Adair County, IA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)

This page covers work in the right-of-way of Adair County's secondary road system in the unincorporated area. It does not cover sidewalk or street-opening permits issued by a city such as Greenfield or Stuart. The governing document is the Adair County Utility Permit Application, Form 1 (12/11/23), which applies to telecommunications, electric, gas, water and sewer utilities. The County Engineer decides compliance in his sole discretion, and a requirement can be waived only in writing, for unique local conditions, before installation. Any waiver is attached to the permit.

Permit and notice: paragraph 8 states that no applicant shall install any lines without a Utility Permit from Adair County. The applicant files a location plan showing the proposed line and describing the installation. At least two working days before installation, the applicant files a notice with the County Engineer stating the time, date, location and nature of the work. Emergency work can start without a permit, but the Engineer must be notified by telephone or email as soon as possible and a permit must be requested within five days.

Work standards: construction signing follows the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Minimum cover is 48 inches for electrical cables, 30 inches for communication cables, 36 inches for all other underground facilities, 60 inches beneath the flowline of all culverts and 10 feet below the streambed at bridges. Road crossings are bored, at a minimum depth of 48 inches. Residents keep uninterrupted all-weather access, and disturbed ground is repaired and restored, including seeding and erosion control.

Costs and liability: the utility pays actual inspection costs, not to exceed $1,000, unless it posts a surety bond or other proof of financial responsibility. It must also provide a certificate of insurance naming the county as additional insured, with minimum limits of $1,000,000. It relocates lines at its own expense when the county widens or regrades the road.

Other right-of-way permits: the Engineer's office separately issues a Permit to Work in Right-of-Way for signs, which requires approval from both the Board of Supervisors and the Engineer. For other work in the right-of-way, the Permit to Work form has the applicant flag the work area and give 48 hours notice to ONE CALL (1-800-292-8989). Tile crossings carry a $250.00 application fee and need upstream and downstream landowner signatures.