Bolthole Index

Polk County, Iowa

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Ankeny, Iowa

Ankeny, Iowa runs its own zoning ordinance and requires a city permit for any construction that adds structure to a property12. Building permits and inspections come from the City of Ankeny's Development Services, not Polk County2. Septic is separate: Polk County Environmental Health Services says it has jurisdiction throughout the county except Des Moines3, and a city sewer within 200 feet generally must be used4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the City of Ankeny for any construction that adds structure2
Zoning
City of Ankeny's own zoning ordinance and zoning map1
Building code
2024 International Building Code with Ankeny amendments5
Sewer
Connection required when a public sewer is within 200 feet and can be reached by gravity4
Septic
Polk County Environmental Health Services covers the county except Des Moines; Ankeny's own septic rules not confirmed3
Minimum lot (R-1)
10,200 sq ft, or one acre without public sewer and water6
RV or tiny home living
Not confirmed inside city limits; ask Development Services7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Ankeny Building Permits and Inspections

Building permit applications, plan review and inspection scheduling inside Ankeny city limits

515-963-3533

Zoning

City of Ankeny Development Services (planning and zoning)

Platting, site plans and zoning review inside Ankeny city limits

515-963-3550

1210 NW Prairie Ridge Drive, Ankeny, IA 50023

Septic permits

Polk County Environmental Health Services

Septic permits and inspections and Time of Transfer septic inspection reports; the county states it has jurisdiction throughout Polk County except the City of Des Moines

515-286-3705

publicworks@polkcountyiowa.gov

5885 NE 14 Street, Des Moines, IA 50313

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Ankeny, Iowa?

Yes. The City of Ankeny states that a permit is required for any construction that physically changes or adds structure to a property or for work regulated by city codes or ordinances2. No construction is allowed until the permit is issued, and the city estimates about five working days to review a residential application2.

Ankeny has adopted the 2024 International Building Code with its own amendments5. Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work are permitted separately through the city's trades contractor permits page2.

Iowa's owner exemption covers contractor registration for work on your own property, but the state text is not stated to waive building permits or inspections8. We could not confirm an owner-builder rule in Ankeny's code, so ask Development Services before you pull a permit yourself.

Who issues building permits in Ankeny, and how do you reach them?

Inside Ankeny city limits, the City of Ankeny issues building permits and runs inspections; Polk County Building Services covers only unincorporated land29. Call the city's inspection line at 515-963-3533 to schedule an inspection, with 48 hours' notice2.

Zoning, platting and site plans go through City of Ankeny Development Services at 1210 NW Prairie Ridge Drive, Ankeny, IA 50023, phone 515-963-35507. Site planning is required for all multi-family, commercial and industrial projects, and a final inspection and occupancy permit close out construction7.

We could not confirm the city's building permit fee amounts or its temporary-occupancy rules, so request the fee schedule from the permits page.

Does Ankeny have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Ankeny administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside city limits, with district boundaries kept on an official zoning map in the city clerk's office1. Districts include R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3a, R-5 (mobile home park), C-1, C-2, C-2a, C-3, M-1, M-2, M-3, PUD and U-110.

In the R-1 one-family district, the minimum lot is 10,200 square feet, or one acre where public sewer and water are not available6. R-1 requires a 35-foot front yard and a 35-foot rear yard11, and a dwelling may be up to 35 feet tall12.

In R-2, a one-family lot needs 8,500 square feet and a two-family lot 10,500 square feet13; the front yard is 30 feet and the rear yard 35 feet14. We did not confirm minimum floor area or lot coverage limits, so ask Development Services.

How do septic permits and sewer connection work inside Ankeny?

Ankeny requires a house or building used for people to connect to the public sewer when the sewer is within 200 feet of the property line and can carry sewage by gravity, within 60 days of official notice from the city4. Iowa's septic rules likewise bar installing a septic system where public sewer is available15.

For land with no sewer, Polk County Environmental Health Services issues septic permits and inspects systems, and states it has jurisdiction throughout the county except Des Moines3. We could not confirm whether Ankeny's own code adds septic rules, so call the county office and the city before buying an unsewered lot.

Iowa also requires a certified septic inspection before most transfers of a building served by a private system16. Private wells need a county-issued permit under state rules17; whether Ankeny limits wells inside the city is unconfirmed.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Ankeny?

We could not confirm Ankeny's rules for living in an RV, a tiny home or a manufactured home on an ordinary lot, so ask Development Services at 515-963-3550 before you commit7. Ankeny's zoning does include an R-5 mobile home residence district10.

Do not borrow the county's rules: Polk County's limit of 21 days a year for an RV applies only to unincorporated land18.

For accessory dwellings, Iowa law requires cities to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit on a single-family lot, up to 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the house, whichever is larger19. We did not confirm how Ankeny applies that rule, so confirm setbacks and approvals first.

Building a home in Ankeny: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and setbacks with Development Services at 515-963-35507.
  2. If the lot is being divided, ask about platting, which Ankeny regulates through its subdivision chapter20.
  3. Check whether a public sewer is within 200 feet of the property line4.
  4. Submit plans and apply for the building permit; residential review takes about five working days2.
  5. Wait for the permit before starting, since no construction is allowed until it is issued2.
  6. Book inspections on 515-963-3533 with 48 hours' notice2.
  7. Finish with the final inspection and occupancy permit7.

What should you check before buying land in Ankeny?

Start with sewer and zoning. A lot with no public sewer and water in R-1 must be at least one acre6, and unsewered land falls to Polk County Environmental Health Services for septic3.

Flood rules matter too: Ankeny's code has flood hazard provisions we could not review, so ask Development Services whether a lot is mapped. Driveway rules are also unconfirmed.

Costs are county-level. Polk County's effective property tax rate is 1.8% and the median bill is $4,364 a year2122. The typical home value is $283,81923. For land outside the city, see the Polk County page.

Watch-outs

  • Polk County's rules for unincorporated land, including its 21-day RV limit, do not apply inside Ankeny18.
  • The county septic office says it covers the county except Des Moines, but we could not confirm whether Ankeny's code adds its own septic rules, so ask both offices3.
  • Building permit fees, flood hazard rules, driveway rules and temporary occupancy rules inside Ankeny were not confirmed; ask Development Services at 515-963-35507.

Sources

  1. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 192 Zoning Ordinance District Regulations (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Ankeny Building Permits and Inspections (ankenyiowa.gov)
  3. Polk County Environmental Health Services (polkcountyiowa.gov)
  4. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Section 95.05 Sewer Connection Required (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  5. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 175 Building Code (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  6. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 192 Sections 192.03 (R-1) and 192.04 (R-2) (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  7. City of Ankeny Development Services (planning and zoning) (ankenyiowa.gov)
  8. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 91C — Construction Contractors (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building Services - Polk County Iowa, quoted and re-checked
  10. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 192 Zoning Ordinance District Regulations (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  11. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 192 Sections 192.03 (R-1) and 192.04 (R-2) (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  12. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 192 Sections 192.03 (R-1) and 192.04 (R-2) (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  13. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 192 Sections 192.03 (R-1) and 192.04 (R-2) (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  14. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 192 Sections 192.03 (R-1) and 192.04 (R-2) (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  15. Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 69, quoted and re-checked
  16. Iowa Code §455B.172, Jurisdiction of department and local boards (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Private Well Construction Permits (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Polk County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  19. legis.iowa.gov (Iowa statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Ankeny Code of Ordinances, Chapter 175 Building Code (American Legal Publishing) (Ankeny), quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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.

Answers from the rulebook for Ankeny

Ankeny’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Ankeny city limits

    • Adopts the International Building Code 2024 edition with Ankeny amendments in Sections 175.03 through 175.61.
    • Sec. 175.08 adopts the state-adopted energy code (as administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing) as the Ankeny Energy Code.
    • Sec. 175.04: where local code conflicts with state or federal requirements, the more stringent applies.
    “the international building code 2024 edition, published by the international code council, inc., is hereby adopted except for such portions as may be hereinafter deleted, modified or amended.”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Work requiring a permit under the Ankeny Energy Code (Sec. 175.08) inside Ankeny city limits

    • The third-party inspection requirement is stated only for energy-code work, not for all building work.
    • The building official may accept reports of approved inspection agencies that meet qualification and reliability requirements.
    • General building inspection requirements under the adopted IBC were not reviewed.
    “construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to 3 rd party inspections. the building official is authorized to accept reports of approved inspection agencies, provided such agencies satisfy the requirements as to qualifications and reliability.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Ankeny city limits; the city administers its own zoning ordinance (Code Chapters 190-197).

    • District boundaries are set by the official zoning map kept in the office of the city clerk; changes require an ordinance (Sec. 192.01(2)-(3)).
    “192.01 district establishment and zoning map. 192.02 site plan requirements. 192.03 r-1 one-family residence district. 192.04 r-2 one-family and two-family residence district.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Ankeny city limits

    • Districts include R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3a, R-5 (mobile home park), C-1, C-2, C-2a, C-3, M-1, M-2, M-3, PUD and U-1 per Sec. 192.01(1).
    • Official zoning map is kept in the city clerk's office and controls boundaries.
    “192.07 r-5 mobile home residence district. 192.08 c-1 neighborhood retail commercial district.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-2 one-family and two-family residence district inside Ankeny city limits

    • Subject to the height limitations in Sec. 191.11 and the modifications in Sec. 196.03.
    • Lot area differs for one-family and two-family dwellings.

    minimum lot area, one-family dwelling: >= 8500 square feet · minimum lot area, two-family dwelling: >= 10500 square feet

    “a. lot area: one-family dwelling – 8,500 square feet; two-family dwelling – 10,500 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 one-family residence district inside Ankeny city limits

    • Subject to the height limitations in Sec. 191.11 and the modifications in Sec. 196.03.
    • Churches and schools have a 35-foot side yard on each side (not applied to residential use).

    front yard: >= 35 feet · side yard, one story, total: >= 18 feet (minimum 8 feet on one side) · side yard, more than one story, total: >= 20 feet (minimum 10 feet on one side) · rear yard: >= 35 feet

    “c. front yard: 35 feet; d. side yards: one story: total side yard – 18 feet minimum on one side – 8 feet more than one story: total side yard – 20 feet minimum on one side – 10 feet churches and schools – 35 feet on each side. e. rear yard: 35 feet;”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-2 one-family and two-family residence district inside Ankeny city limits
      “c. front yards: residential – 30 feet. churches and schools – 35 feet. d. side yards: one story: total side yard – 15 feet minimum on one side – 7 feet minimum for the attached dwelling open side yard – 7.0 feet more than one story: total side yard – 17 feet minimum on one side – 8 feet minimum for the attached dwelling open side yard – 8.0 feet churches and schools – 35 feet on each side. e. rear yard: 35 feet.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 one-family residence district inside Ankeny city limits; principal building used as a dwelling

    • Subject to the height limitations in Sec. 191.11 and the modifications in Sec. 196.03.
    • Other limits in the same subsection: accessory building other than garage 12 feet; garage 14 feet; principal non-dwelling building 45 feet; maximum 3 stories.

    maximum height, principal building if dwelling: <= 35 feet

    “f. maximum height: principal building, if dwelling – 35 feet principal building, if other than dwelling – 45 feet garage – 14 feet accessory building, other than garage – 12 feet; g. maximum number of stories: principal building – 3 stories”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Houses and buildings used for human occupancy inside Ankeny city limits that abut a street, alley or right-of-way with a public sanitary or combined sewer

    • Connection is required only if the public sewer is within 200 feet of the property line and can convey sewage by gravity.
    • Compliance is due within 60 days after official notice from the city; billing begins on the notice date.
    • Required toilet facilities and a building sewer must connect directly with the public sewer at the owner's expense.
    • Water-service mandate was not verified in the reviewed text; R-1 lot-area rule only refers to public sewer and water availability.

    public sewer distance from property line: <= 200 feet (must also be able to convey sewage by gravity) · compliance period after official notice: 60 days

    “such compliance to be completed within sixty (60) days after date of official notice from the city to do so provided that said public sewer is located within two hundred (200) feet of the property line of such owner and is of such design as to receive and convey by gravity such sewage as may be conveyed to it.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions inside Ankeny city limits

    • Subdivision regulations are Code Chapter 200; the text of Chapter 200 was not opened, so plat and approval steps are unverified.
    “chapter 200 subdivision regulations chapter 201 ankeny regional airport zoning”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Ankeny or Polk County directly.

  • Building permit — New residential construction inside Ankeny city limits
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built home inside Ankeny city limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of new homes inside Ankeny city limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area of a single-family dwelling inside Ankeny city limits
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in the R-1 and R-2 districts inside Ankeny city limits
16 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Ankeny publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Polk County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Polk County: county rules, score and offices