The Hiawatha Community Development Department strives to provide excellent customer service to the community.  The main objectives of the Department include ensuring that construction activity on residential and commercial projects comply with adopted building codes, rental properties comply with safety and maintenance requirements found in the Housing Code and that residential and commercial properties within the City comply with adopted zoning ordinances. 

Services offered by this office include the following: plan review (building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical plans), acceptance and issuance of building permits, onsite inspections of residential and commercial construction, rental property inspections, zoning and violation investigations and zoning classification inquiries.

Most generally inspectors are out of the office conducting inspections between the hours of 9:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. The best time to contact an inspector in the office is 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  If you would like to speak with an inspector or schedule and inspection please contact our office at 319-294-2929. 

It is the responsibility of the permit holder or general contractor to call for inspections and to provide access for City inspectors.  Some inspections can be called in to the Community Development Department with at least an hour notice and performed on a same day basis.  All Rough-In Framing Inspections, Temp Occupancy Inspections and Final Occupancy Inspections including re-inspects will require 24 hour notice as they take longer to complete. 

Refer to the Community Development FAQ page for additional questions.