The City’s Building Services Department has completed assessments of buildings following the March 31, 2023, storm. Buildings posted with a red “Unsafe” placard have been inspected and found to be seriously damaged and are unsafe to be occupied. Only qualified construction professionals and contractors are allowed to enter for the purposes of assessment, repair and construction. Buildings posted with a yellow “Restricted Use” placard are damaged to the extent where the building is not habitable, but owners and tenants may enter the building to get important items at their own risk.

Emergency repair work can begin without a permit; however, building permits are required for repair and replacement of exterior and interior building components and systems. These permits and inspections are important to ensure buildings meeting best construction practices and building codes. These inspections are also important to obtain building occupancy and are often a requirement of insurance and financial companies with an interest in the property. Any general contractor doing work in Coralville is required to obtain a permit and be licensed and registered with the State of Iowa. Inquiries on the status of contractor registration and licensing can be directed to the Iowa Division of Labor at (515) 242-5871. All City of Coralville storm related permits and inspections will be free of charge, expedited, and prioritized by the City.

The City of Coralville uses the State of Iowa Electrical Licensing and Inspection Program for permits and inspections of all electrical work done in Coralville. All electrical work must be permitted and inspected by the State of Iowa. Gas and/or electrical service disruptions need to be coordinated with the appropriate utility. The utility will coordinate with the City to release the utility back into service. Once buildings pass permit inspections, placards will be removed and buildings can once again be occupied.