FAQ's

1. What are the numbers for the Jackson County: Assessor, Auditor, Fairgrounds, Sanitarian, Treasurer, Recorder?
2. Where do I get my driver's license renewed?
3. Where do I pay for my car's license plates?
4. Where do I register to vote?
5. What does the City's Grass & Weed Ordinance require and who do we contact with complaints?
6. What is a "nuisance?"
7. Is open burning allowed within City limits?
8. Are pet licenses required?
9. When do I need to construct a sidewalk?
10. Who can use the brush site on Birch Drive?
11. Do you have to be licensed to trim or remove trees in City limits?
12. When are key lock boxes required?

1.) What are the numbers for the various offices under Jackson County?

2.) Where can I get a driver's license issued or renewed?
The Iowa Dept of Transportation has a driver's license office at the Jackson County Courthouse that can be reached at 563-652-2617.

3.) Where do I pay for my car's license plates?
This would be at the Treasurer's Department at the Jackson County Courthouse at 563-652-5649

4.) Where do I register to vote?
You can register to vote with the County Auditor's Office at the Jackson County Courthouse or call 563-652-3144.

5.) What does the City's Grass & Weed Ordinance require?
This is only a portion of our ordinance. For a complete ordinance, please refer to our download center in the left hand menu. 6-20-2 MAINTENANCE OF BOULEVARD AND PRIVATE PROPERTY All property owners shall maintain their property and the abutting boulevard according to the following standards:

1. In districts zoned R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, or B-2, all grasses, weeds, vines and brush shall be cut or destroyed when said growth exceeds six inches (6") in height.
2. In areas zoned other than R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1 or B-2, all grasses, weeds, vines and brush shall be cut or destroyed when said growth exceeds ten inches (10") in height.
3. Keep the abutting boulevard free of holes, excavations, protrusions, or other obstacles which could cause injury to the public.

1. If the property owner fails to maintain the property as required under this chapter after notice is given as provided in this chapter, the inspector shall order the work to be done by City employees or by a Contractor.
2. The total cost and expense of the work done, including any administrative fees, shall be paid by the property owner. Failure to pay shall result in the cost being assessed against the property for collection in the same manner as a property tax.

6.) What is a "nuisance" as characterized by City Ordinance?

This is only a portion of our ordinance. For a complete ordinance, please refer to our download center in the left hand menu.

A "nuisance" is defined and treated by City Ordinance as follows:

3-2-1 DEFINITIONS. For use in this Ordinance, the following terms are defined:

1. The term "nuisance" shall mean whatever is injurious to health, indecent, or offensive to the senses or an obstacle to the free use of property so as essentially to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property. The following are declared to be nuisances:
1. The erecting, continuing or using any building or other place for the exercise of any trade, employment or manufacture, which by occasioning noxious exhalations, offensive smells, or other annoyances, becomes injurious and dangerous to the health, comfort of property or individuals or the public.
2. The causing or suffering any offal, filth, or noisome substance to be collected or to remain in any place to the prejudice of others.
3. The obstructing or impeding without legal authority the passage of any navigable river, harbor, or collection of water.
4. The corrupting or rendering unwholesome or impure the water of any river, stream, or pond, or unlawfully diverting the same from its natural course or state; to the injury or prejudice of others.
5. The obstructing or encumbering by fences, buildings or otherwise the public roads, private ways, streets, alleys, commons, landing places or burying grounds.
6. Houses of ill fame, kept for the purpose of prostitution and lewdness, gambling houses, or houses resorted to for the use of opium or hashish or houses where drunkenness, quarreling, fighting or breaches of the peace are carried on or permitted to the disturbance of others.
7. Billboards, signboards, and advertising signs, whether erected and constructed on public or private property, which so obstruct and impair the view of any portion or part of a public street, avenue, highway, boulevard or alley or of a railroad or street railway track as to render dangerous the use thereof.
8. Cotton-bearing cottonwood trees and all other cotton bearing poplar trees in cities.
9. The depositing or storing of flammable junk, such as old rags, rope, cordage, rubber, bones and paper by dealers in such articles within the fire limits of any city, unless it be in a building of fireproof construction.
10. The emission of dense smoke, noxious fumes or fly ash.
11. Dense growth of all weeds, vines, brush or other vegetation in the city so as to constitute a health, safety or fire hazard.
12. Trees on private property infected with Dutch elm disease.
13. Effluent from a septic tank or drainfield or ponding of polluted water over an overloaded or non-operating drainfield.
14. The obstruction of a gutter or drainage ditch or pipe.
15. The maintaining of any accumulations of rubbish and animal manure.

3-2- 4 NOTICE TO ABATE NUISANCE OR CONDITION. Whenever the Mayor or other authorized municipal officer finds that a nuisance or other condition listed in Section 3 exists, he/she shall cause to be served upon the property owner as shown by the records of the County Auditor a written notice to abate the nuisance within a reasonable time after notice.

3-2-5 CONTENTS OF NOTICE TO ABATE. The notice to abate shall contain:

1. A description of what constitutes the nuisance or other condition;
2. The location of the nuisance or condition;
3. A statement of the act or acts necessary to abate the nuisance or condition;
4. A "reasonable time" within which to complete the abatement;
5. A statement that if the nuisance or condition is not abated as directed and no request for hearing is made within the time prescribed, the City will abate it, and assess the costs against such person.

7.) Is open burning allowed within City limits?
Residents are allowed to have recreational fires which are classified as: Open fires for cooking, heating, recreation and ceremonies; provided, however, that no person shall allow, cause or permit the emission of visible air contaminants into the atmosphere from any such fire equal to or in excess of 40 percent opacity. For a complete copy of the ordinance, please refer to our download center in the left hand menu.

8.) Are pet licenses required?
Every owner of a dog or cat over six (6) months old shall procure a license from the City of Maquoketa on or before the 1st day of November each year, or within thirty (30) days of the animal being brought into the City, or when the animal has reached six (6) months of age. For a complete copy of the ordinance, please refer to our download center in the left hand menu.

9.) When do I need to construct a sidewalk?
Ordinance No. 111 was passed on August 17, 2000 that required anyone who was constructing a new building to install a sidewalk. For a complete copy of the ordinance, please refer to our download center in the left hand menu.

10.) Who can use the brush site on Birch Drive and are there any restrictions?
Residents within the City may use the Birch Drive brush site to drop off yard waste, grass clippings and tree branches as long as the branches are no greater than 6" in diameter. Anyone who provides lawn care services for a fee is allowed to use the brush site to dispose of grass clippings and chipped material only. Anyone who provides tree care services for a fee is restricted from using the site, except to dispose of grass clippings.

11.) Do you have to be licensed to trim or remove trees in City limits?
Yes, our ordinance states: It shall be unlawful for any person of firm to engage in the business or occupation of pruning, treating, or removing trees within the city without first applying for and procuring a license. For a complete copy of the ordinance, please refer to our download center in the left hand menu.

12.) When are key lock boxes required?
On March 19, 2007, the Maquoketa City Council adopted an ordinance to require the use of key lock boxes. The ordinance requires all commercial buildings and all apartment buildings with common areas that are locked to the general public and constructed after the date the ordinance was approved to install a key lock box. Existing buildings which are converted to commercial use or converted to an apartment building with common areas that are locked to the general public after the date the ordinance is approved will also be required to install a key lock box. Owners of existing commercial buildings or apartment buildings may participate in the system, but are not required to do so. If a property owner chooses to participate in the system, the key lock box and installation must meet all requirements of the ordinance. Knox also makes boxes designed specifically for residential use. These boxes are keyed to the same fire department master key and are installed in the same manner. Any participation by residential properties is strictly voluntary. The cost of installation will be at the building owner's expense. Order forms may be picked up at City Hall. For a complete copy of the ordinance, please refer to our download center in the left hand menu.