Administrative overview · FIPS 19129
Mills 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
Mills County Building & Zoning Department / Building and Safety Department
For a project in or near Mills 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
712-527-4347; fax 712-527-4439
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Mills County Building & Zoning Department, 403 Railroad Avenue, Glenwood, IA 51534
Operating hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 a.m.-noon; Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-4:30 p.m. The county advises calling and leaving a message if no one is available.
Review expectation
N/A. The Building Official must examine an application within a reasonable time and issue a conforming permit as soon as practicable. An application is abandoned after 180 days unless pursued in good faith or extended in writing, generally in extensions of up to 90 days.
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 Mills County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Mills County Building & Zoning Department / Building and Safety 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 712-527-4347; fax 712-527-4439.
How long might review take?
N/A. The Building Official must examine an application within a reasonable time and issue a conforming permit as soon as practicable. An application is abandoned after 180 days unless pursued in good faith or extended in writing, generally in extensions of up to 90 days.
How are inspections scheduled?
Apply online through the county-linked iWorQ portal or submit the county PDF application with plans, site plan, E-911 address, REScheck, state electrical permit, water/sewer or septic documentation, and flood-elevation information when applicable. For permits issued after July 16, 2021, the Building Official does not conduct inspections; each residential phase must be inspected by licensed/certified agencies, contractors, or individuals and documented by a Contractor Certificate of Compliance. Commercial phases require an approved certified inspection agency, architect, or engineer. A certificate of occupancy requires the applicable inspection reports and documents.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Mills County lists the 2018 International Building Code, 2018 International Residential Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2018 state Uniform Plumbing Code, 2020 state National Electrical Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 International Existing Building Code, 2012 state International Energy Conservation Code, and 2018 International Property Maintenance Code. Chapter 24 incorporates county building, residential, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, fuel-gas, energy, existing-building, historic-building, property-maintenance, demolition, and factory-built-structure codes for unincorporated areas. Chapter 24 exempts one-story detached accessory sheds/playhouses up to 200 square feet; fences; certain oil derricks; retaining walls up to 4 feet; grade-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons with a 2:1 height ratio; qualifying sidewalks, driveways, patios, and decks no more than 30 inches above grade; painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work; temporary stage sets up to 15 days; qualifying above-ground pools; agricultural shade-cloth structures; playground equipment; qualifying wall awnings; movable fixtures; short partitions; and same-size roofing, siding, door, and window replacements. Ordinary nonstructural repairs and emergency repairs have additional limits/reporting rules. Farmhouses and farm buildings primarily adapted for agriculture are outside the county building-code power while used for agriculture; zoning/floodplain rules may still apply.