Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 354.8 (2026)

Review and approval by governing bodies

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. A proposed subdivision plat lying within the jurisdiction of a governing body shall be submitted to that governing body for review and approval prior to recording. Governing bodies shall apply reasonable standards and conditions in accordance with applicable statutes and ordinances for the review and approval of subdivisions. The governing body, within sixty days of application for final approval of the subdivision plat, shall determine whether the subdivision conforms to its comprehensive plan and shall give consideration to the possible burden on public improvements and to a balance of interests between the proprietor, future purchasers, and the public interest in the subdivision when reviewing the proposed subdivision and when requiring the installation of public improvements in conjunction with approval of a subdivision. The governing body shall not issue final approval of a subdivision plat unless the subdivision plat conforms to sections 354.6, 354.11, and 355.8.

2. If the subdivision plat and all matters related to final approval of the subdivision plat conform to the standards and conditions established by the governing body, and conform to this chapter and chapter 355, the governing body, by resolution, shall approve the plat and certify the resolution which shall be recorded with the plat. The recorder shall refuse to accept a subdivision plat presented for recording without a resolution from each applicable governing body approving the subdivision plat or waiving the right to review.

3. As used in this section, the term “subdivision improvements” means any fixture, structure, or other improvement to land required to be constructed or installed by the proprietor as a condition of the governing body’s approval of a subdivision plat.

4. a. For a city with a population equal to or greater than fifty thousand, if the proprietor or the contractor for the construction of subdivision improvements has provided the name and facsimile number or electronic mail address of the contractor, the city shall notify the contractor, either by facsimile or electronic mail, not less than forty-eight hours in advance of the date on which the city will consider the acceptance of subdivision improvements constructed by the contractor.

b. For a city with a population equal to or greater than twenty-five thousand but less\n\nTue Dec 09 22:14:20 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 354 (30, 0) 7 PLATTING — DIVISION AND SUBDIVISION OF LAND, §354.10\n\nthan fifty thousand, a proprietor or the contractor for the construction of subdivision improvements may request that the city notify the contractor, either by facsimile or electronic mail, not less than forty-eight hours in advance of the date on which the city will consider the acceptance of subdivision improvements constructed by the contractor. Upon the receipt of such a request to notify the contractor, the city shall provide such notice.

c. A city’s failure to provide notice pursuant to paragraph “a” or “b” shall not impose any responsibility on the city for the payment of any amounts owed by a proprietor to a contractor.

5. A city may establish jurisdiction to review subdivisions or plats of survey outside its boundaries pursuant to the provisions of section 354.9. In the case of a city, the provisions of this section apply to the review by the city of both subdivision plats and plats of survey. 90 Acts, ch 1236, §22 C91, §409A.8 C93, §354.8 2002 Acts, ch 1132, §1, 2, 11; 2011 Acts, ch 64, §1 Referred to in §354.11 \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases, 2001–2018 · leading case: City of Cedar Rapids v. James Props., Inc., 701 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa 2005).

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City of Cedar Rapids v. James Props., Inc., 701 N.W.2d 673 (Iowa 2005). · cites it 18× “” Iowa Code § 354.8 (emphasis added). Section 354.”

Home Builders Ass'n of Greater Des Moines v. City of West Des Moines, 644 N.W.2d 339 (Iowa 2002). · cites it 8× “See Iowa Code § 354.8 (allowing city to “requir[e] the installation of public improvements in conjunction with approval of a subdivision”); see also Blumenthal Inv.”

Blumenthal Inv. Trusts v. City of West Des Moines, 636 N.W.2d 255 (Iowa 2001). · cites it 2× “” Iowa Code § 354.8 . We conclude there was a reasonable fit between the City’s purpose in imposing the condition and the condition itself.”

Carruthers v. Bd. of Supervisors, Polk Cnty., 646 N.W.2d 867 (Iowa Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 15× “Iowa Code § 354.8 (1999) (emphasis added).”

Sharon K. Nelson G. Jean Connelly John P. Rusinack & Beverly A. Rusinack, Husband & Wife & Lois Johnson v. City of Hampton, Iowa, 802 N.W.2d 224 (Iowa 2011). · cites it 2× “” Iowa Code § 354.8 . Otherwise, the city is granted the authority to approve plats for recordation by considering “the possible burden on public improvements and .”

Nicholas S. Bussanmas, L.L.C. v. City Council of the City of Des Moines, 922 N.W.2d 106 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 7× “In accordance with Iowa Code Section 354.8, the City Council is charged with considering the burden on public improvements and balancing interests between the appellant, future purchasers, and the public interest in reviewing proposed subdivision plats, and that Council finds…”

— Iowa Code § 354.8(1) — 1 case

Nicholas S. Bussanmas, L.L.C. v. City Council of the City of Des Moines, 922 N.W.2d 106 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). “In accordance with Iowa Code Section 354.8, the City Council is charged with considering the burden on public improvements and balancing interests between the appellant, future purchasers, and the public interest in reviewing proposed subdivision plats, and that Council finds…”

— Iowa Code § 354.8(2) — 1 case

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