Frequently Asked Questions

You need a building permit for all construction that involves the construction, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of any building or structure. All electrical, plumbing and mechanical work needs a separate permit for each trade. The price of the permit is calculated using the cost of the construction. View our Permits, Applications and Procedures.

Work on a project may not legally begin before a permit is obtained and on the work site.

Water heater applications are processed at the counter.

A city ordinance dictates the conditions under which a tree may be planted in the city right-of-way areas. The guidelines are listed on the City Ordinance When Planting a Tree page.

1. We suggest using the ISU Forestry website. It has a variety of resources that are free and downloadable that can assist you. Visit the ISU Forestry Extension Website.
2. Another resource is the Madison County ISU Extension office, asking for a Master Gardener for assistance.

We recommend using such tools located on the websites ISU Forestry; ISU Master Gardener; and DNR.

1. Contact a profession Arborist and ISU Forestry Department professional. The local extension office or the ISU Extension website has contacts listed.
2. View the Planning for Emerald Ash Borer website.

Currently, the option is to dispose of the wood at the county landfill. The Tree Commission is working on additional options, so watch for updates to this document. In addition, connect to the DNR link. There are instructions listed on reporting.

a. View the Iowa DNR, Why Plant Iowa Native Grown Trees?

There are a couple of options and facts to consider before deciding what to do with the infected tree or prevent the infestation. We recommend you check out the following websites to assist you in making a good decision for your situation:

1. ISU Forestry Extension: Planning for Emerald Ash Borer
2. Iowa Department of Agriculture: Certified Pesticide Applicator Database Searches

At this time Winterset does not have a city ordinance to guide the city’s dead tree removal. However, the Tree Commission is working to recommend an ordinance presently. So be sure to check for updates to the Q&A document. ISU Forestry Department and the Arbor Foundation have a sample ordinance to guide the commission.

We suggest you check out the following websites:

1. The ISU Extension Forestry website has numerous resources that can guide your selection of replacement trees
2. Department of Natural Resources Iowa

We suggest you contact John Pletchette at City Hall or attend the monthly Tree Commission Meeting.

1. There are currently no city funds set aside specifically for tree removal at the current time to assist homeowners. City departments work together to trim and remove trees in the right ways as time allows. (Pending question to city council.)
2. View the Iowa DNR: Emerald Ash Borer website.

To report a property or a nuisance violation, please contact the Code Enforcement Officer. 

You have 24 hours to remove all snow and ice from your sidewalk after a snow event.  The entire width of the sidewalk must be cleared.  Also, if there is any re-freeze, that needs to be cleared as well.  

Per Municipal Code, you are allowed to park in your front and side yards, on a parking surface only.   You can park no more than one vehicle, trailer, camper, etc in your rear yard on a non-parking surface.  Municipal Code- Yard Parking

It is prohibited to deposit snow, ice, manure, rubbish, yard waste, mud, gravel, debris, junk or any other substance or material likely to injury any person, animal or vehicle on any street right-of-way, alley or sidewalk of the City.   Debris on sidewalks, streets and alleys

Please call 515-462-4273 or email rflaherty@cwmu.net.  The address or intersection is needed when reporting a pothole.  

We will quickly evaluate the area of damaged pavement and determine how to best address it. We appreciate your input and patience as we address pavement issues throughout Winterset’s street network.    Some of the factors we take into consideration when evaluating and repairing potholes include:  

• Is the pothole creating a safety issue for drivers, cyclists, and/or pedestrians? 

• How severe is the damage to the pavement? 

• Is the pothole deep enough to actually hold patching material? 

• How much traffic is traveling over the damaged pavement? 

• How do we most efficiently address this pothole given other pavement repair work that needs to be done on that street or nearby streets? 

• Can public works crews safely access the area and make the repairs? 

• Given weather conditions, what kind of patching material can we use to repair the pavement?  

• Is it more appropriate to do a temporary or longer-term repair? 

The Winterset Street Department team uses multiple methods and materials to maintain and repair streets including cold patch, hot mix asphalt, mastic, crack sealing, full-depth concrete repair,  and partial depth concrete repair.  The strategy we deploy in each situation depends on the weather conditions, outside temperatures, availability of materials, and the underlying condition of the street around the damaged pavement. 

Please visit Snow Routes to find your address.  

The property owner is responsible for all service pipes up to and including the connection to the main. Typically this includes the pipes from inside the building out to the middle of the street. Responsibility Diagram

The city's sewers are designed to dispose of very specific things. Using your toilet for disposal of many modern products will often result in blockages. The drains that connect your home to the main sewer are only big enough to carry water, toilet paper and human waste - often no wider than four inches. 

This is usually caused by an empty drain trap somewhere in the house that is allowing sewer odor back into the house. You should periodically pour water down every drain trap in the house. Be sure to use enough water to completely fill each trap.

Marketed as flushable, this popular hygiene product has the potential to cause huge problems at the expense of taxpayer dollars. These wipes don't break down the same way toilet paper does, as well as the costly damage they can cause to our wastewater system.  Please do not dispose of them in the waste water system. 

Yes, all residential rental properties/units in Winterset need to be registered and inspected on a regular basis.  

The Administrative Policy defines rent as "Any form of payment, including but not limited to cash, services, or other valuable considerations, provided as a condition of occupying a dwelling not owned by the occupant."

There is a $10 property registration fee that is yearly.  The inspection fees are $50 per building and $15 per unit.  

Properties that are operating as a rental unit but fail to register with the City shall be subject to a municipal infraction as indicated under the Winterset Municipal Code Section 4.1713.  This may also result in an order to vacate the property.

The Administrative Policy defines it as, “Any structure that includes a dwelling unit that is being held out or offered for rent or is currently being let for rent and occupied by a person who is not the owner of the premises. .” Basically, if any portion of a home is being rented out (for cash or other services), then it is a rental property and needs to be registered. 

The City understands that it will take time for all rental properties to register and be inspected.   There are over 400 properties in town that have been deemed as rental properties.  

Yes.  Each property requires a registration form and payment of the registration fee; however, a property with multiple units will only need one registration form. For example, an apartment building with four units would still only need a single registration form. Another example would be a landlord who owns four single-family rental homes, which would all need their own registration form.

Registration fees will be paid to the City of Winterset. The registration fee is $10 per property per year and will accompany a registration form.  This fee is paid yearly.   Note: this is not the same as the inspection fee.

The standard schedule for the inspection of all rental properties shall be once every two (2) years.  As an incentive for compliant owners, defined as properties that pass the first inspection with no noted concerns from the inspector, shall require inspection in three (3) years in lieu of two (2).  If a property fails the initial inspection but passes the first re-inspection, it shall be moved to the standard inspection schedule (once every two (2) years).   Rental properties that require more than two (2) re-inspections before passing will need to be inspected every year until they pass on their first inspection, at which time they will move to the standard inspection schedule. 

Property owners are responsible for scheduling their inspections a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of their current RRC.  If the inspection is not scheduled and the RRC expiration date has passed, the property shall be subject to late fees and penalties.