional use permit from the Board of Adjustment before it is established. Whether a particular business is permitted outright or conditional depends on the district and the UDO's use table, so the property's zoning is checked with Planning, Development and Sustainability (PDS) first. One example from the UDO: under §8:1.24(S)(1), home businesses and home industries (larger than a home occupation) are "conditionally permitted through the Board of Adjustment." As published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule page, a conditional use permit application costs $250, and any modification to an application after its official publication that requires republication costs $50. The same page lists higher amounts only for Tier 2 battery energy storage systems and utility-scale solar, which are not business-licensing uses. A conditional use may also need site plan review under UDO §8:1.26 before a building permit is issued. A business inside one of the county's incorporated cities also checks with that city, which runs its own business license, building and zoning rules.

Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Construction Permit and Commercial/Industrial Use Permit

A business site in Johnson County served by a private sewage disposal (septic) system deals with Johnson County Public Health (JCPH) under the county's Private Sewage Disposal System Regulations, effective July 1, 2020; a site on a public sewer has no septic permit. Under §4.03 a permit to install a wastewater system is issued on approval of the signed application and associated documents and payment of the required fees to JCPH, and under §4.06 a construction permit expires one year from the issue date, with one extension of no more than a year on request. Under §4.09(A), a commercial/industrial use permit "is required for private sewage disposal systems that dispose of domestic waste from properties that are zoned for commercial or industrial use"; it is non-transferable, issued to the parcel owner and renewed annually, and requires a water meter, reporting of use beyond design capacity, changes in use and malfunctions, and septic tank pumping records. Section 4.10 states that "All fees shall be set by the Board of Health"; the amounts are not published in the Regulations or on JCPH's Wastewater & Septic Systems page, and JCPH (319-356-6040) gives them.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permits (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to you	Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability	As published on the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule page: work related to one- and two-family dwellings and accessory buildings, $50; all other occupancies, including commercial and industrial, by the total value of the work on the same table as building permits: total valuation $1-$500, $50; $501-$2,000, $50 for the first $500 plus $1.40 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof; $2,001-$40,000, $71.00 for the first $2,000 plus $11.33 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; $40,001-$100,000, $501.61 for the first $40,000 plus $9.27 for each additional $1,000; $100,001-$500,000, $1,057.81 for the first $100,000 plus $7.28 for each additional $1,000; $500,001-$1,000,000, $3,969.81 for the first $500,000 plus $5.25 for each additional $1,000; $1,000,001-$5,000,000, $6,594.81 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.15 for each additional $1,000; $5,000,001 and over, $19,194.81 for the first $5,000,000 plus $1.05 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.	as for building permits: work must begin within 180 days of issuance; written 180-day extensions may be granted (Building Permits FAQ)	2026-10-14
Site Plan Review (unincorporated Johnson County)only if it applies to you	Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability	$250 per site plan review application, including Administrator-approved site plans, as published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule page	per project	2026-10-14
Building Permit (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to you	Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability	As published on the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule page: total valuation $1-$500, $50; $501-$2,000, $50 for the first $500 plus $1.40 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof; $2,001-$40,000, $71.00 for the first $2,000 plus $11.33 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof; $40,001-$100,000, $501.61 for the first $40,000 plus $9.27 for each additional $1,000; $100,001-$500,000, $1,057.81 for the first $100,000 plus $7.28 for each additional $1,000; $500,001-$1,000,000, $3,969.81 for the first $500,000 plus $5.25 for each additional $1,000; $1,000,001-$5,000,000, $6,594.81 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.15 for each additional $1,000; $5,000,001 and over, $19,194.81 for the first $5,000,000 plus $1.05 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. Plan review: projects under the International Residential Code, no plan review fee; projects under the International Building Code, a separate additional fee equal to 10% of the building permit fee; review of changes, additions or revisions to approved plans $50 per hour (half-hour minimum); outside consultants, 100% of actual costs. Renewal of an expired permit $50; retroactive permitting for work started without a permit, equal to the permit fee; temporary certificate of occupancy $50; certificate of occupancy no charge; sign permit $100; re-inspection $50 per hour; inspection outside normal business hours $100 per hour.	work must begin within 180 days of issuance and may not be suspended or abandoned for more than 180 days; the building official may grant written extensions of 180 days (Building Permits FAQ)	2026-10-14
Change of Occupancy Permit (Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability)only if it applies to you	Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability	$50 per change of occupancy permit, as published on the county's Building Permit Fee Schedule page; the certificate of occupancy issued after inspection is listed there at no charge	per change of occupancy; a new certificate of occupancy is issued after the inspection is approved	2026-10-14
Conditional Use Permit (Board of Adjustment, unincorporated Johnson County)only if it applies to you	Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability	$250 per conditional use permit application to the Board of Adjustment, as published on the county's PDS Fee Schedule page ($50 more for any modification after publication that requires republication)	per application	2026-10-14
Private Sewage Disposal (Septic) Construction Permit and Commercial/Industrial Use Permitonly if it applies to you	Johnson County Public Health	Fees are set by the Johnson County Board of Health (Private Sewage Disposal System Regulations §4.10) and paid to Johnson County Public Health (§4.03); the amounts are not published in the Regulations or on JCPH's Wastewater & Septic Systems page. Contact JCPH (319-356-6040) for the current amounts.	construction permit expires 1 year from issue, with one extension of up to 1 year on request (§4.06); commercial/industrial use permit renewed annually (§4.09(A))	2026-10-14

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