Scott County Iowa

Can I build a garage on my property?

A garage may be built in a required rear yard, but shall not be nearer than fifteen feet to any rear lot line. The garage shall not occupy any more than 20% of the rear yard created by the line drawn across the rear of the primary building and the side and rear lot.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garage Construction

Do I need a permit?

• Yes, if the garage/accessory building is attached to the house.
• Yes, if the garage/accessory building is larger than 120 square feet.

How do I obtain a permit?

• Provide a plot plan showing where the garage/accessory building is going with dimensions to the property line (be exact as possible).
• In addition to the plot plan, 2 sets of plans with dimensions of lumber / rafters / trusses / headers should also be submitted.

Do I need frost footings?

• Yes, if the garage/accessory building is attached to the house or another building on frost footings OR the garage/accessory building is larger than 720 square feet.
• No, if the garage/accessory building is 720 square feet or less, a frost footing is not required. However, a 12" by 12" perimeter footing is required with two (2) ½" rebar.
• All sod is to be removed from the garage/accessory building floor area.

Can the garage/accessory building have electricity?

• Yes. All electricity in garages/accessory buildings for convenient outlets are required to be GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) protected and all sidewall wiring is to be covered with sheetrock or other approved material.

If you have any questions on garage/accessory building construction in Scott County, feel free to call the Scott County Building Inspector at (563) 326-8643.