Bremer County, Iowa Building Permit Guide

In unincorporated Bremer County, the Building, Zoning & Environmental Health department at 415 E. Bremer Avenue in Waverly (319-352-0332) issues building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, zoning and septic permits and inspects the work. The county has its own building code, Title 5, Chapter 1, last replaced by Ordinance 25-02 in March 2025, and under contract the same office enforces building and zoning codes in Waverly, Denver, Janesville and Readlyn.

What requires a permit in unincorporated Bremer County?

Bremer County regulates the construction, use and maintenance of buildings outside city limits through its building code, zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, flood ordinance and septic ordinance, so a rural project usually needs more than one approval from the same office.

Farms are treated differently on two levels. Iowa Code 335.2 keeps county zoning off land, farm houses, barns and outbuildings primarily adapted for agricultural use while so used, though not in floodplains, and the March 11, 2025 hearing on the new building code drew a written objection to the ordinance exempting farms from building permits. The department points out that zoning districts, tax classifications and building code occupancy classes are three separate systems, so a parcel’s tax class does not settle its zoning district or building code class. It invites buyers to call before buying a rural parcel or planning a project.

What the county decides and what the state holds

The Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 25-02 on March 18, 2025, on a 2-1 vote, repealing and replacing the county building code chapter; at the March 11 reading a public comment objected to “farms receiving an exemption from obtaining building permits”. The text of Ordinance 25-02 is not posted on the county site and the supervisors’ minutes do not name the code editions it adopted, so this guide does not state them; ask the department. The building code copy still posted is the 2019 version (Ordinance 19-04), which adopted the 2018 International codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code. Waverly’s own building chapter, which the same office enforces in the city, adopts the 2024 International codes. Zoning, subdivision, flood, wind energy and septic rules are county ordinances; the state energy code, fire code and trade licensing apply on top.

Bremer County building department: who handles permitting

One county department, led by Building and Zoning / Environmental Health Administrator Lindsey Koehler, handles building, zoning and environmental health. Its staff includes a building inspector, who also handles code enforcement, and a county electrical inspector, so electrical permits in its area are county permits rather than state ones. The County Engineer’s Secondary Roads Department handles the county road right of way.

Cities in Bremer County

Each incorporated city has its own permit rules inside its limits. The county department enforces building and zoning codes for four of them under contract; its inspection card also carries Plainfield’s name, and its fee sheet is headed for Tripoli and Dunkerton (a Black Hawk County city) as well, so owners in those cities confirm with their city which office takes their permits.

Bremer County permit types

Applications are filed through the county’s online permit portal, linked as Permit Applications on the department’s pages; the county’s FAQ answers make clear that even small projects start with the building permit application and a site plan, which the office then routes to zoning, building or both.

Residential permits

A rural house needs zoning approval for the parcel, a building permit, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, and a septic construction permit if no sewer is available. An owner-occupant who qualifies for the homestead tax exemption may take out permits on their own principal residence and its accessory buildings, including their own electrical work other than a service upgrade or replacement or a new house; general contractors must first file a $50,000 certificate of liability insurance with the county building department.

Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles home building permits, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.

Commercial permits

Commercial and multifamily projects are reviewed against the county code with a plan review fee of 50% of the building permit fee once the valuation passes $200,000. Electrical contractors working in the county file the same $50,000 insurance certificate plus copies of the state licenses held by the firm and each of its electricians, and plumbing and HVAC contractors do the same with their state plumbing and mechanical licenses.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit filing through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

What comes before the building permit

• Zoning. The county zoning ordinance (amended in 2024 by Ordinance 24-04) sets districts such as A-1 and A-2; rezonings go through the Planning and Zoning Commission to the supervisors, and the county also has a Board of Adjustment; both bodies post agendas and minutes on the county site. Subdivisions follow the county subdivision ordinance, and wind energy systems have their own chapter.
• Septic and wells. Private sewage disposal systems need a construction permit under Title III, Chapter 1, installed by a licensed contractor after a site analysis; the department also offers free private well water testing.
• Floodplain. The county flood ordinance governs building in mapped flood areas, and Iowa Code 335.2 lets county ordinances reach even farm buildings in floodplains.
• Right of way. Ordinance 24-09 regulates occupancy and work in county road right of way; the County Engineer issues work, occupancy and utility permits.

Bremer County permit costs and fees

Permit fees are set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The county’s posted fee sheet, written for the 2018 code and headed for Bremer County and the cities it serves, values each job on all of its work, including finish work, roofing, electrical, plumbing and heating.

For a rural house valued at $300,000 with 2,000 square feet of living space, the building permit is $658.92 plus 200 × $3.65, or $1,388.92, with no plan review fee, and the electrical permit is $26.25 plus 2,000 × $0.08, or $186.25. Right-of-way permits filed after the work is done cost double under Resolution 25-19, adopted January 28, 2025.

Trade permits and who may pull them

• Electrical: issued and inspected by the county’s own electrical inspector in the unincorporated county and in Waverly. A licensed electrical contractor may secure permits only for itself, a Master A or B may sign for the contractor that employs them, and only that contractor’s employees may do the work. Industrial plants can hold an annual maintenance permit supervised by a licensed journeyman.
• Plumbing and mechanical: county permits, signed by a Master working for the licensed contractor; permits are not transferable.
• Septic installers: Title III, Chapter 1 requires a county private sewage disposal contractor license.
• Homeowners: homestead owner-occupants may pull permits for their own home and accessory buildings, within the electrical limits above.

Under the posted building code the county may ask a contractor for payroll, license or contract records within 24 hours to prove who is doing the work, and can revoke a permit if they are not produced.

How to apply for a Bremer County permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

Rural projects in Bremer County are most often held up by zoning rather than the building review: a rezoning, such as the A-1 to A-2 changes the supervisors heard in 2024 and 2025, needs Planning and Zoning Commission review and public hearings on each reading before the supervisors. Septic design that depends on soil conditions, flood ordinance review near rivers and right-of-way permits for utility work add time.

Inspections in Bremer County

The county’s inspection record card sets the order: footings, foundation walls, damp-proofing, setbacks and post holes before any concrete; electrical and plumbing groundwork and temporary or permanent service before a slab; rough electrical, plumbing, gas piping, heating and venting and radon rough-in before framing; and framing and insulation before walls are covered. The department asks for 24 hours’ notice for each inspection, and the inspector signs each line on the card.

Septic systems are inspected under the septic ordinance. When a property with a septic system is sold, Iowa’s time-of-transfer law, in force since July 1, 2009, requires an inspection before the sale; a system found inadequate must be upgraded, and the sale may close once Bremer County has issued the repair permit. If weather prevents the inspection, the buyer can sign a binding acknowledgement with the Bremer County Board of Health, though the county may refuse it if the inspection could have been done at listing. Foreclosures, parent-to-child transfers, divorce settlements and estates are exempt.

Iowa building code

Bremer County enforces its own county building code in the unincorporated area and, by contract, each contract city’s adopted code inside that city. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Bremer County as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps effective January 29, 2021.

Iowa lets most cities and counties adopt the state building code, another code or none (a city of more than 15,000 must enforce at least the state code), but the energy, accessibility, fire, plumbing, mechanical and electrical rules apply statewide. Iowa rules

Bremer County permit search and official resources

Permit files, plans and inspection records for the county and its contract cities are held by Building, Zoning & Environmental Health and can be requested under Iowa Code chapter 22. Board of Supervisors, Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustment agendas and minutes are posted on the county site.

• Building, Zoning & Environmental Health
• Department staff
• Building and zoning FAQs
• County ordinances and codes
• Posted building code (Ordinance 19-04)
• Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical fees
• Required inspections card
• Septic ordinance
• Septic time-of-transfer inspections
• Secondary Roads and County Engineer
• County GIS
• Board of Supervisors agendas and minutes
• Iowa Code 335.2, farm exemption from county zoning
• FEMA Community Status Book, Iowa

Bremer County permit FAQs

Does Bremer County issue building permits outside city limits?

Yes. Building, Zoning & Environmental Health in Waverly issues building, trade, zoning and septic permits for the unincorporated county.

Does the county handle permits inside Waverly?

Yes. Under contract the county enforces building and zoning codes in Waverly, Denver, Janesville and Readlyn; in Waverly it issues the building and trade permits while the city keeps zoning and floodplain review.

Do I need a permit for a small storage shed?

A zoning permit, yes. The building code exempts sheds up to 120 square feet, but you still file the application with a site plan.

Do farm buildings need county permits?

County zoning does not apply to farm houses, barns and outbuildings primarily adapted for agricultural use while so used, except in floodplains (Iowa Code 335.2), and a public comment at the March 2025 readings objected to farms being exempted from building permits under the new code; Ordinance 25-02 is not posted, so ask the department what it exempts.

Who inspects electrical work in rural Bremer County?

The county’s own electrical inspector, on a county electrical permit.

What does a building permit cost?

It follows valuation: $1,388.92 for a $300,000 house, for example, with no plan review fee on one- and two-family homes.

Do I need a septic inspection to sell a rural home?

Yes, under the time-of-transfer law, unless the transfer is exempt; repairs must be permitted by the county before closing.

Simplify Bremer County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Iowa. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Bremer County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.