Polk County, IA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Article 14, Division 2, Section 1 of the Polk County Zoning Ordinance governs access to public roads and highways to limit congestion from turning movements. Subsection (A) requires all proposed residential development to take direct access only to local residential streets wherever possible. Subsection (B) allows an individual detached single-family residence built under the single-family development option to connect directly to a minor arterial, minor collector, or major collector street only if no other access option is viable. Subsection (C) caps shared driveways at two residences per access point and requires a new shared driveway to be centered on the joint property line between the parcels wherever possible.

Section 2 extends separate standards to nonresidential uses: they must take primary access from a minor or major street or a frontage road, never directly from a local residential street, and uses with at least 150 feet of frontage on a minor road get one access point while those with less must share access points or easements; uses on major roads must space access points at least 300 feet apart, ideally 660 feet where possible. Division 3 allows a temporary access permit, paid for by the property owner, until a permanent connection becomes feasible.

Article 15's Construction Standard then governs the driveway surface itself: nonresidential development and any use with 49 or more average daily vehicle trips must pave its drives, parking, loading and display areas with curbs or wheel stops, while conventional single-family homes and lower-traffic uses in the AG, AT and OS districts need only a durable, dust-free surface approved by the Zoning Administrator, who can require paving if the traffic count cannot be verified below 49.