114 N. Vine St., PO Box 269
West Union, Ia 52175-0269
Phone: 563-422-3767 Fax: 563-422-9201
Catherine Bruess, Administrator
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
While office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, staff is not
always available due to site evaluations and inspections. If you leave a message, we will
return your call as soon as possible.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPARTMENT
The County, through the adoption of a comprehensive development plan and
enforcement of the county’s zoning, building code, subdivision and floodplain
development ordinances, is able to regulate land uses in the unincorporated areas of the
county.
Planning and Development is responsible for the current and future land uses in all
unincorporated areas of Fayette County.
Planning & Zoning Commission
The Fayette County Planning and Zoning Commission is made up of nine county
residents appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve five year terms, with the majority
residing in the unincorporated areas of the county. Also known as the Zoning
Commission, the Planning and Zoning Commission was created in 1972 by the Board of
Supervisors to act as their advisory group on all planning and zoning matters including
the adoption, implementation and update of the development plan, zoning ordinance, and
subdivision ordinance. This includes zoning and re-zoning land, subdivision planning and
site plan reviews in unincorporated Fayette County.
Board of Adjustment
The Fayette County Zoning Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial board made up of five
citizens appointed by the County Board of Supervisors to serve five year terms, with the
majority residing in the unincorporated areas of the county. The Board hears and makes
the final decision on any questions between an applicant and the zoning administrator as
to the proper interpretation of the zoning ordinance. The Board may authorize variances
in the application of the ordinance where there are unusual circumstances that would
otherwise produce unnecessary hardship to a particular parcel of land if literally
enforced. They also decide on applications for variances and special use permits as
specifically provided in the zoning ordinance.
Farm/Ag Exemption
The Fayette County Zoning Ordinance definition of farmer and farming describes how an
ag-exemption is determined. First, an individual must demonstrate that he or she is
actively involved in a day to day farming operation and derives income from a farming
operation or is retired from farming. Second, the buildings and land must also be
primarily adapted and used for agricultural purposes. A request must meet both
requirements before being considered ag-exempt. The ag-exemption does not allow a
farmer to construct non-ag buildings or use his/her land for non-ag purposes unless they
comply with the zoning regulations. It also requires compliance for building(s) or land
used for ag purposes if the owner does not meet the definition of farmer.
In order to be considered ag-exempt a farmer must apply for and be granted an ag-
exemption certificate. Farmers are not exempt from floodplain development or subdivision
regulations.
Farm: A tract of land owned or rented by a farmer, primarily adapted for agricultural
purposes, forty (40) acres or greater in size and assessed as agricultural property by the
Fayette County Assessor. Tracts of land owned or rented by a farmer, less than forty
(40) acres in size, assessed as agricultural property by the Fayette County Assessor and
claimed as ag-exempt from Zoning regulations as being primarily adapted for agricultural
purposes shall be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator and/or
Board of Adjustment shall make a determination on whether the level of existing or
proposed agricultural activity on the property can be considered "primarily adapted for
agricultural purposes" and therefore exempt from Zoning regulations.
Farmer: A person or persons actively engaged in farming and deriving taxable income
from such activity-or someone who is retired from farming when it relates to the land the
farmer formerly farmed
Catherine Bruess, Administrator
563-422-3767
Email: cmbruess@co.fayette.ia.us
