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Zoning
Contact Information
Madison County
Annex - Lower Level
201 West Court
Winterset, IA 50273
Duties of the County Zoning Department
The department's primary role is to enforce the County's adopted zoning, subdivision and signage codes. These requirements provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare by regulating the design, construction, use and occupancy, location of all buildings and structures.
Services Include
The Madison County Zoning Department serves the growing planning and development needs of the unincorporated areas of Madison County. The Zoning Department is responsible for the Madison County Zoning Ordinance, Madison County Flood Plain Regulations, Madison County 9-1-1 Ordinance and Maps:
The staff provides services and assistance regarding subdivision review, rezoning, building permits, code enforcement, conditional use permits, floodplain management, issuance
of addresses and other matters that come before the Zoning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, and the Madison County Board of Supervisors. By providing these services the Zoning Department is able to provide for and manage growth in Madison County’s unincorporated areas. The department is involved in a variety of activities associated with land development in Madison County.
This process involves meeting with developers, realtors, consultants, and citizens interested in development in the county and guiding them through the preparation and processing
of applications for zoning, platting or subdivision of property, site plans, and permitted conditional use permits.
The department is responsible for the coordination of the review by the various county departments and outside agencies. Department staff serve as the hub for the processing
of development applications, communication of the review comments, and resolution
of issues raised with development applications and the preparation of staff reports for the Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and the Board of Supervisors.
Services Include
The Madison County Zoning Department serves the growing planning and development needs of the unincorporated areas of Madison County. The Zoning Department is responsible for the Madison County Zoning Ordinance, Madison County Flood Plain Regulations, Madison County 9-1-1 Ordinance and Maps:
The staff provides services and assistance regarding subdivision review, rezoning, building permits, code enforcement, conditional use permits, floodplain management, issuance
of addresses and other matters that come before the Zoning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, and the Madison County Board of Supervisors. By providing these services the Zoning Department is able to provide for and manage growth in Madison County’s unincorporated areas. The department is involved in a variety of activities associated with land development in Madison County.
This process involves meeting with developers, realtors, consultants, and citizens interested in development in the county and guiding them through the preparation and processing
of applications for zoning, platting or subdivision of property, site plans, and permitted conditional use permits.
The department is responsible for the coordination of the review by the various county departments and outside agencies. Department staff serve as the hub for the processing
of development applications, communication of the review comments, and resolution
of issues raised with development applications and the preparation of staff reports for the Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and the Board of Supervisors.
Zoning: Section 1 – Purpose
This Ordinance is adopted for the following purposes:
To provide land use planning for the orderly growth of the County, and to enhance the beauty of its natural resources;
To protect the agricultural interests of the property owners of the County;
To increase the economic resources of the County by making the area more attractive
to industry;
To lessen congestion in the street or highway;
To secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers;
To protect health and the general welfare;
To provide adequate light and air; and
To facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewage, schools, parks and other public requirements; all in accordance with a Comprehensive Plan and as permitted by the provisions of Chapter 335 of the 1995 Code of Iowa, as amended.
Zoning Section 6 - Application of district regulation
The regulations set by this Ordinance within each district shall be minimum regulations and shall apply uniformly to each class or kind of structure or land, as hereinafter provided:
1. No building, structure or land shall hereafter be used or occupied and no building or structure or part thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered unless in conformity with all of the regulations herein specified for the district in which it is located except agricultural uses are exempt.
2. No building or other structure shall hereafter be erected or altered:
To exceed the height;
To accommodate or house a greater number of families;
To occupy a greater percentage of lot area; To have narrower or smaller rear yards, front yards, side yards, or other open spaces;
In any other manner contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance.
3. No part of a yard or other open space or off-street parking or loading space required about or in connection with any building for the purpose of complying with this Ordinance shall be included as part of a yard, open space or off-street parking or loading space similarly required for any other building.
4. No yard or lot existing at the time of passage of this Ordinance shall be reduced in dimension or area below the minimum requirements set forth herein.
Yards or lots created after the effective date of this Ordinance shall meet at least the minimum requirements established by this Ordinance, except as set forth herein.
Section 15: Zoning Certificates (click on this link to read Section 15 in its entirety)
Madison County Zoning Commision
Madison County Zoning Commission
The Madison County Zoning Commission is responsible for reviewing preliminary plats, final plats, conditional use permits, zoning changes, zoning ordinance changes/amendments,
comprehensive plan changes/amendments, and other planning and development issues.
The Madison County Board of Supervisors appoints the members of the seven-person commission.
Planning and development issues brought before the Zoning Commission are reviewed and
given a recommendation of approval or denial to the Board of Supervisors.
The Planning and Zoning Commission also reviews Conditional Use Permits and makes
a recommendation to the Board of Adjustment.
The Zoning Commission meetings are scheduled for the 3rd Thursday of each month if there are any requests. Meetings are open to the public and must have a quorum, 4 out of 7 commissioners present, in order to take any official action. Special meetings may be called by request of the commission. All regularly scheduled meetings begin at 7:00 PM.
For further information please contact the
Madison County Zoning Department
Phone: 515-462-2636.
Madison County Board of Health
Madison County Board of Health
The Madison County Board of Health BOH meets the 2nd Thursday of the even months in the lower level of the Madison County Annex located at 201 W. Court..
The meeting is called to order at 7:00 P.M.
County Board of Adjustment
County Board of Adjustment
The Madison County Board of Adjustment is a five-member board whose members are appointed by the Madison County Board of Supervisors.
The Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial body given the authority under the Code of Iowa to make special exceptions to the Madison County Zoning Ordinance.
The Board of Adjustment also reviews and approves or denies conditional use permits, approves or denies variance requests, and hears appeals and petitions of any property owner aggrieved by the decisions of the Zoning Administrator. The meetings, if there are requests, are scheduled for the 1st Tuesday of the month and are held in the lower level of the Madison County Annex at 201 W. Court beginning at 7:00 P.M.
If needed, special meetings may be called by the Chair. For further information please contact the Madison County Zoning Department at