HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 things you should know-housing code changeApril 27, 2016
Ten Things You Need To Know About The Recent Housing Code Changes
1. All exterior painted surfaces shall be painted in a uniform, color consistent, and
complete fashion.
2. All exterior surfaces, regardless of material composition, shall be maintained in a good,
safe, and sanitary condition.
3. Fences, screening, and retaining walls shall be maintained in a safe, structurally sound
manner. All wood or painted surfaces shall be painted and or stained in a uniform, color
consistent manner.
4. In Historic and Conservation districts bare treated lumber is a prohibited finish for wood
surfaces visible from the street. (It’s also a prohibited finish for multi-family dwellings
under the zoning code.)
5. In Historic and Conservation districts porches and decks less that 5’ above grade, visible
from the right of way, shall have under porch and deck screening as approved by the
City.
6. Bathroom & Kitchen outlets need to GFCI protected. If you are installing new outlets
they need to be tamper resistant.
7. In dwellings with fuel burning appliances, or attached garages you need to install carbon
monoxide detectors.
8. Solid waste facilities located at multi-family dwellings shall be screened with
complementary materials as approved by the City. Enforcement will be phased in after
new solid waste and recycling standards are enacted this summer. This will be phased
in over the next 2-4 years.
9. No storage of gardening, landscaping materials in the front yard.
10. No furniture on roofs!
Questions? Stan Laverman
Senior Housing Inspector, City of Iowa City
(319) 356-5135 stan-laverman@iowa-city.org