Six towns, six offices: who to call about a permit
Cross a city line and the office changes. This table is a starting map.
Numbers and addresses below came from city pages, Linn County government guides and public directories, read 2 November 2026. Where those sources disagreed we say so. Calling first is always the safe move, since offices change hours and processes.
| City | Office | Phone | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | Building Services, City Services Center, 500 15th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids 52404 | (319) 286-5831 | Issues construction permits (Linn County government resources guide). Open Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm per a directory entry verified 17 February 2026. |
| Marion | Community Development, City Hall, 1225 6th Avenue, Suite 210 | (319) 743-6320 | Permits are handled by email or in person. The building official's line is (319) 743-6330. Sewer connection and erosion control permits go through Public Works. |
| Hiawatha | Community Development, City Hall, 101 Emmons Street | (319) 393-1515, option 2 | Separate building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits. Applications are made in person and the city says to bring two sets of drawings with a site plan. |
| Robins | City Hall, 265 South Second Street | (319) 393-0588 | Listed as the building and zoning contact. Office hours vary by day, so call first. |
| Fairfax | City Hall, 300 80th Street Court | (319) 846-2204 | No separate building department was found. Ask city hall who reviews structural work. |
| Palo | Town hall | (319) 851-2731 | Sources disagree on the street address, so call to confirm where to go. |
How to ask
Describe the work in plain words, such as installing wall braces in a basement or underpinning a footing, and ask three things: is a permit required, what drawings or engineer letter do you want, and how long does review take. Write down the name of the person you spoke to and the date.
Who applies
Some cities let a homeowner apply for work on their own house and some want the contractor to. Whoever applies, make sure the permit is in the property's name, and ask for the inspection schedule so nothing gets buried before it is checked. A brace system, a wall rebuild and a new footing may each be inspected at a different stage.
The state side
Separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are handled differently in Iowa and generally go to state licensed trades. Iowa also asks many construction contractors to register with the state. Ask any company for its registration number and look it up on the Iowa state lookup before you sign.
More on the work itself: wall cracks and wet basements and floors.
Sources, read 2 November 2026
- Linn County government resources guide (Building Services listing) and NE211 directory, verified 17 February 2026.
- City of Marion Community Development and building permit information pages.
- City of Hiawatha permits and inspections page and contact page.
- NE211 directory listings for Robins, Fairfax and Palo city offices; Iowa League of Cities pages.