Board of Adjustment
The Muscatine County Board of Adjustment meets regularly on the first Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors Room, 414 E. 3rd St., Muscatine, Iowa 52761.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial board appointed by the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors. They serve as non-professionals and without compensation.
The Board’s purpose is to interpret the Zoning Ordinance and to allow certain limited exceptions and variances where special conditions or hardships exist. They are an independent volunteer board of citizens and not part of the county administration.
There are five members on the Board. State law requires three affirmative votes to approve any appeal under consideration, no matter how many members are present. (If fewer than five members are present, the appellant has the opportunity to have the appeal delayed until the next meeting. This request must be made prior to Board deliberation of that case.)
As a Board of the County, they welcome all testimony. They make their decisions based on the facts and evidence under county code, presented in open meeting.
Applications
- Farm Exemption
- Mobile Home
- Non-Conforming Use
- Rural Residence
- Seasonal Recreational Cottage
- Special Use Permit
- Dimensional Variance
- Use Variance
Board Powers
In summary, Chapter 335.15 of the Code of Iowa states that the Board of Adjustment has the following powers:
- To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of this chapter
- To hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of the ordinance
- To authorize upon appeals which are not contrary to the public interest, will not result in unnecessary hardship and that the spirit of the ordinance shall be observed and substantial justice done
Board of Adjustment Rules and ProceduresBoard of Adjustment Ordinance