What do these permits involve in Polk County?

Question

Accepted Answer

Onsite Wastewater (Septic) System Permit — Commercial (Polk County outside Des Moines)

A business site in Polk County that is served by an onsite wastewater (septic) system needs a county permit and construction authorization before the system is installed, built, repaired, modified or improved (Chapter III, the Polk County Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System Regulation, §3-8(A), adopted June 19, 2012 and effective July 1, 2012); a site on a public sewer has no septic permit. The Environmental Health Services page states that "Polk County has jurisdiction throughout the County except for the City of Des Moines," so this applies inside the county's other cities as well as the unincorporated area. Under §3-7(H), commercial systems must be designed by a licensed engineer, and a system serving a business that needs a food service establishment license may have to meet the FOG ordinance's grease-control requirements. The page states that a permit fee must be paid before the permit is issued, that inspections are required and that the permit holder schedules them (515-286-3705), and that only contractors licensed with the Environmental Health Services Division may work on systems, except for abandonments. Under the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule headed "Effective 1/1/2026" (linked from the county's Public Works Forms & Resources page as the 2026 Public Works Fee Schedule), the Septic Tank Fee - Commercial is $324.00 and the Septic Abandonment Fee is $77.00.

Commercial Building Permit (unincorporated Polk County)

Under §20.1.2 of the Polk County Construction Code (Chapter 20, effective September 2, 2024), no person may undertake development activity subject to the code without first obtaining a permit from the Building Official, who is appointed by the Board of Supervisors or the Public Works Director. The Public Works FAQ states that "the Polk County Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan apply only to properties located outside of cities," and the Polk County Construction Code applies "within unincorporated Polk County" (§20.1.3); a business inside one of the county's 17 cities applies to that city instead. The code replaces the International Building Code's fee section with the "Fee Schedule as adopted by Polk County Board of Supervisors resolution." Under the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule headed "Effective 1/1/2026" (linked from the county's Public Works Forms & Resources page as the 2026 Public Works Fee Schedule), the permit fee follows the valuation of the work, using the schedule's Building Permit Valuation Table; valuation is the actual value of the project or, for building types the schedule refers to Exhibit A, the August 2024 ICC Building Valuation Data. Planning & Development (515-286-3705) gives the amount for a given project. The same schedule sets commercial plan review at 65% of the building permit fee, a 2nd reinspection fee of $101.00 per inspection and an after-hours inspection fee of $142.00 per inspection. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work takes separate trade permits, and a new use or a change of use needs a certificate of occupancy; both are separate records. Building inspection staff are at 5885 NE 14th Street, Des Moines.

Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permits (unincorporated Polk County)

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work on a business premises in unincorporated Polk County is permitted by Planning & Development under the Polk County Construction Code (Chapter 20, effective September 2, 2024), whose §20.1.2 requires a permit from the Building Official before development activity the code covers. The Public Works FAQ states that "the Polk County Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan apply only to properties located outside of cities," and the Polk County Construction Code applies "within unincorporated Polk County" (§20.1.3); a business inside one of the county's 17 cities applies to that city instead. Under the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule headed "Effective 1/1/2026" (linked from the county's Public Works Forms & Resources page as the 2026 Public Works Fee Schedule), each electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit carries a Basic Fee of $45.00, plus itemized fees for the work. Items a restaurant, coffee shop or other commercial premises commonly meets include, as the schedule prints them, Grease Hood and duct system (Type I) $26.00 each and Exhaust Hood (Type II) $10.30 each on the mechanical permit, Grease Interceptor (exterior) $23.00 on the plumbing permit, and Commerical Generator $77.00 as an electrical flat fee. The full itemized list (meters, circuits, fixtures, water and sewer services, gas piping, furnaces and air handlers) is in the schedule; Planning & Development (515-286-3705) gives the total for a given job. The building permit is a separate record.

Site Plan Review — Non-Residential (unincorporated Polk County)

Article 16 of the Polk County Zoning Ordinance (most recently amended October 14, 2024) provides for three kinds of site plan for non-residential development outside city limits. A major site plan is submitted before the building permit application, "with the appropriate review fee as prescribed by the Board of Supervisors," and may be approved by the Zoning Administrator upon concurrence of all appropriate agencies. A minor site plan may be filed for an addition to an existing non-residential building, an expansion of a non-residential use, or a new non-residential use where a change of use permit is required. A sketch plan is permitted only for a change of use where no exterior site improvements are required other than possibly landscaping or parking lot striping, and for certain other minimal changes. The Public Works FAQ states that "the Polk County Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan apply only to properties located outside of cities," and the Polk County Construction Code applies "within unincorporated Polk County" (§20.1.3); a business inside one of the county's 17 cities applies to that city instead. Under the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule headed "Effective 1/1/2026" (linked from the county's Public Works Forms & Resources page as the 2026 Public Works Fee Schedule), the fees are listed under the schedule's own labels: Site Plan (Detailed) $529.00, Site Plan (Simplified) $335.00, Site Plan (Sketch Plan) $135.00, Site Improvements Permit non-residential $162.00 and Grading Plan Review $162.00. Planning & Development (515-286-3705) tells an applicant which fee applies to a given plan.

Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use (unincorporated Polk County)

Under the Polk County Zoning Ordinance, no structure or premises that is created, erected, changed, converted, enlarged or moved may be used "until a Certificate of Occupancy shall have been issued by the Zoning Administrator," and a Certificate of Occupancy also includes a Certificate of Use and Change of Use. The Polk County Construction Code amends IBC §111.1 so that a building may not be used or occupied, and its use classification may not be changed, until the appropriate permits have been pulled and the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy. A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued by the Zoning Administrator for no more than six months, after the owner signs a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy Agreement. The Public Works FAQ states that "the Polk County Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan apply only to properties located outside of cities," and the Polk County Construction Code applies "within unincorporated Polk County" (§20.1.3); a business inside one of the county's 17 cities applies to that city instead. Under the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule headed "Effective 1/1/2026" (linked from the county's Public Works Forms & Resources page as the 2026 Public Works Fee Schedule), a Change of Use costs $123.00 and a Temporary Cert of Occ Fee is $100.00. A business moving into an existing building in the unincorporated area for a different use should expect this step; Planning & Development (515-286-3705) handles it.

Sign Permit (unincorporated Polk County)

The Polk County Zoning Ordinance states: "No person shall erect, alter, or relocate any sign within the unincorporated areas of the County without first obtaining approval of a Sign Permit." Repainting, changing parts and preventive maintenance of signs on the site are not alterations that need a permit. The Public Works FAQ states that "the Polk County Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan apply only to properties located outside of cities," and the Polk County Construction Code applies "within unincorporated Polk County" (§20.1.3); a business inside one of the county's 17 cities applies to that city instead. Under the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule headed "Effective 1/1/2026" (linked from the county's Public Works Forms & Resources page as the 2026 Public Works Fee Schedule), a sign permit costs $1.04 per square foot of sign face with a minimum fee of $96.00, and a Portable Sign Permit costs $71.00. Planning & Development (515-286-3705) reviews sign applications against the ordinance's size and placement rules for the zoning district.

Permit	Issuing agency	Fee	Renews	Last checked
Onsite Wastewater (Septic) System Permit — Commercial (Polk County outside Des Moines)only if it applies to you	Polk County Public Works — Environmental Health Services	Per the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2026: Septic Tank Fee - Commercial $324.00; Septic Abandonment Fee $77.00.	per permit	2026-10-14
Commercial Building Permit (unincorporated Polk County)only if it applies to you	Polk County Public Works — Planning & Development	Set by the valuation of the work under the Building Permit Valuation Table in the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2026; valuation is the actual project value or, for listed building types, Exhibit A (August 2024 ICC Building Valuation Data). Contact Planning & Development (515-286-3705) for the amount for a given project. Commercial plan review: 65% of the building permit fee. 2nd reinspection fee $101.00 per inspection; after-hours inspection $142.00 per inspection.	per permit	2026-10-14
Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permits (unincorporated Polk County)only if it applies to you	Polk County Public Works — Planning & Development	Per the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2026: electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits each carry a Basic Fee of $45.00 plus itemized fees, for example (mechanical) Grease Hood and duct system (Type I) $26.00 each, Exhaust Hood (Type II) $10.30 each; (plumbing) Grease Interceptor (exterior) $23.00; (electrical, flat fee) Commerical Generator $77.00.	per permit	2026-10-14
Site Plan Review — Non-Residential (unincorporated Polk County)only if it applies to you	Polk County Public Works — Planning & Development	Per the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2026, under the schedule's own labels: Site Plan (Detailed) $529.00; Site Plan (Simplified) $335.00; Site Plan (Sketch Plan) $135.00; Site Improvements Permit non-residential $162.00; Grading Plan Review $162.00. Planning & Development (515-286-3705) gives the fee that applies to a given plan.	per project	2026-10-14
Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use (unincorporated Polk County)only if it applies to you	Polk County Public Works — Planning & Development	Per the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2026: Change of Use $123.00; Temporary Cert of Occ Fee $100.00.	issued for the use approved; a temporary certificate of occupancy runs for no more than six months	2026-10-14
Sign Permit (unincorporated Polk County)only if it applies to you	Polk County Public Works — Planning & Development	Per the Polk County Public Works Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2026: $1.04 per square foot of sign face, minimum fee $96.00; Portable Sign Permit $71.00.	per sign	2026-10-14

Business licenses and permits in Polk County, Iowa

What are you opening in Polk County?

Permits that apply to every type of business in Polk County