Duties & Responsibilities

The Zoning Administrator is charged with several administrative and statutory duties. The primary duty and responsibility is to implement the Black Hawk County Agricultural Preservation Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, and Comprehensive Plan. Other duties and responsibilities of the Planning and Zoning Office include:

• Issue Zoning Determinations
  Individuals stopping in or calling the Planning and Zoning Office can find out information on if a property is in a floodplain, what a property is zoned, what uses or structures are permitted on a property, and what the minimum bulk requirements such as minimum lot size, lot width, setback requirements, etc are.
• Maintain and Provide Public Information
  Maintain a public record of all matters pertaining to the Zoning or Subdivision Ordinance or any process or approval required by the Ordinances, and make those records available for inspection or copy to the public.
• Review Building Permits
  Building Permits are issued by the Building Inspections Department, but require review and approval by the Planning and Zoning Office for compliance with the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance. This includes review of all building permits for new or re-construction or any additions or other buildings on commercial, residential, or agricultural land. All such construction requires a building permit unless such construction is for an agricultural use on a farm as defined by the Zoning Ordinance in compliance with the Agricultural Exemption of Chapter 335.2 of the Code of Iowa.
• Process All Applications
  Process all applications for rezoning, variances, special permits, appeals, and other requests that are required under the Zoning or Subdivision Ordinance to be reviewed by the Board of Adjustment, Planning and Zoning Commission, or Board of Supervisors.
• Code Enforcement
  Respond to complaints of alleged violations to the Zoning Ordinance (PDF), Title 17 Subdivision Ordinance (PDF), or the junk vehicles provision of Section 3-2-5 of the Code of Ordinances.
• Secretary to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment
  Prepare all necessary reports and documents for and on behalf of the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment, take minutes of meetings and maintain records of all proceedings.
• Administrative Duties of the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment
  Carry out the administrative duties for both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment, as well as other administrative duties required by the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance.
• Public Notice
  Insure that public notices of all hearings required by the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance are properly advertised in local newspapers, and that a notice is provided to the parties of interest.