Bills › 91st General Assembly
Concerning county and city regulation of real property and the powers granted to a board of adjustment
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 13, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 25, 2025
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 28, 2025
- Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 569
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Became SF 569 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 569 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Local governments use boards of adjustment to help property owners who face problems following certain land-use rules. This bill changes the rules so these boards can grant exceptions if following a law creates a practical difficulty for a property owner. 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. _____ essential character of the surrounding neighborhood.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 25, 2025. 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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