Accessory Structures in Iowa City, IA (2026)
2 verified accessory structures rules for Iowa City, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
ADU Rules
Iowa City permits one accessory dwelling unit per single-family lot under Zoning Code section 14-4C-2A. The ADU must share ownership with the principal home, function as a complete, independent unit with its own kitchen, bathroom and separate exterior entrance, and stay at or under 1,000 square feet or 50 percent of the main house's floor area, whichever is larger. Detached carriage house ADUs follow separate rules.
Iowa City Accessory Dwelling Unit Rules
Some RestrictionsIowa City Code § 14-4C-2A
A. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): ADUs are permitted provided the following conditions are met: 1. Applicability: a. The ADU is allowed on the same lot as a single family residence as defined by Iowa Code section 526A.6 in accordance with this section. b. An ADU is not subject to Section 14-4C-3 of this article, except where those standards are more permissive than the provisions of S...
Shed & Carport Rules
A detached shed in Iowa City can sit as close as 5 feet from a side or rear lot line, or 3 feet if it is set back 60 feet from the street pavement, but the combined footprint of all detached accessory buildings on a residential lot cannot exceed 15 percent of the lot area.
Iowa City Shed and Accessory Building Rules
Some RestrictionsIowa City Code § 14-4C-3B2c(1)(A), C1
Along street-side lot lines, accessory buildings must comply with the front, principal building setback requirement. Along side or rear lot lines that are not street-side lot lines, accessory buildings must be set back at least five feet (5') from the side or rear lot line. This five foot (5') setback requirement may be reduced if an accessory building is set back at least sixty feet (60') from...
Looking for Johnson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Iowa City city rules.
Accessory Structures in Johnson County →