Country Living

Guide to Country Living 

Access

Access to rural areas may be difficult at certain times. Please consider the following:

• Emergency response times may take longer than expected (Sheriff, Fire Department, EMS).

• Be aware of any easements that may be on your property or going to your property. There may be an easement needed if you access your property across property belonging to others.

• Make sure you know what type of road maintenance to expect and who will provide that maintenance. You may be responsible for some of the costs associated with maintaining the road.

• Gravel roads generate a lot of dust. You may contract privately or with the county to have a dust control product applied to the road.

• A school bus may not travel to your exact location. You may need to drive your child to the nearest bus stop.

• During road construction projects along State and County roads, your daily travel may be affected by detours that increase your travel time.

Inclement Weather

• Be sure to have multiple ways to receive severe weather alerts as you may not be able to hear outdoor warning sirens. Consider having at least one NOAA Weather Radio.

• Familiarize yourself with the topography of your property so you can be prepared for any flooding that may occur.

• The county does not repair flood and storm damage on private roads.

• Muscatine County does have snow removal procedures, however in extreme conditions roads may become impassable.

• When clearing snow, it is not permitted to place any snow on a county road or within the right-of-way.

Property Development

• The zoning district of a property defines what can be built on it. For example, a dwelling is not a permitted use for property zoned A-1 Agricultural. View the Zoning Ordinance to find out which uses are permitted and which require a Special Use Permit.

• A building permit is required for most construction projects.

• Even though you are in a rural area, development may still occur around you and impact the view from your property. Per the Muscatine County Comprehensive Plan, development is especially encouraged within a 2-mile radius of any city.

Property Lines & Easements

• You may be provided with a plat of your property, but unless the land has been surveyed and pins have been placed by a licensed surveyor, you cannot assume that any map is accurate.

• Be aware of any easements that are on your property. Easements may require you to allow the construction of roads, drainage ditches, power lines, water lines, sewer lines, etc. on your property. Easements may restrict where buildings can be placed and may allow others to access the property.

Driveways

• Any driveway that connects to a county road requires an entrance permit from the County Highway Department. Before approval, they will review the proposed entrance for safety, site distance and drainage. The cost of construction and maintenance of the driveway is the responsibility of the property owner.

• When planning the location for a house and driveway, be sure to consider if there will be enough space for emergency vehicle access.

• Mailboxes placed in the road right-of-way must meet county regulations by having a breakaway support post. This means that all mailbox supports must be on a 4”x 4” wood post or a steel post with a cross section of less than a 2” square.

• Any alterations to property in the road right-of-way requires a permit from the County Highway Department. This may include construction in a ditch or the placement of a fence near a road.

Subdivisions

• ​​​​​​Be sure to obtain a copy of the covenants or confirm that there are none in place. Many subdivisions have covenants that will limit the use of the property.

• Homeowners Associations (HOA’s) are typically required to take care of common areas, roads, open space, etc. The Bylaws of the HOA will tell you how the organization operates and what dues you must pay.

Utility Services

• • • Many lots have utility easements that allow utility companies to have access to the property to provide maintenance and repairs. These easements may restrict the placement of buildings. You’ll want to check with utilities before digging.

• • • If a city sewer service is not available, a private sewage disposal system must be installed. You can find more information about septic systems on our website.

• • • If city water is not available, a well would be needed. The Muscatine County Development Office permits all wells drilled in the county. The cost of a well may be considerable.
      • The quality of well water can vary by location.
      • Annual testing is recommended to monitor bacteria and nitrate levels.
      • Some subdivisions are served by a shared well or a public well. If your property is served by a shared or public well, be sure to know where the well is located and who is responsible for the maintenance and testing.

• • • Electrical service – It can be expensive to have power extended to rural areas. Consider checking with the utility company about the costs involved.
      • Power outages can occur more frequently in rural areas. A power outage may interrupt your water supply from a well as the pump would not be able to run.

• • • Trash removal and recycling services may be more expensive or may not be available for rural areas. Open dumping and burning trash piles is not an acceptable means of disposal.

Agriculture

• Iowa County Home Rule prohibits the County from enforcing a county building code against farmhouses or other farm buildings which are “primarily adapted for use for agricultural purposes, while so used or under construction for that use” (See ICS 331.304 (2) (b)). An application should be filled out so that the County can make the appropriate determination as to whether the project/improvements are exempt from the county construction code.

• Be aware that agricultural activities nearby may generate noise, light, dust, and odors. This may include:
  • Dust from land preparation and harvesting operations.
  • Smoke from the burning of ditches.
  • Chemical use (mainly fertilizers and herbicides) for growing crops. Some may be applied by airplane.                  

Wildlife and Natural Resources

• Some common wildlife occurrences may include:
  • Deer running across roadways.
  • Raccoons and opossums searching your lawn for grubs, trash, and other sources of food.
  • Beavers building a dam in a slough or stream that may cause flooding.
  • Groundhogs, badgers, moles, and gophers are underground dwellers and can construct extensive tunnels and burrows.
  • There are a variety of insects and snakes that live in these areas.

• During hunting season, gunfire may be frequently heard.