Administrative overview · FIPS 19009
Audubon County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Audubon County Planning & Zoning Department
For a project in or near Audubon County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
Planning & Zoning 712-634-0110; fax 712-563-2000
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Audubon County Attorney's Office, 318 Leroy Street, Suite 11, Audubon, IA 50025
Operating hours
N/A; the planning page lists the courthouse/office location but does not publish department hours
Review expectation
The amended county ordinance says construction/changed-use permits are issued within 10 days after application; permits are valid for 180 days and a new permit is required if construction is not completed within that period.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Audubon County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Audubon County Planning & Zoning Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact Planning & Zoning 712-634-0110; fax 712-563-2000.
How long might review take?
The amended county ordinance says construction/changed-use permits are issued within 10 days after application; permits are valid for 180 days and a new permit is required if construction is not completed within that period.
How are inspections scheduled?
No improvement or construction may begin before permit approval. Submit the application with the required property map/site location and applicant contact information to thenkle@auduboncountyia.gov, by mail, or at the County Attorney's office. The application/ordinance provide for zoning review and approval; contact the Zoning Administrator at 712-634-0110 for any required inspection or final-approval appointment.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Audubon County Zoning Ordinance, amended June 2024, including county zoning districts, setbacks, floodplain-development requirements, tower rules, changed-use/construction permits, and the county comprehensive plan. The county material does not identify a specific 2026 technical building-code edition; applicable Iowa state trade and electrical requirements may also apply. No broad minor/cosmetic exemption list was published. The county requires a permit before construction, moving in, or structural alteration of a building or structure, and requires a change-use permit before a new or altered building is occupied. Continuation of an authorized nonconforming use is allowed under the ordinance; floodplain development requires a separate permit.