Do I Need A Permit?
"Oh, I thought I didn't need a permit for construction if I lived in the country," is a common statement heard in the Story County Planning and Development Office.

The fact of the matter is that a zoning permit is required for all new construction and any change in use of any land or building. It is also a misconception that keeping a structure portable means that a permit is not needed. Even a portable structure requires a permit and required setbacks from property lines must be met.

The Zoning Process
The Zoning Permit process is a fairly simple one. The person applying for the Zoning Permit must be the owner of the property, the contract buyer of record, or someone acting as the agent representing the property owner (this must be approved by the property owner in writing).

The application for a zoning permit must be completed with all of the pertinent information for the proposed construction along with a site plan and payment of the required fee at the time it is submitted. An application for a zoning permit is required for all new development and other types of development and change of use for lands located in unincorporated Story County.

State Requirements
State of Iowa Electrical Permit Requirements
Iowa Statewide Electrical Permits and Inspections started on March 1, 2009. These permits and inspections are NOT performed by the county. For additional information, please see the State of Iowa's website.

Application Forms and Information