▼

Building Department

Show All Answers

1. Do I need a permit to install a fence?

Yes. All fence installation requires a fence permit. To apply, complete a fence permit application and submit a basic site plan to the Building Department. The fence may be installed after approval of the permit and payment of the permit fee.

Remember to contact Iowa One Call at 1.800.292.8989 at least 48 hours prior to digging so that underground facilities can be marked.

2. How do I make a complaint about my neighbor’s property?

Complaints can be made through the City website, either with your contact information so you can follow the status of the issue online, or submitted anonymously. City staff will review the complaint, inspect the issue, and advise the property owner to make any needed corrections. Make a complaint

3. Does the Building Department take credit cards?

At this time, the Building Department accepts cash or check only for payment of permit fees.

4. Do I need a permit to install or display a sign or temporary banner?

Yes. All signs in the City, including temporary banners, require a sign permit. To apply, complete a sign permit application and submit a rendering or photo of the sign along with a site plan for the location of the sign. After approval, the permit fee is collected and the sign can be installed.

5. Do I need a permit to put a storage shed in my yard?

A permit is required for sheds that are greater than 200 square feet in area. Storage sheds may be located in the rear yard only. Contact the Building Department at 319.248.1720 for more information about the proper shed location on your site. Learn about accessory buildings / sheds

6. Do I need a permit to re-roof or re-shingle my house?

A permit is not necessary to re-side or re-shingle a single family dwelling or duplex as long is no structural damage is to be repaired. All commercial re-roofing and siding require a building permit.

7. How do I apply for a permit to build a deck?

A building permit is required to build a deck. To apply, submit the following to the Building Department:

• Completed Building Permit Application
• Site plan
• Drawing or plan for the deck showing all dimensions, including dimensions for hand railings, stairs, and locations of post holes

The fee for the permit is based upon the project value and is due when the permit is approved.

8. Can I put a “House For Sale” sign on the corner of my street?

No. A sign can only be placed in the property for sale, and not on the corner of the street. All off-premise signs are illegal in the City. Signs shall be placed inside the sidewalk on private property and are not allowed in the public right of way, such as the space between the sidewalk and the street, in the median, or in a roundabout.

9. Can I park a vehicle in my yard?

No. Parking is allowed only on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt on a drive leading to a garage or carport. Parked cars should never obstruct the sidewalk, and parking between the sidewalk and curb is not allowed.

▼

Coralville Public Library

Show All Answers

1. How can I obtain a library card?

Free library cards are available at the Coralville Public Library public service desks. Residents of Coralville and rural Johnson County, as well as residents of the State of Iowa whose home library participates in the Open Access program, are eligible to get a library card. A photo ID and proof of current address are required to get a library card. Acceptable poof of current address includes a copy of a lease, mail sent to the address, check with address, or any official document with patron’s current address. Children under the age of 14 must be registered by a parent or legal guardian to get a library card. For more information please call the library at 319.248.1850.

2. What bus goes to the library?

A Coralville Transit bus stop is located outside the library. The library is on the Coralville Transit 10th Street route, Saturday and Night route, and Lantern Park bus route. Other Transit routes have stops within two blocks of the library. Transit Routes and Schedules

3. How can I change my online catalog pin number?

To change your online catalog pin number, sign in using your current pin using the My Account tab in the online catalog. Go to "Profile," enter your current pin and desired pin, and click "update." The change should be immediate. Library Online Catalog

4. I forgot my online catalog pin number. How can I reset it?

If you forgot the pin number to access your online catalog account, it must be reset in person at the Coralville Public Library. A photo ID is required. For security reasons, pin numbers are not given out over the phone or via email.

5. Where is the library located?

The Coralville Public Library is located at 1401 5th Street, Coralville, which is the corner of 5th Street and 12th Avenue. Free parking is adjacent to the library in the Town Center Parking facility. Get Directions

▼

Police Department

Show All Answers

1. What are your office hours?

The Coralville Police Department office is open Monday - Friday from 7:30 am - 7:00 pm. The office is closed on major holidays.

2. What are the parking regulations in the City of Coralville?

Parking is prohibited on the south side of east / west roads and on the east side of north / south roads. There are a few exceptions. Please refer to Chapter 69.08 of the Coralville Code of Ordinances.

In addition, a police officer is authorized to impound a vehicle if it has accumulated three or more parking citations where payment of such is 30 or more days overdue. In addition to the penalties, the owner or driver of the impounded vehicle shall be responsible for the costs of towing and storage. This is addressed in chapter 70.06 of the Coralville Code of Ordinances.

3. Where can I pay a parking ticket?

You can mail the payment to City Hall at:
City of Coralville
1512 7th St.
Coralville, IA 52241

You may also pay it in person at City Hall at the front desk. If you mail it, be sure to include the envelope provided and/or the citation number.

4. Will the Coralville Police Department unlock my car?

Yes, an officer can attempt to unlock your car if you've been locked out. There is no fee for this service, but you will be required to sign a waiver of liability prior to the officer attempting to unlock your car. In the event that you are locked out of your car, call the Police Department's routine business line at 319.248.1800. Be prepared to tell the dispatcher your name, where you are, and what kind of car you are locked out of.

5. What should I do if my purse or wallet is lost or stolen?

First, report it to the Department in the jurisdiction in which it was lost or stolen. Second, call all of your credit card companies to cancel your credit cards. Call your bank and notify them that your checkbook was lost or stolen if it was. Then call the following companies and put them on fraud alert for your credit card numbers:

• Equifax: 1.800.525.6285


• Experian: 1.888.EXPERIAN (397.3742)


• Trans Union: 1.800.680.7289


• Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline: 1.800.269.0271

It is a good idea to keep the phone numbers to your credit card companies along with your credit card numbers in a secure location in your home. Then, in the event that your cards are lost or stolen, you will have all of the information you need in order to report it to your companies.

6. Where can I get a copy of a criminal history?

For all criminal history inquiries, you will have to contact the Iowa Department of Public Safety at 515.281.4776 or visit their website.

7. Where do I pay a traffic citation?

You can pay in person at the Johnson County Clerk's Office at:
Johnson County Courthouse
417 S. Clinton St.
Iowa City, IA 52244
(Across the street from the main Post Office)

You can also mail it to the Clerk's Office in the envelope you were given with the citation. If you lost the envelope or were not given one, mail a check or money order along with the appropriate copy of the citation to:
Clerk of District Court
Traffic Violation Office
P.O. Box 2510
Iowa City, IA 52244-2510

8. How do I have an officer check on my house while I'm out of town?

Call the Police Department's routine line at 319.248.1800, and ask for a vacation house check. The dispatcher will want to know your address, the dates you will be gone, who will have access to the house, what cars should be in the driveway, if you have an alarm, and who we should contact in case of an emergency.

9. Is the Coralville Police Department currently hiring?

Call the routine business line at 319.248.1800, and ask to speak with a supervisor or check employment opportunities online.

10. How do I get a copy of a police report?

If you want a copy of an accident report, call the routine business line during office hours at 319.248.1800. There is a $5 fee to obtain a copy of an accident report. Criminal reports are not released to the public without a subpoena.

The Police Department is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm.

11. How do I register my bicycle through the police department?

Registering your bicycle through the police department will help law enforcement identify your bicycle and the owner in the event your bicycle is lost, stolen, recovered, or involved in an accident.

Bicycle registrations can be done at the Coralville Police Department anytime during our normal business hours (7:30 am – 7:00 pm). The cost is $.50 per bicycle and you will need to have the following information with you at the time of registration:
- Make & Model
- Serial Number
- Number of Speeds
- Wheel size
- Frame type (single bar, double bar, female)
- Color
- Name, address, and phone number of licensee

▼

Streets Department

Show All Answers

1. In what order are streets plowed?

Public streets are cleared of snow and / or treated for ice in the following priority order (exceptions may be made for emergencies):

1. Arterial streets
2. Transit routes
3. School area streets – a three-block radius around all public schools (if school is in session)
4. Remaining residential streets
5. Cul-de-sacs

Typical Snow Event: During a typical winter weather event after arterial streets, transit routes, and school area streets (if school is in session) are cleared, the City deploys one plow truck to each of six snow removal zones, which allows crews to simultaneously remove snow throughout Coralville. Snow is removed from cul-de-sacs with end-loaders. The City’s six zones are roughly defined by Interstate 80, Coral Ridge Avenue, 12th Avenue, and 1st Avenue.

Severe Snowstorm: During a major winter storm, such as a blizzard, after the snow has stopped falling and the arterial streets, transit routes, and school area streets (if school is in session) have been cleared, Streets Department crews clean residential streets and cul-de-sacs by deploying four plow trucks and two end loaders to one zone at a time. Under this system, all of the operators work together in a zone to improve efficiency, completing a zone prior to moving onto another zone.

After all six zones are cleared, crews begin to push snow back further from curbs and haul snow from intersections as necessary. The zone where crews begin is determined primarily by the time of day when this system is initiated since some factors, such as tree coverage and available light, can be leveraged to maximize efficiency.

2. How soon must I shovel my sidewalk?

City sidewalk regulations require removal of snow and ice from public sidewalks within 24 hours of accumulation. If the City determines that a public sidewalk has not been cleared within 24 hours of accumulation:

• A notice is posted on the door of the property.
• Property owners have 24 hours from the notice of violation to remove snow or ice accumulations from their sidewalks.
• If sidewalks remain uncleared upon re-inspection, the City will clear the snow / ice and assess the removal costs against the property owner. Fees are based upon the amount of time required to clear the walkway.

To report an uncleared sidewalk, call 319.248.1740 and provide the address of the property, or report it online. Report an uncleared sidewalk

3. Why does the plow leave snow at my driveway?

As the plow moves down the street, snow rolls off the edge of the blade, discharging snow into driveways and around mailboxes.