Linn County continues to respond to the August 10 derecho storm that impacted Linn County.
Waiving Permit Fees
The Linn County Board of Supervisors today waived building department permit fees for the unincorporated areas in Linn County and the cities of Alburnett, Bertram, Center Point, Lisbon, and Mount Vernon for the repair and reconstruction of structures damaged during the August 10, 2020 storm. The fees waived include flood plain development permits, building permits (including electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits) and zoning verifications through December 31, 2020. This waiver is retroactive to August 10, 2020. This waiver does not apply to building permit fees (including electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits) for repair work already begun without a permit prior to the August 10, 2020 storm.
All required permits will still be necessary in the repair or reconstruction of buildings and other structures damaged by the August 10 storm. Linn County is simply waiving the fee for the required permits to assist residents impacted by the recent storms.
Use caution when hiring unknown or out-of-state contractors. Be sure to get a quote for work and do not pay up front for repair services. Contact your insurance company for information regarding damage claims. Linn County Planning & Development staff can help property owners verify that contractors are registered, licensed, and/or insured to perform the work. Linn County has a handout with tips to avoid contractor fraud (PDF).
Preliminary Damage Assessments
Linn County Planning & Development staff and Linn County Assessor staff are conducting damage assessments in unincorporated areas in Linn County and the cities of Alburnett, Bertram, Center Point, Lisbon, and Mount Vernon. They will document major and minor damage to structures. Major damage includes structural damage. Minor damage includes exterior such as siding, shingles, and windows. This preliminary data will be shared with the Linn County Emergency Management Agency and the State of Iowa for damage assessment purposes. This assessment does NOT take the place of an insurance claim.
Linn County staff performing the assessments will have proper identification.
Residents with internet access can also complete their own preliminary damage assessment survey using the online form created by the State of Iowa. This form does NOT take the place of an insurance claim. The report serves as another assessment tool to help Linn County and the State identify areas that sustained damage.
Report damage here.
More storm response information is available at LinnCounty.org/Storm.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.