Linn County, IA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Electrical code
- 2006 ICCEC + 2023 NEC
- Covers
- Wiring, fixtures, equipment countywide
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Cities
- Cedar Rapids has own code
Summary
Unincorporated Linn County requires electrical work to follow the 2023 National Electrical Code and 2006 ICC Electrical Code, covering wiring, fixtures, and equipment installed, altered, or repaired countywide outside cities.
Except as hereinafter amended, there is hereby adopted as the electrical code of the county that certain electrical code known as the ICC Electrical Code—Administrative Provisions, 2006 edition (ICCEC) as promulgated by the International Code Council including the referenced National Electrical Code, 2023 edition, (NEC) as prepared and edited by the National Fire Protection Association, which codes are hereby specifically incorporated by reference and shall be known as the county electrical code. The provisions of said electrical code shall control the installation, alterations, repairs, removals, renewals, replacements, connection, disconnection and maintenance of all electrical equipment within the unincorporated limits of the county. For the purpose of this chapter, the term "electrical equipment" means all materials, wiring, conductors, fittings, devices, appliances, luminaires, signs and apparatus or parts thereof comprising an electrical system. (Ord. No. 11-11-2025, § 1, 11-12-2025)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
The county adopted the ICC Electrical Code, Administrative Provisions, 2006 edition, together with the referenced 2023 National Electrical Code, as the county electrical code (§ 105-31). These codes control installation, alteration, repair, removal, replacement, connection, disconnection, and maintenance of electrical equipment, wiring, conductors, fittings, devices, appliances, luminaires, signs, and related apparatus, within unincorporated Linn County. Iowa Code § 331.304 exempts incorporated cities from county building regulations (§ 105-18), so Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Linn County's other cities enforce their own separate electrical permitting under their municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Work performed without the required electrical permit falls under the general county-infraction penalty at § 1-28: a civil citation and fine, with each day of continued unpermitted work a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which electrical code does Linn County enforce?
Does the county permit cover Cedar Rapids?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linn County
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