The Urban Planning office advises the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Commission, the Iowa City Council, and the general public on planning and land development issues. Through its work with developers, residents and other city departments, the division encourages orderly growth, redevelopment where appropriate and preservation of historic properties and environmental resources.

The Urban Planning office can help you find information on zoning and on the comprehensive plan for Iowa City, including the more specific plans for the city's 10 planning districts. You can also get help in applying for subdivision developments, annexations, rezonings, special exceptions, variances and permits for alterations of historic properties.

Special Projects

Zoning Code Changes to Enhance Housing Choice 

The City of Iowa City recently updated aspects of its Zoning Code to improve housing choice, increase housing supply, and encourage affordability. These changes will help the City meet its housing needs as a diverse and growing community. Changes are as follows:

Single-Family and Duplex Housing

• Relaxes requirements in lower density residential zones:
  
  • Reduces lot size, width, and frontage standards for single-family and duplex uses.
  •  Allows duplexes and up to two attached single-family dwellings throughout the block.
  • Allows garages for duplexes and attached single-family dwellings to face the same street when designed in a way that does not dominate the streetscape.
• Allows duplexes and attached single-family dwellings outside of the University Impact Area to have up to five bedrooms (see Map 2B.1 in Zoning Code Section 14-2B-6B). See this map for details.

Multi-Family Housing and Group Living

• Simplifies and expands multi-family housing options:
  • Allows townhome-style multi-family use dwellings in high density single-family zones.
  • Streamlines approval for second story multi-family dwellings in commercial zones.
  • Allows ground floor multi-family dwellings in commercial zones by special exception.
• Expands assisted group living situations like nursing homes to any zone that allows multi-family dwellings.
• Adds flexibility to the multi-family site development standards:
  • Eliminates requirement for a 2-foot base of masonry, stucco, or dressed concrete.
  • No longer requires that front façade materials wrap three feet around building corners.
• Allows multi-family uses outside of the University Impact Area to have up to four bedrooms.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

• Allows ADUs to be built on any property with either a detached or attached single-family or duplex home in any zone that allows residential living.
  
• Maintains requirement that an owner must live on-site.
  
• Increases ADU size to the lesser of 1,000 square feet, or 50% of the main building’s floor area.
  
• Removes requirement for additional off-street parking for an ADU.
  
• Allows a wider variety of ADUs, including ADUs that are free-standing or built as an addition.
  

Reasonable Accommodations

• Creates a new, simplified process for situations where waivers are required to make housing available for a person with disabilities.
• For details, see Reasonable Accommodations at www.icgov.org/permits . 
  

Incentives for Income-Restricted Affordable Housing

• Projects that provide 20% of dwellings as affordable housing to income qualified households for 20 years are now eligible for several incentives, including:
  • An increase in allowable density of 20%;
  • Parking waivers for affordable housing units; and
  • Modifications to setbacks and building height requirements, if required.
• To qualify, affordable housing must meet the requirements of Article 14-4F of the zoning code. 
  

• Amendment to improve housing choice, increase housing supply, and encourage housing affordability (see p. 201)
• Amendment updating standards for Accessory Dwelling Units.

Comprehensive and District Planning

Comprehensive and District Planning

The Urban Planning office engages in comprehensive and district planning which considers all geographical and functional elements that can affect Iowa City’s development, and anticipates issues and identifies strategies that will create a healthy, safe, and vibrant community.

Development Review: Zoning and Subdivision

The Urban Planning office reviews and makes recommendations for the Iowa City Planning and Zoning Commission on applications for rezonings, street vacations, annexations, subdivisions and changes in the Iowa City Zoning Code.

Historic Preservation

Historic Preservation

The Urban Planning office also assists in identifying and preserving historically significant landmarks and districts in Iowa City.

Staff Support to Boards and Commissions

The Urban Planning office provides staff assistance to the following boards and commissions:

• Planning and Zoning Commission
• Board of Adjustment
• Historic Preservation Commission