Bolthole Index

Davis County, Iowa

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Davis County, Iowa

74Index Score / 100
#4 of 99 in Iowa

Unincorporated Davis County, Iowa does not appear to require a county building permit for a home, barn or shed, and the county has no zoning ordinance we could find for unincorporated land; incorporated towns set their own rules12. Septic permits are separate and apply county-wide: they come from ADLM Environmental Public Health, not from any town34. A new or changed entrance within county right-of-way needs a county road permit, and building near a stream can need a state floodplain permit56.

At a glance

Building permit
Not required in unincorporated Davis County1
Zoning
No county zoning office or ordinance found; towns zone themselves2
Septic permits
ADLM Environmental Public Health (Appanoose-Davis-Lucas-Monroe district)3
Owner-builder exemption
Exempt from IA contractor registration on your own property, not from permits7
Manufactured homes
Allowed if placed on a permanent foundation, same standards as a site-built home8
Agricultural exemption
Qualifying agricultural land and buildings are outside county zoning while used for agriculture9
Floodplain permit
Required for most construction along Iowa's streams and rivers6
Driveway/entrance permit
County permit required for a new or changed entrance in county right-of-way5

Who to call

Septic permits

ADLM Environmental Public Health

Septic (onsite wastewater) system permits, inspections and forms for Davis County

(641) 724-3511

12307 Highway 5, Moravia, IA 52571

Roads & driveways

Davis County Highway Department (County Engineer)

County road maintenance and permits for driveway/entrance, right-of-way and utility use on Davis County roads

641-664-2542

engineer@daviscountyiowa.org

21585 Lilac Ave, Bloomfield, IA 52537

Roads & driveways

Davis County Engineer's Office - Access Control Policy

Sets Davis County's rules and permit for new driveway/entrance access points onto county roads

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Davis County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Davis County, Iowa?

Unincorporated Davis County, Iowa does not require a county building permit for a house, garage, barn or shed1. The full Iowa State Building Code applies locally only when a governmental subdivision accepts it by ordinance, but factory-built-structure rules apply statewide and energy standards apply to Iowa construction with heated or cooled enclosed space10. State inspectors handle state-owned or state-financed projects and work where the local jurisdiction has adopted the state code; the available sources do not establish that those inspection conditions apply to an ordinary private Davis County home11. A local government may issue a certificate of occupancy when an ordinance requires one, but Iowa law does not require one for every home statewide12. A private rural home still needs any applicable septic, floodplain and county-road entrance approvals3613.

Who handles building and zoning questions in Davis County?

Davis County has no building, codes, or planning-and-zoning department listed on its official website12. The Davis County Board of Supervisors adopts county ordinances, including the county's subdivision ordinance14. ADLM Environmental Public Health handles septic permits15, while the Davis County Highway Department (County Engineer) handles driveway, entrance and right-of-way permits on county roads13. Work in county-controlled road right-of-way requires a form, a meeting with the Engineer or representative, county site review and advance notice before work starts16. Iowa DNR screens state floodplain applications through its PERMT tool6. We could not confirm whether Davis County has accepted the state building code, performs inspections or requires occupancy certificates for ordinary private homes; ask the Board of Supervisors whether a current ordinance affects your parcel before building.

Does Davis County have zoning?

Davis County's official website lists no zoning or planning office, and no adopted countywide zoning ordinance for unincorporated Davis County is confirmed; only a subdivision ordinance governing how land is divided is confirmed214. If county zoning applies, land, farmhouses, barns, outbuildings and other structures primarily adapted for agriculture fall outside county zoning while used for agriculture; the county cannot require an application, approval or fee for that exemption9. County zoning may still cover agricultural construction or excavation in a river or stream floodplain9. Setbacks, lot coverage, building height, minimum lot size and minimum dwelling size remain unconfirmed, so ask the Board of Supervisors about the parcel. Incorporated towns set their own rules; the City of Bloomfield, for example, publishes its own zoning regulations, which do not apply to unincorporated land217. Where county zoning applies, a manufactured home cannot be rejected solely because it is manufactured, but must meet the same permanent-foundation, setback and minimum-size standards as a site-built home on that lot8.

Who issues septic permits in Davis County, and what does the process involve?

Septic permits in Davis County go through ADLM Environmental Public Health, which serves Appanoose, Davis, Lucas and Monroe Counties, and a town address does not change that3415. Anyone who wants a permit to install or repair a private sewage disposal system in Davis County files an application with ADLM18. A lateral absorption system application must include a Soil Scientist Report, the permit is valid for at most 12 months, and ADLM must hear at least one work day before completion so it can schedule the final inspection18. The installation permit fee for a bonded contractor is $300, and the inspection fee is $15019. Local health authorities have primary responsibility for private systems serving four homes or fewer or fewer than 15 people, while Iowa DNR has primary responsibility for larger public systems20. A private system cannot be installed, repaired or rehabilitated where public sewer is available or local law requires connection, and the administrative authority makes the final availability decision21. Only 0.3% of Davis County soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so arrange a site evaluation before fixing the house location or price22. Iowa also requires a certified inspection before most transfers of property served by a private system23. A new private well needs its own construction permit before drilling, issued by the county health department for small private wells, with a $125 application fee unless the county is authorized to issue the permit2425.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Davis County?

We could not find an official Davis County or Iowa rule that specifically addresses living in an RV or a tiny home on rural land here; this is an open question the county's official site does not answer. What is confirmed is narrower: Davis County has no zoning office or ordinance covering unincorporated land that we could locate, so there is no known zoning district that would set RV or tiny-home occupancy rules outside a town2. Manufactured homes are a separate, better-defined category under Iowa law: a manufactured home cannot be turned down solely for being manufactured, but it must sit on a permanent foundation and meet the same setback and minimum-square-footage standards as a site-built home on the same lot8. Iowa also now requires a county to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit, up to 1,000 square feet or half the size of the main home, on a lot with a single-family residence, which may be a path to a small second home if you already have a house there26. Call the Board of Supervisors before moving an RV, tiny home or mobile home onto vacant Davis County land, and call ADLM before you hook up wastewater, since septic is confirmed and regulated even where RV or tiny-home occupancy itself is not15.

Building a home in Davis County: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Davis County, not inside a town, because municipal rules differ2.
  2. Ask ADLM whether public sewer is available; if not, start the septic permit and site evaluation before fixing the house location152122.
  3. If the site is near a stream or river, use Iowa DNR's PERMT screening tool before building6.
  4. Apply to the Davis County Engineer for a new or changed entrance within county right-of-way; the application asks applicants to allow 15 days for processing5.
  5. Coordinate any other county right-of-way work with the Engineer before starting; the county reviews the site and requires advance notice of the intended start16.
  6. If public utility lines must be installed or realigned in county right-of-way, the utility needs an approved accommodation permit, a location plan and advance notice to the Engineer27.
  7. Ask the Board of Supervisors whether Davis County has accepted the state building code or adopted another current building or zoning ordinance; working on your own property exempts you from contractor registration, not from other approvals728.

What to check before you buy land in Davis County

The nearest city of 100,000 or more is about 84 miles from the county's center, and Davis County has roughly 18.3 people per square mile2930. About 21.6% of the county is wooded and 85.3% of its land has a slope of 15% or less, but parcel-level terrain still determines a workable house, driveway and septic layout3132. Only 0.3% of county soils are free of severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so make the septic evaluation a purchase contingency22. Check flood risk with Iowa DNR for land near a stream6. Confirm that legal access exists and that the proposed entrance can meet the County Engineer's site-review criteria5. Typical property taxes run about 1.5% of value, with a median annual bill near $2,217, while a typical home insurance premium is about $1,619 a year333435.

Watch-outs

  • Davis County does not list a building, codes or zoning office, but we could not confirm an ordinance expressly stating that ordinary residential permits and zoning are absent; ask the Board of Supervisors before you buy21.
  • Iowa's owner-builder exemption only excuses you from contractor registration for work on your own property; it does not waive any permit, inspection, zoning, septic or electrical requirement that otherwise applies7.
  • We could not confirm an official Davis County rule on RV living, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setbacks or short-term rentals; ask the Board of Supervisors about your specific parcel before you plan around any of these2.

Sources

  1. Davis County IA - County Offices (2026 county census)
  2. Davis County IA - County Offices (2026 county census)
  3. Private Sewage Disposal and Septage (2026 county census)
  4. Securing a Permit, quoted and re-checked
  5. 28E Agreement Regarding Maintenance of Farm to Market Extensions within the City’s Corporate Limits, quoted and re-checked
  6. Development Permits, quoted and re-checked
  7. Iowa Code §91C.1 — Definition — exemption, quoted and re-checked
  8. Iowa Code §335.30, Manufactured and modular homes (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 335 — County Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  10. Iowa Code Chapter 103A — State Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  11. Building Code Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  12. Iowa Code §103A.19 — Administration and enforcement, quoted and re-checked
  13. Davis County Highway Department (County Engineer) (daviscountyiowa.gov)
  14. Board of Supervisors - Davis County, quoted and re-checked
  15. ADLM Environmental Public Health (adlmenv.com)
  16. Permission to Perform Work on County Right-of-Way, quoted and re-checked
  17. City Ordinances - City of Bloomfield, Iowa, quoted and re-checked
  18. Ordinance No. 25: Establishes rules relating to private sewage disposal system and enforcement thereof, quoted and re-checked
  19. Securing a Permit, quoted and re-checked
  20. Private Sewage Disposal and Septage, quoted and re-checked
  21. Iowa Administrative Code chapter 69, rule 567—69.1, quoted and re-checked
  22. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Iowa Code §455B.172, Jurisdiction of department and local boards (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Private Well Construction Permits (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 567—49, Nonpublic Water Wells—Permits and Construction, quoted and re-checked
  26. legis.iowa.gov (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Application for Public Utility Accommodation Permit, quoted and re-checked
  28. 2026 Iowa Code, Chapter 103A — State Building Code, quoted and re-checked
  29. Straight-line distance from the county center to the nearest city of 100,000+ people: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  34. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  35. Typical home insurance premium: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 9, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

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Compared with neighboring counties

Unlike 4 of the 5 neighbors with published rules, Davis County has no countywide zoning.

RuleDavis CountyWapello CountyAppanoose CountyVan Buren CountyMonroe CountyJefferson CountyMahaska County
Building permitNot requiredRequiredLimitedNot requiredLimitedNot requiredLimited
County zoningNoYesYesNot publishedYesNoYes
Septic permitsADLM Env. Public HealthCounty Planning & ZoningCounty Env. HealthCounty SanitarianADLM Counties Env. Public Health Dept.County Env. HealthCounty Env. Services

County locator

Davis County in Iowa

74
County map
Davis County highlighted among the Iowa counties · colored by Index score

How Davis County scores

Seclusion74100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency64100% ev.
Admin Boringness86100% ev.
Durability42100% ev.
Property Autonomy51100% ev.
Carry Cost69100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$238kTypical home
1.5%Property tax
$5,154Land / acre
38.1"Annual rain
12.8% of yrsSevere drought
8.5 / yr (+7.2)Mid-century 100°F days
16.6 daysMid-century dry spell
1.96" (+8.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.85×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,619Home insurance / yr
2.4% / yrInsurance growth
1.95%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
8,166People within 30 min
502,012People within 2 hr
12,495Radius comparison (15 mi)
18.3People / sq mi
0%Federal land
85.3%Land at 15% slope or less
0.3%Soils rated "not limited" for septic (strict USDA rating)
901 acWorkable land screen
21.6%Wooded land
40.6 tonsBiomass / forest ac
51°FAvg temp

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Cities and towns in Davis County

Inside a city or town, that city usually issues building permits and sets zoning; the county’s rules above cover unincorporated land. Septic, wells and floodplain rules usually stay with the county or state everywhere.

Bloomfield · Drakesville · Floris · Pulaski

Answers from the rulebook for Davis County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Davis County rules

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Private sewage disposal systems in Davis County.

    • Local boards of health have primary responsibility for systems serving 4 homes or fewer or fewer than 15 people.
    • The Iowa DNR has primary responsibility for larger public systems.
    • Counties must comply with Iowa DNR minimum standards.
    • If a county fails to adopt or enforce state standards for smaller systems, the Iowa DNR has concurrent authority to require compliance.
    • The Iowa Administrative Code defines the administrative authority as the department or the local county board of health.

    systems served: 4 homes or fewer or less than 15 people

    “local boards of health have primary responsibility for regulation of private sewage disposal systems [...] while the Iowa DNR has primary responsibility for larger (public) systems.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Local (with conditions) — Administration of private sewage-disposal permits and inspections for Davis County by the ADLM Counties Environmental Public Health Agency serving Appanoose, Davis, Lucas, and Monroe Counties.
      “must file with the ADLM Counties Environmental Public Health Agency.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation or repair of a private sewage disposal system anywhere in Davis County, Iowa.

    • An application must be filed with ADLM and include the landowner’s and contractor’s names, property location, and other information ADLM requires.
    • A lateral absorption system permit application must include a Soil Scientist Report.
    • ADLM must approve the filed application and the required fees must be paid before the permit is issued.
    • The permit is valid for a maximum of twelve (12) months from issuance, during which installation must be completed.
    • ADLM must receive verbal notice at least one work day before completion of work so it can schedule final inspection or testing.
    • Required inspections include a site evaluation, bottom pipe inspection, final inspection, and any other inspection ADLM considers necessary.
    • No part of the system may be used, covered, or constructed so as to deny inspection by an ADLM Environmental Health Officer.
    • Repair permits are evaluated based on the oldest part of the permitted system, alteration of the original system design, Chapter 69 of the Iowa Administrative Code, and the discretion of an Environmental Health Officer.

    permit validity: <= 12 months (from the date of issuance) · advance notice before completion: >= 1 work day (verbal notice to ADLM)

    “Any person, [...] desiring a permit to install or repair a private sewage disposal system within Davis County, Iowa, must file an application with ADLM.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — Private sewage-disposal-system installation, future installation, or demolition in Davis County.
      “[...] desiring a permit for private sewage disposal system, future installation or demolition within Appanoose, Davis, Lucas, and Monroe Counties must file [...]”
    • Required — Installation or alteration of private sewage disposal systems in Davis County under the county-adopted Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 69.
      “69.1(4) Construction permit required. No PSDS shall be installed or altered as described in 69.1(3) “b” unless a construction permit [...] is obtained prior to construction.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land subject to Davis County Ordinance No. 9.

    • The county's official recodification states that Ordinance No. 9 was readopted in its entirety.
    • The accessed official excerpts do not establish the ordinance's incorporated-area limitations, application requirements, exemptions, numeric standards, fees, or effective/adoption date.
    “No. 9 “An Ordinance Relating to the Subdivision of Land” readopted in its entirety.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Any change to an existing entrance or construction of a new entrance within the County’s right-of-way, including the entrance application categories for house, business, agriculture, and relocated entrances.

    • The cited county agreement states that the County entrance/driveway permit policy requires a County permit for changes to existing entrances and construction of new entrances within the County’s right-of-way.
    • The entrance application identifies requests for a new or extended entrance for a house, business, or agriculture, or a relocated entrance.
    • The application asks applicants to allow 15 days for processing; this is an applicant-facing requested allowance, not an exact guaranteed processing time.
    • The application includes review fields for pipe requirements, pipe diameter, length, minimum and maximum slopes, sight-distance compliance, top width, approval or disapproval, site review, and engineer comments.

    application processing allowance requested on form: 15 days (The form says “Please allow 15 Days for Processing of Application”; it does not establish an exact guaranteed processing time.)

    “To comply with the County’s entrance/driveway permit policy by requiring a County permit for any change to an existing entrance or for the construction of a new entrance within the County’s right-of-way;”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Installation, upgrade, or alignment changes to public utility lines in the Davis County right-of-way and Secondary Road System.

    • The rule applies to telecommunications, electric, gas, water, and sewer utilities.
    • A completed location plan must be attached and must describe the proposed installation on the Secondary Road System.
    • The applicant must file notice with the County Engineer at least two business days before proposed installation or construction, stating the time, date, location, and nature of the installation.
    • Emergency work may begin without first obtaining the permit, but the County Engineer must be notified by telephone or fax as soon as possible and a permit must be requested within two days after work begins.
    • The permit requirements may be waived in writing by the County Engineer before installation due to unique local conditions, with the waiver attached to the permit.
    • The applicant must provide proof of insurance or self-insurance before installation, with minimum liability limits of $1,000,000.

    advance notice before proposed installation/construction: >= 2 business days · emergency permit request deadline after work initiation: <= 2 days (Emergency work may begin without first obtaining the permit if the County Engineer is notified as soon as possible.) · minimum liability insurance or self-insurance: >= 1000000 USD

    “No applicant shall install, upgrade or change alignment of any utility lines unless such applicant has obtained an approved Utility Accommodation Permit from the County Engineer.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Work within the right-of-way on any roadway under the control of the Davis County Highway Department.
      “To perform work within the right-of-way on any roadway under the control of the Davis County Highway Department, the person(s) performing the work must fill out the following form, meet with the County Engineer or his designated representative and agree to abide by all requirements of the permit.”
  • County-wide zoningAbsent

    The county lists no zoning or planning department and has not adopted county-wide zoning for unincorporated areas (only subdivision guidance exists); municipalities administer their own zoning.

    Davis County IA - County Offices ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Iowa rules that apply here

  • Building permitLimited

    Buildings and structures in Iowa, including Davis County, when the State Building Code is operative or another stated statutory condition applies

    • The State Building Code applies in a governmental subdivision where the governing body has enacted an ordinance accepting the code.
    • The code also applies to buildings owned by the state or a state agency.
    • The code applies to newly constructed buildings and structures paid for in whole or in part with state-appropriated money but not wholly state-owned.
    • The code applies in cities over 15,000 population that have not adopted a substantially conforming local building code.
    • Factory-built-structure provisions apply throughout Iowa.
    • Thermal-efficiency energy-conservation provisions apply to all construction containing enclosed space that is heated or cooled, subject to appropriate exceptions.
    • When the State Building Code is operative, a local building department may prohibit commencement of construction until a permit is issued after showing compliance.
    “Prohibit the commencement of construction until a permit has been issued by the local building department”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Limited — Construction subject to Iowa's State Building Code, including state-owned buildings, buildings in governmental subdivisions that adopt the code, certain cities over 15,000 population without a substantially conforming local code, factory-built structures, and construction covered by statewide energy-conservation provisions.
      “The examination and approval or disapproval of plans and specifications, the issuance and revocation of building permits, licenses, certificates, and similar documents, the inspection of buildings or structures, and the administration and enforcement of building regulations shall be the responsibility of the governmental subdivisions of the state and shall be administered and enforced in the manner prescribed by local law or ordinance. [...] Prohibit the commencement of construction until a permit has been issued by the local building department after a showing of compliance with the requirements of the applicable provisions of the state building code.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable

    An owner-builder performing work or having work performed on the owner's own property, for purposes of Iowa Code chapter 91C contractor registration.

    • The exemption is limited to the definition of contractor under chapter 91C.
    • It does not state that an owner-builder is exempt from a local building permit, inspection, zoning, septic, electrical, or other construction requirement.
    • A person earning less than $2,000 annually is also excluded from the chapter 91C contractor definition.

    annual earnings threshold: < 2000 USD (The provision also excludes a person who performs work or has work performed on the person's own property.)

    “a person who earns less than two thousand dollars annually or who performs work or has work performed on the person’s own property is not a contractor for purposes of this chapter.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available — A person performing construction work or having work performed on the person's own property, for purposes of Iowa contractor registration under chapter 91C.
      “a person [...] who performs work or has work performed on the person’s own property is not a contractor for purposes of this chapter.”
    • Available (with conditions) — A person performing work or having work performed on the person's own property, for purposes of Iowa Code chapter 91C contractor registration.
      “However, a person who earns less than two thousand dollars annually or who performs work or has work performed on the person’s own property is not a contractor for purposes of this chapter.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    The Iowa State Building Code as it may apply in Davis County and other Iowa governmental subdivisions.

    • The state building code applies in a governmental subdivision only where the governing body has enacted an ordinance accepting its application.
    • A certified copy of the accepting ordinance must be filed with the state building code commissioner.
    • The effective date for a local acceptance is the date fixed by the governmental-subdivision ordinance, and that date must be no more than six months after ordinance adoption.
    • The code applies to buildings and structures owned by the state or a state agency.
    • The code applies to newly constructed buildings and structures paid for in whole or in part with state-appropriated money but not wholly owned by the state.
    • In cities with a population over 15,000 that lack a substantially equivalent local building code, the city must enforce the state building code.
    • Manufacture and installation provisions for factory-built structures apply throughout Iowa; commissioner-approved factory-built structures are deemed compliant with applicable building regulations and exempt from other state or local building regulations, subject to the statutory professional-engineering and architecture exceptions.
    • Thermal-efficiency energy-conservation standards apply to all Iowa construction containing enclosed heated or cooled space, with appropriate exceptions where application would be impractical.
    • Lighting-efficiency standards apply to all Iowa construction and to new and replacement lighting in existing buildings.
    • Energy-conservation requirements adopted by the commissioner and approved by the council apply to all new construction commenced on or after July 1, 2008, and supersede and replace governmental-subdivision minimum energy-conservation requirements adopted before that date.
    • A governmental subdivision may withdraw only by ordinance after at least one year of code applicability, a public hearing under Iowa Code section 362.3, written notice to the commissioner, and transmission of a certified vote within ten days.
    • A withdrawal ordinance must specify an effective time not less than 180 days after adoption; previously permitted construction is unaffected.
    • A governmental subdivision that withdrew may later restore application of the code using the same statutory procedure.

    new-construction energy-conservation applicability date: >= 2008-07-01 date (The statute separately states that thermal and lighting standards have the applicability described in Iowa Code §103A.10.)

    “The state building code shall be applicable: [...] b. In each governmental subdivision where the governing body has enacted an ordinance accepting the application of the code. [...] Provisions of the state building code relating to the manufacture and installation of factory-built structures shall apply throughout the state. [...] Provisions of the state building code establishing thermal efficiency energy conservation standards shall be applicable to all construction in the state which will contain enclosed space that is heated or cooled.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Partial — Construction in Davis County and elsewhere in Iowa that falls within the Iowa State Building Code Act's stated categories
      “The state building code shall be applicable: [...] In each governmental subdivision where the governing body has enacted an ordinance accepting the application of the code.”
    • Adopted (with conditions) — The Iowa state building code and its applicability within Iowa governmental subdivisions, including Davis County.
      “The state building code is applicable in each governmental subdivision of the state in which the governing body has enacted an ordinance accepting the applicability of the code and has filed a certified copy of the ordinance in the office of the commissioner. The state building code becomes effective in the governmental subdivision upon the date fixed by the governmental subdivision ordinance, which must not be more than six months after the date of adoption of the ordinance.”
    • Partial — The Iowa State Building Code, including the 2024 International Building Code adopted by reference with Iowa amendments, applies statewide to state-owned buildings and structures, qualifying state-funded construction, certain cities over 15,000 that lack a substantially equivalent local building code, and governmental subdivisions that accept the code by ordinance. Factory-built-structure provisions apply throughout Iowa.
      “The state building code shall be applicable: [...] In each governmental subdivision where the governing body has enacted an ordinance accepting the application of the code.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    New buildings and additions in Iowa, including Davis County, when one of the statutory/state-program conditions applies

    • State Building Code inspectors perform inspections when construction is for a building owned by the State of Iowa.
    • They perform inspections when construction is financed by a State of Iowa agency.
    • They perform inspections when the local jurisdiction has adopted the State Building Code.
    • They perform inspections for Secure an Advanced Vision for Education program-funded Grades K-12 construction when there is no locally adopted and enforced building code.
    • The Davis County-specific applicability of these conditions was not established by the county sources reviewed.
    “The local jurisdiction has adopted the State Building Code.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — New buildings and structures in Davis County whose construction is paid for in whole or in part with state-appropriated money but which are not wholly state-owned.
      “All newly constructed buildings and structures [...] but which are not wholly owned by the state are subject to the plan review and inspection requirements”
    • Limited — Inspection and enforcement of the Iowa state building code where that code is operative in a governmental subdivision.
      “the inspection of buildings or structures, and the administration and enforcement of building regulations shall be the responsibility of the governmental subdivisions of the state”
    • Limited — Buildings and structures subject to Iowa Code section 103A.10A, including newly constructed state-owned buildings, state-board-of-regents buildings, and certain state-funded buildings.
      “All newly constructed buildings or structures subject to the state building code, including any addition, but excluding any renovation or repair of such a building or structure, owned by the state or an agency of the state, except as provided in subsection 2, shall be subject to a plan review and inspection by the commissioner or an independent building inspector appointed by the commissioner.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Certificates of occupancy or use for buildings subject to Iowa's State Building Code and certificates approving specified buildings, facilities, or installations for licensure.

    • A local building department issues certificates of occupancy or use when required by ordinance.
    • When issued for a building constructed under the state building code, the certificate must certify conformity with the code and is in the form prescribed by the governing body of the governmental subdivision.
    • For facilities governed by Iowa Administrative Code chapter 481.280, if a certificate of occupancy is required for use, it will not be issued until the inspection fee is paid.
    • Chapter 481.280.5 applies to a certificate approving a building, facility, or installation for occupancy upon request from an owner or owner's agency when applicable rules are satisfied and all fees are paid.
    • The state sources do not require a certificate of occupancy for every building statewide.

    additional reinspection fee: 125 USD (Applies for each additional reinspection after the initial reinspection when original deficiencies remain uncorrected.)

    “Issue certificates of occupancy or use, permits, licenses, and other documents in connection with the construction of buildings or structures as may be required by ordinance. (1) A certificate of occupancy or use for a building or structure constructed in accordance with the provisions of the state building code shall certify that the building or structure conforms to the requirements of the code. The certificate shall be in the form the governing body of the governmental subdivision prescribes.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Limited — Buildings and structures in Iowa, including Davis County, constructed in accordance with the State Building Code when a certificate is required by ordinance
      “Issue certificates of occupancy or use, permits, licenses, and other documents in connection with the construction of buildings or structures as may be required by ordinance. (1) A certificate of occupancy or use for a building or structure constructed in accordance with the provisions of the state building code shall certify that the building or structure conforms to the requirements of the code. The certificate shall be in the form the governing body of the governmental subdivision prescribes.”
    • Limited — Certificates of occupancy or use connected with construction governed by the Iowa state building code.
      “Issue certificates of occupancy or use, permits, licenses, and other documents in connection with the construction of buildings or structures as may be required by ordinance.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Minimum dwelling-size standards imposed by county zoning regulations on manufactured homes in Iowa.

    • County zoning under chapter 335 is optional and applies only where the county board of supervisors has adopted it.
    • The local standard must be the same standard applicable to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot.
    • The cited provision does not supply a statewide numeric minimum square-footage value.
    “However, a zoning ordinance or regulation shall require that a manufactured home be located and installed according to the same standards, including but not limited to a permanent foundation system, set-back, and minimum square footage, which would apply to a site-built, single family dwelling on the same lot, and shall require that the home is assessed and taxed as a site-built dwelling.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Minimum-lot-size requirements administered through county zoning districts in Iowa, where county zoning has been adopted.

    • County zoning is optional under §335.1.
    • Local zoning districts may have different regulations.
    • A variance may be available only under the statutory practical-difficulties requirements.
    “Area, dimensional, or other numerical limitations subject to variances include but are not limited to requirements for minimum lot size, setbacks, yard widths, height, bulk, sidewalks, fencing, signage, and off-street parking. To receive the requested area, dimensional, or other numerical variance, the property owner must prove that the practical difficulties faced are unique to the property at issue and not self-created and must also demonstrate that granting the variance will not significantly alter the essential character of the surrounding neighborhood.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Setback requirements administered through Iowa county zoning districts, where adopted.

    • County zoning powers apply only to land and structures outside the corporate limits of any city.
    • Local district regulations may differ by district.
    • Agricultural-use structures and floodplain activities are subject to the exceptions and conditions in §335.2.
    “Subject to section 335.2, the board of supervisors may by ordinance regulate and restrict the height, number of structures, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, or other purposes, and may regulate, restrict, and prohibit the use for residential purposes of tents, trailers, and portable or potentially portable structures. However, such powers shall be exercised only with reference to land and structures located within the county but lying outside of the corporate limits of any city.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lot-coverage limits administered through Iowa county zoning districts, where adopted.

    • County zoning powers apply only outside city corporate limits.
    • The statute authorizes regulation of the percentage of a lot occupied but does not state a statewide percentage.
    • Agricultural-use and floodplain exceptions in §335.2 apply.
    “the percentage of lot that may be occupied”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Placement and residential occupancy of manufactured homes under county zoning statewide in Iowa

    • A county may not disallow the proposed residential structure solely because it is a manufactured home.
    • The home must be located and installed under the same standards applicable to a site-built single-family dwelling on the same lot, including permanent foundation, setback, and minimum square footage standards.
    • The home must be assessed and taxed as a site-built dwelling.
    • A county may not require an incompatible perimeter foundation system and may not require more than one permanent foundation system.
    • Outside a manufactured home community or mobile home park, requirements may ensure visual compatibility of the permanent foundation system with surrounding residential structures.
    • Recorded restrictive covenants are not abrogated.
    • Counties may regulate transportation, water, sewerage, and other land development; the statute also bars width standards greater than twenty-four feet and certain design standards when federal standards are met.

    maximum mandated width standard: <= 24 feet (if the housing otherwise complies with 42 U.S.C. §5403)

    “A county shall not adopt or enforce zoning regulations or other ordinances which disallow the plans and specifications of a proposed residential structure solely because the proposed structure is a manufactured home. However, a zoning ordinance or regulation shall require that a manufactured home be located and installed according to the same standards, including but not limited to a permanent foundation system, set-back, and minimum square footage, which would apply to a site-built, single family dwelling on the same lot, and shall require that the home is assessed and taxed as a site-built dwelling.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    At least one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence in a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, including county-regulated areas of Davis County.

    • The ADU must be in a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use.
    • The ADU must comply with all applicable building regulations under Iowa Code chapter 103A.
    • The ADU may not exceed 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the size of the single family residence, whichever is larger.
    • For the 50-percent calculation, “Size” means the gross living area of the primary dwelling unit excluding garages, decks, and unheated porches.
    • The size calculation of the ADU excludes unfinished basements.
    • The ADU may be prohibited or limited only to the extent that a state historic building code restriction adopted by the county under Iowa Code section 103A.43(3), a deed restriction, or a common-interest-community rule limits or prohibits construction or use.
    • An ordinance, motion, resolution, or amendment regulating ADUs may not be more restrictive when applied to a common interest community than when applied to a single family residence.
    • An ADU proposed within a historic preservation district may be regulated only to the extent the historic preservation commission determines it would be incongruous with the district’s historical, architectural, archaeological, or cultural aspects and records the reasons.
    • If a manufactured home or mobile home is used as the ADU, it must be converted to real property by placement on a permanent foundation and assessed for real estate taxes under Iowa Code section 435.26.
    • A county must approve a qualifying ADU permit application without discretionary review or hearing and within the county’s normal review timeframe for a single family residence; a denial must be provided in writing with any remedy necessary for approval.
    • The 2026 amendment was effective July 1, 2026 and was signed by the Governor on April 9, 2026.

    minimum number of ADUs: >= 1 unit · ADU maximum size alternative threshold: 1000 square feet (or fifty percent of the size of the single family residence, whichever is larger) · ADU maximum size alternative percentage: 50 percent of single family residence size (whichever is larger than 1,000 square feet) · size calculation: gross living area of the primary dwelling unit excluding garages, decks, and unheated porches

    “A county shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions: [...] An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed one thousand square feet or fifty percent of the size of the single family residence, whichever is larger. The size calculation of an accessory dwelling unit shall exclude unfinished basements.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — County regulation of accessory dwelling units statewide in Iowa, within a zoning district where a single-family residence is an allowed principal use
      “A county shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:”
    • Allowed (with conditions) — City regulation of accessory dwelling units statewide in Iowa, within a zoning district where a single-family residence is an allowed principal use
      “A city shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private sewage disposal systems serving buildings with one through four dwelling units, before qualifying ownership transfers statewide.

    • Inspection is required before transfer of ownership, including seller-financed real estate contracts.
    • The county recorder may not record the deed or conveyance document without a certified inspector report, unless weather or temporary physical conditions prevent inspection and the buyer executes a binding acknowledgment.
    • The requirement applies to sale, exchange, real estate contract, or other purchase of real estate and improvements.
    • Exceptions include specified court-ordered, foreclosure-related, fiduciary, family, demolition, recently installed system, partition, tax-sale, low-consideration, and qualifying family-entity transfers.
    • The septic tank must be opened and pumped at inspection, unless evidence shows it was properly pumped within three years before inspection by a licensed commercial septic tank cleaner.
    • A failing system must be renovated; a properly treating system without an unsanitary condition need not meet current construction standards.
    • Only a department-certified inspector may conduct the inspection.
    • An inspection is valid for two years for ownership transfers during that period.

    dwelling units: 1-4 · inspection validity: 2 years (for ownership transfers during that period) · prior septic pumping evidence: <= 3 years (must be by a department-licensed commercial septic tank cleaner) · civil penalty for fraudulent report: 5000 USD (and certification suspension for one year)

    “If a building where a person resides, congregates, or is employed is served by a private sewage disposal system, the sewage disposal system serving the building shall be inspected prior to any transfer of ownership of the building.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction of private water-supply wells statewide in Iowa, including household, livestock, commercial, processing, irrigation, recreational, industrial, monitoring, dewatering, and related wells identified by the Iowa DNR.

    • A private well construction permit is required for all water-supply wells.
    • For private water-supply wells serving fewer than 25 individuals or fewer than 15 water-service connections, permits are issued by local county health departments, except Osceola County, which lacks authority to issue private well construction permits; the Iowa DNR handles permitting there.
    • The applicant must submit an application and county application fee; each county sets its own fee.
    • The county reviews completeness and location relative to contamination sources and issues or denies the permit in writing before construction proceeds.
    • The county and DNR must be allowed to visit the proposed well site before, during, and after construction.
    • Public water-supply wells serving 25 or more individuals or having 15 or more water-service connections require a Public Water Supply Construction Permit issued by Iowa DNR Water Supply Engineering; county private-well programs cannot issue those permits.
    • Private well permits are not required for geotechnical borings without well casing or screens, Geoprobe-style boreholes without temporary or permanent casing, and cathodic-protection wells.
    • Trench dewatering does not require a private well construction permit.
    • Separate water-allocation, NPDES, floodplain, or underground-injection permits may also be required depending on the project.

    public water supply threshold: >= 25 individuals served (A public-water-supply construction permit is also required at 15 or more water-service connections.) · public water supply threshold: >= 15 water-service connections (A public-water-supply construction permit is also required when 25 or more individuals are served.) · geothermal loop depth threshold: >= 20 feet (Closed-loop and open-loop geothermal systems at or beyond this depth require a private well construction permit.)

    “Private Well Construction Permits are required for all water supply wells, and for all geothermal systems - closed-loop and open-loop - that are 20 feet or greater in depth.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Required — New private water supply wells in Davis County, including domestic, livestock, irrigation, recreational-use, heat-pump, industrial, monitoring, geothermal, and dewatering wells covered by Iowa’s private-well rules.
      “shall not construct a new private well without first obtaining a well construction permit”
    • Limited — Geothermal loop boreholes and certain groundwater monitoring, contaminant-monitoring, and piezometer wells in Davis County.
      “when the loop depth is 20 feet or greater in depth; groundwater monitoring, contaminant monitoring or piezometer wells 20 feet or greater in depth”
    • Not required — Temporary test holes or wells in place seven consecutive days or less, soil borings, mineral, rock, gas, and other non-groundwater wells or exploration boreholes, and monitoring wells required as part of a DNR permit or construction approval in Davis County.
      “Private well construction permits are not required for temporary test holes or wells”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Private sewage disposal systems and buildings generating domestic sewage in Davis County under Iowa statewide requirements.

    • No private sewage disposal system may be installed, repaired, or rehabilitated where a publicly owned treatment works is available or where a local ordinance requires connection.
    • A publicly owned treatment works may be considered unavailable when it, or any building or exterior drainage facility connected to it, is more than 200 feet from a proposed building or exterior drainage facility on a lot or premises that abuts and is served by the works.
    • The administrative authority makes the final determination of availability.
    • When a publicly owned treatment works becomes available within 200 feet, a building served by a private sewage disposal system must connect within the time frame and under the conditions set by the administrative authority.
    • When a publicly owned treatment works is unavailable, every building where persons generate domestic sewage must have an approved private sewage disposal system.
    • A holding tank may be used only if all other private sewage disposal system options are impractical.
    • A building connected to an existing private sewage disposal system must use a system meeting the rule requirements.

    POTW distance threshold: <= 200 feet (The rule states a POTW may be considered unavailable when it is more than 200 feet away.)

    “No PSDS shall be installed [...] where a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) is available [...] Final determination of availability shall be made by the administrative authority.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, and other buildings or structures in Davis County that are primarily adapted by reason of nature and area for agricultural purposes, when Iowa Code chapter 335 county zoning applies.

    • The exemption applies to ordinances adopted under Iowa Code chapter 335, except to the extent required to implement section 335.27.
    • The property or structure must be used for agricultural purposes while the exemption is claimed.
    • County zoning ordinances may still apply to structures, buildings, dams, obstructions, deposits, or excavations in or on the floodplains of any river or stream.
    • A county may not require an application, approval, or fee for an ordinance to be deemed inapplicable under this section.
    • Land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, and other buildings or structures may qualify independently or in combination with other agricultural uses.
    • Land enrolled in a soil or water conservation program is considered land primarily adapted for agricultural purposes.
    • Agricultural purpose includes, but is not limited to, agricultural tourism activity or event, value-added agricultural processing, direct-to-consumer marketing, or other on-farm enterprises supporting the farm's economic viability.
    “no ordinance adopted under this chapter applies to land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, or other buildings or structures that are primarily adapted”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Available (with conditions) — Land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, and other buildings or structures primarily adapted for agricultural purposes in Iowa counties subject to county zoning under Iowa Code chapter 335, including Davis County if county zoning is applicable.
      “no ordinance adopted under this chapter applies to land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, or other buildings or structures [...] while so used.”
    • Available (with conditions) — Land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, and other buildings or structures primarily adapted by nature and area for agricultural purposes, while so used, in Davis County and elsewhere in Iowa.
      “no ordinance adopted under this chapter applies to land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, or other buildings or structures that are primarily [...]”
    • Conditional — Land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, and other buildings or structures primarily adapted by reason of nature and area for agricultural purposes, while used for those purposes, under county ordinances adopted pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 335.
      “no ordinance adopted under this chapter applies”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction and other development in flood plains and floodways in Iowa, including Davis County, when the project meets applicable state thresholds.

    • The Iowa DNR states that permits are required for most work on floodplains of streams and rivers throughout Iowa.
    • Regulatory thresholds depend on construction type and location and are outlined in 567 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 71.
    • PERMT screening determines whether a state application is required.
    • Federal, state, and local permits may all be required before construction.
    • PERMT does not submit applications to county or city officials or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; applicants remain responsible for those permits.
    • Exceptions exist for certain projects on very small streams.
    • If a state application is required, the application is submitted through PERMT to Iowa DNR Flood Plains and Sovereign Lands.
    “For construction along most of Iowa’s waterways, you are required to obtain a floodplain development permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Fees imposed and collected by Iowa state agencies, including any state-agency permit fees listed on the Iowa Government Fees Website.

    • The website does not include fees for universities or community colleges, open record requests, or costs for purchase of a product or good.
    • This claim does not establish local county or municipal permit-fee schedules.
    “Fees Imposed & Collected by State Agencies”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Iowa counties may adopt zoning ordinances for land and structures within the county but outside the corporate limits of any city.

    • Chapter 335 applies to any Iowa county at the option of its board of supervisors.
    • The zoning power is subject to Iowa Code section 335.2: ordinances generally do not apply to agricultural land, farm houses, farm barns, farm outbuildings, or other structures primarily adapted for agricultural purposes while so used, except that ordinances may apply to structures, buildings, dams, obstructions, deposits, or excavations in or on river or stream floodplains.
    • A county may not require an application, approval, or fee for an ordinance to be deemed inapplicable to qualifying agricultural land or structures.
    • A county may not regulate, restrict, or prohibit the location of permanent buildings or temporary structures used for consumer-fireworks sales pursuant to section 10A.519 in locations zoned commercial or industrial.
    • The board of supervisors may divide the county into zoning districts, and regulations may differ among districts.
    • Regulations and restrictions require public-hearing and notice procedures under sections 335.6 and 331.305; district boundaries must identify the affected township and section and, if possible, streets or roads.
    • Energy-conservation and solar-access objectives do not require zoning in a county that did not have zoning before July 1, 1981.
    “applicable to any county [...] at the option of the board of supervisors [...] outside of the corporate limits of any city.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Iowa counties may adopt, administer, and enforce county building codes and may administer and enforce the state building code for buildings, including residential construction, in county jurisdiction outside incorporated municipalities, subject to statutory limitations.

    • A county building code may not apply within the incorporated area of a city except at the city's option.
    • A county building code may not apply within a city's two-mile limit under Iowa Code §414.23 to the extent the city has adopted a building code within that two-mile limit.
    • A county building code may not apply to farm houses or other farm buildings primarily adapted for agricultural purposes while so used or under construction for that use.
    • Administration and enforcement are conducted as prescribed by local law or ordinance.
    • The state building code applies in a governmental subdivision only after the governing body adopts an ordinance accepting it and files a certified copy with the commissioner; the ordinance fixes the effective date, which must be no more than six months after adoption.
    • A local building department may prohibit commencement of construction until a permit is issued after showing compliance with applicable state building-code provisions.
    • Thermal-efficiency energy-conservation standards apply to construction containing heated or cooled enclosed space, but the commissioner must provide appropriate exceptions where applying an energy-conservation requirement would be impractical.
    “The power to adopt, administer, and enforce the state building code shall be exercised in accordance with chapter 103A. The power to adopt by ordinance, administer, and enforce a county building code, is subject to the following restrictions: a. A county building code shall not apply within the incorporated area of a city except at the option of the city, and shall not apply within a city’s two-mile limit referred to in section 414.23, to the extent that the city has adopted a building code within the two-mile limit. b. A county building code shall not apply to farm houses or other farm buildings which are primarily adapted for use for agricultural purposes, while so used or under construction for that use.”

Inside cities and towns in Davis County

Municipal rules found while researching the county. They apply inside that city or town, not to unincorporated land.

  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Zoning within the City of Bloomfield, Davis County, Iowa.

    • This claim is limited to the incorporated City of Bloomfield and does not establish zoning rules for unincorporated Davis County or other municipalities.
    • The cited page identifies the city's zoning regulations and planning and zoning commission, but the specific dimensional and use standards were not extracted in this research.
    “City Ordinances for the City of Bloomfield are listed in this page, sorted by chapter. [...] 165 · Zoning Regulations”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts, zoning maps, or district classifications in Davis County.
  • Building height — Building height in unincorporated Davis County.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential RV occupancy on private land in unincorporated Davis County.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Davis County.
  • Tiny homes — Occupancy of tiny homes in unincorporated Davis County.
1 more unanswered
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Living off-grid in Davis County, Iowa

Is Davis County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Davis County scores 74/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and sparse surroundings — about 8,166 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Davis County, Iowa?

Davis County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by ADLM Environmental Public Health (Appanoose-Davis-Lucas-Monroe). Owner-builders may act as their own contractor to build their home. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Davis County, Iowa?

Land in Davis County runs about $5,154 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Davis County?

Davis County gets about 38.1" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 12.8% of years.

How remote is Davis County?

A representative private-land location has about 8,166 people within a 30-minute drive and 502,012 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

How Davis compares in Iowa

Compare side-by-side →See all 99 Iowa counties ranked →