Bills › 91st General Assembly
Concerning county and city regulation of real property and the powers granted to a board of adjustment
Sponsored by the Senate Commerce (companion To Hf 652 By Committee on Local Government) Committee
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 13, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 25, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 28, 2025
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 15, 202547–0
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 13, 202589–6
- Done: To the GovernorApril 24, 2025
- Done: Signed into lawApril 25, 2025
HF 652 became law → The same legislation passed as HF 652, so this version was set aside. Go to HF 652 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Local governments and their boards of adjustment can grant property owners exceptions to certain zoning rules. Instead of needing to prove extreme hardship, owners can now show that following the rules would cause practical difficulties for their specific property. To get this exception, the owner must prove the problem is unique to their land and won't change the feel of the neighborhood.1
Read the official explanation
Counties and cities are granted the power to regulate the character and use of real property under their respective jurisdictions by ordinance, motion, resolution, or amendment. A board of adjustment is appointed by a county board of supervisors or a city council to hear appeals from property owners aggrieved by regulations and restrictions placed on their property. The board of adjustment may grant a variance from the terms of an ordinance not contrary to the public interest, where owing to special conditions a literal enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance will result in unnecessary hardship, and so that the spirit of the ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done. This bill allows a board of adjustment to grant a variance from the terms of the ordinance with respect to the area, dimensional, or other numerical limitations not contrary to the public interest, where owing to special conditions a literal enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance will result in practical difficulties to the property owner in making a beneficial use of the property allowed by the zoning ordinance, and so that the spirit of the ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done. The bill lists examples of restrictions that may include area, dimensional, and other numerical limitations. The property owner must prove that the practical difficulties faced are unique to the property at issue and not self-created and will not significantly alter the essential character of the surrounding neighborhood.
Why it matters. Cities and counties can regulate how land is used, and property owners can appeal these rules to a board of adjustment. Under this change, property owners could ask for a variance if specific conditions make following certain numerical or dimensional rules create practical difficulties for using their land. To get this relief, owners must show the difficulty is unique to their property, was not self-created, and will not significantly change the character of the neighborhood.2
Senate subcommittee
Named February 25, 2025 (as SSB 1185). On March 4, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
1 for · 0 against · 18 undecided · Who →
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