Franklin County unincorporated area, IA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Franklin County Zoning Administrator / Zoning and Floodplain administration

Street address

12 1st Ave NW, Hampton, IA 50441

Phone

(641) 456-5622 via Franklin County Auditor/Courthouse contact pages

auditor@co.franklin.ia.us

Coverage

Unincorporated Franklin County

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Franklin County unincorporated area

Scope of work

Permit?

Agricultural use is listed at $0 building permit fee.

Exempt

Other exempt work is not clearly published in the county zoning chapter. Thin data.

Exempt

Exempt Agricultural use is listed at $0 building permit fee.
Exempt Other exempt work is not clearly published in the county zoning chapter. Thin data.

Required documents

Written application on county form, plot plan, floodplain delineation, any other forms required by county staff.

Building code: County code references the Iowa State Building Code for mobile home tie-down standards, but the county zoning chapter does not clearly publish a full adopted building code set. Thin data for a local county building code.
Owner-builder: Not published. Thin data.
Contractor requirements: Not published. Thin data.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Not published in the code; thin data.

01

Confirm the project is within county jurisdiction and not inside a city.
02

Complete the county standard zoning permit form.
03

Submit a plot plan showing lot size, foundation dimensions, setbacks, accessory buildings, and floodplain delineation.
04

Floodplain delineation must be approved by the County Engineer and Soil Conservation Director.
05

If compliant, the Zoning Administrator issues the zoning permit after fee payment.

Typical processing time: Not published in the code; thin data.

Source: Franklin County Zoning Administrator / Zoning and Floodplain administration ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Franklin County unincorporated area building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Zoning permit fee is set by the board-approved fee schedule; current building permit minimum shown in the code is $25.00 for $0 to $7,500 valuation.

Plan check fee

Not published separately. Thin data.

Reinspection fee

Not published separately. Thin data.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Not published. (phone)

Typical sequence: Zoning review first, then any county inspection or floodplain review as applicable. The code confirms zoning permit issuance and county review, but not a public inspection schedule.

Not published.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Franklin County unincorporated area permits

01 How much does a building permit cost in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA? ▸

Building permit fees in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Zoning permit fee is set by the board-approved fee schedule; current building permit minimum shown in the code is $25.00 for $0 to $7,500 valuation.. Plan check fee: Not published separately. Thin data..

02 How do I apply for a building permit in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the project is within county jurisdiction and not inside a city. 2. Complete the county standard zoning permit form. 3. Submit a plot plan showing lot size, foundation dimensions, setbacks, accessory buildings, and floodplain delineation. 4. Floodplain delineation must be approved by the County Engineer and Soil Conservation Director. 5. If compliant, the Zoning Administrator issues the zoning permit after fee payment.

03 How long does it take to get a building permit in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA typically run Not published in the code; thin data.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

04 What work is exempt from building permits in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA. The following work is generally exempt: Agricultural use is listed at $0 building permit fee.; Other exempt work is not clearly published in the county zoning chapter. Thin data.. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Franklin County unincorporated area, IA via: Not published..

last verified April 2026 source Franklin County Zoning Administrator / Zoning and Floodplain administration ↗ entry id permits/iowa/franklin/franklin-county-unincorporated-area

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Franklin County Zoning Administrator / Zoning and Floodplain administration before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Franklin County unincorporated area

Other jurisdictions in Franklin County.