City of Ely, Iowa

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Ely Municipal Code of Ordinances

Living and Building in Ely

Information about building permits and utility services provided by the City of Ely.

·        Building Permits

·        Sewer Hookups

·        Utility Bills

·        Education

·        2006 Water Quality Report

·        Area Map

To update information, add or delete to the listings presented, please contact City Hall.

 Building Permits

Building Permits are required for all construction, renovation, additions or improvements to your home, accessory building or business.  To get a building permit approved, you will need to:

 

1.     Collect background information.  If you are building a new building the information should include: lot size, how far the building will be from your property lines, building size and who your general contractor will be.  You will need most of the same information for additions to existing buildings. 

 

You should check the Ely Zoning Ordinance to verify how far from your property lines the building has to be. 

 

You can check the complete Ely Zoning Ordinance, or click below for information for specific Zoning Districts.

 

Zoning Districts

A-1 - Agricultural

R-1 - Single Family Residential

R-1A - Single Family Residential

R-1B - Single Family Residential

R-2 - Multi Family Residential

MH-R - Residential Mobile Home Park/Manufactured Home Park

C-1 - Central Business Commercial

C-2 - Highway Commercial

M-1 - Light Industrial

M-2 - Heavy Industrial

P-1 - Public Use

Supplemental Regulations

 

2.     Get the Building Permit Application Form (available here or pick up this form in the City Clerk's office).  Building Permit Application

3.     Complete the form (Be sure that all applicable fields are filled out).

4.     Bring the form to the City Hall, Fax to 319-848-4103 or email the form to the City Administrator.

5.     Submit payment to Ely City Hall - by mail to P O Box 248, or hand deliver to the City Office at 1570 Rowley St. 

Building Permit Fees are based on the value of the work to be done as follows:

Residential Property

o                 Less than $500 – No charge

o                 $500 to $10,000 - $50.00

o                 Greater than $10,000 - .5% of the Value of the Improvement

Commercial Property

o                 Less than $500 – No charge

o                 $500 to $5,000 - $15.00

o                 $5,000 to $25,000 - $25.00

o                 Greater than $25,000 - $25.00 plus $1.00 per thousand dollars greater than $25,000.

If you do not receive the permit within two weeks, follow up via telephone, email, or in person during regular working hours

 

 Sewer Hookups

The process for acquiring a sewer hook up is as follows:

1.     Collect background information including address and lot dimensions.

2.     Get the Building Permit Form (You can pick up this form in the City Hall).

3.     Complete the form (Be sure that all fields are filled out.)

4.     Bring the form to the City Clerk's office, Fax to 319-848-4103, or email the form to the City Administrator.

5.     Submit payment to the City of Ely, by mail to P O Box 248, or hand deliver to 1570 Rowley St  The sewer hookup fee is $350.00

If you do not receive the permit within two weeks, follow up via telephone, email, or in person during regular working hours

 

 Sewer Problems

Residents experiencing slow drains, sewers, and/or sewer backups are encouraged to call City Hall at 848-4103, or on weekends and after office hours at 848-7603, as soon as possible. A random blockage in the Citys main may be creating the problem. . Public Works will check the main and clean any blockages in the main. Blockages located in the home sewer system are the responsibility of the homeowner. Ely has a scheduled inspection and maintenance program. Please be aware that, according to case law, municipalities cannot be held responsible for any damage resulting from sewer back-ups if they maintain an inspection and maintenance program.

 

 Utility Bills

Please mail your utility bill to the City Hall - 1570 Rowley St., Ely, Iowa  52227 or stop in upstairs to the City office and drop it off personally.  You can also leave your Ely utility payment in our handy dandy drop box, located just outside the Community Building/City Hall at 1570 Rowley Street.  You may also leave your utility payment at the Solon State Bank – Ely at 1540 State Street.

 

Payment should be made no later than the 15th of each month. Late charges ($2 or 1.5% of outstanding balance - whichever is higher) will be assessed for those payments not received by that date. Payments not received after 14 days past due date may result in loss of service.  If water service is discontinued, there is a $20 fee to re-establish connection.

 

Education

Public Schools

Ely is located in the College Community School district.  Students attend any of the 4 elementary school in the Prairie Community School System.  Middle and High School students attend the Prairie Middle School and Prairie High School.  Check the Prairie Community School district link for more information on the excellent public school system that serves the Ely community.

Private Schools

 

Colleges / Universities 

With three private four-year colleges, several universities, technical colleges and an outstanding two-year community college, advance education carries a high profile in our education structure. Four-year private colleges such as Coe, Mount Mercy and Cornell provide outstanding achievements in higher education. Kirkwood College reaches to students of all ages for a variety of two-year degreed programs. Hamilton College offers business environment training in its two-year program, as well as its courses online.

Big Ten academics thrive just 20 miles south of Ely at the University of Iowa, home of the Hawkeyes. The U of Iowa is a major public research university with a long-standing commitment to teaching, research, and service. About 18,000 undergraduates and 9,000 graduate and professional students are enrolled in the University's 10 colleges. The university also has one of the most extensive arts campuses in the country. Performances and exhibition by world-class artists, along with year-round conferences, lectures, and Big Ten athletics, attract more than a million visitors to the University of Iowa each year.

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