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SF2378 • 2026

A bill for an act relating to the ability of property owners to protest proposed changes in zoning districts. (Formerly SF 2091 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

A bill for an act relating to the ability of property owners to protest proposed changes in zoning districts. (Formerly SF 2091 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Land
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Last action
2026-06-02
Official status
Signed by Governor . S.J. 1031 .
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact process for property owners to protest zoning changes is not detailed in the provided official bill text.

Property Owners Can Protest Zoning Changes

This law requires public hearings for proposed changes in zoning districts and allows property owners to agree to additional conditions before the hearing.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires a public hearing for any proposed change in zoning regulations or district boundaries.
  • Allows property owners to agree to additional conditions before the public hearing if these conditions meet public needs caused by requested changes.
  • Provides that variances granted by the board of adjustment can be reviewed and potentially overturned by the city council under certain circumstances.
  • Repeals an existing section related to zoning approvals for shooting ranges.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Property owners who may protest proposed zoning changes.
  • City councils responsible for holding public hearings and reviewing variances.
  • County or city zoning commissions involved in approving improvements for shooting ranges.

Terms To Know

Zoning
The division of a city into districts with specific regulations about land use, building size, and types of buildings allowed.
Public Hearing
A meeting where people can speak about proposed changes to zoning laws before they are made official.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify the exact process for property owners to protest zoning changes.
  • It is unclear how often public hearings will be held or what happens if a majority of citizens oppose the change.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-02 Iowa Legislature

    Signed by Governor . S.J. 1031 .

  2. 2026-05-11 Iowa Legislature

    Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor. S.J. 1028 .

  3. 2026-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Message from Senate. H.J. 1035 .

  4. 2026-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 916 .

  5. 2026-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 34, nays 12. S.J. 913 .

  6. 2026-04-29 Iowa Legislature

    Senate concurred with S-5176 . S.J. 913 .

  7. 2026-04-09 Iowa Legislature

    Message from House, with amendment S-5176 . S.J. 763 .

  8. 2026-04-08 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. H.J. 863 .

  9. 2026-04-08 Iowa Legislature

    Passed House , yeas 75, nays 18. H.J. 844 .

  10. 2026-04-08 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8296 adopted. H.J. 844 .

  11. 2026-04-08 Iowa Legislature

    Substituted for HF 2636 . H.J. 844 .

  12. 2026-04-06 Iowa Legislature

    Amendment H-8296 filed. H.J. 821 .

  13. 2026-03-19 Iowa Legislature

    Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 691 .

  14. 2026-03-02 Iowa Legislature

    Read first time, passed on file. H.J. 483 .

  15. 2026-03-02 Iowa Legislature

    Message from Senate. H.J. 464 .

  16. 2026-03-02 Iowa Legislature

    Immediate message. S.J. 435 .

  17. 2026-03-02 Iowa Legislature

    Passed Senate , yeas 35, nays 9. S.J. 434 .

  18. 2026-02-18 Iowa Legislature

    Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 320 .

  19. 2026-02-18 Iowa Legislature

    Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 313 .

Official Summary Text

A bill for an act relating to the ability of property owners to protest proposed changes in zoning districts. (Formerly SF 2091 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Kim Reynolds
governor
Office of the Governor Chris Cournoyer
LT GOVERNOR
June 02, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 2378, an Act relating to the ability of property owners to protest proposed
changes in zoning districts.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sinceijly.
Governor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
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Senate File 2378
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE ABILITY OF PROPERTY OWNERS TO PROTEST PROPOSED
CHANGES IN ZONING DISTRICTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Section 414.4, Code 2026, is amended to read as
follows :
414.4 Zoning regulations, district boundaries, amendments.
1 . The council of the city shall provide for the manner in
which the regulations and restrictions and the boundaries of
the districts shall be determined, established, and enforced,
and from time to time amended, supplemented, er- changed^
modified, or repealed . However, the regulation, restriction,
or boundary shall not become effective until after a public
Senate File 2378, p. 2
hearing at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an
opportunity to be heard. The notice of the time and place of
the hearing shall be published as provided in section 362.3.
2. Notwithstanding section 414.2, as part of an ordinance
changing land from one zoning district to another zoning
district or an ordinance approving a site development plan, a
council may impose conditions on a property owner that are in
addition to existing regulations if the additional conditions
have been agreed to in writing by the property owner before the
public hearing required under this section or adjournment of
the hearing. The conditions must be reasonable and imposed to
satisfy public needs that are directly caused by the requested
change .
Sec. 2. Section 414.7, subsection 2, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
2. The council may provide for review of variances granted
by the board of adjustment by the council before the effective
date of the variances. Any individual affected by the variance
may appeal the decision of the board of adjustment to the
city council within sixty days and the effective date of the
variance shall be stayed until after the council has reviewed
the appeal . The council may remand a decision to grant a
variance to the board of adjustment for further study. The
effective date of the variance is delayed for thirty days from
the date of the remand. The city council may also overturn
the decision of the board of adjustment by a vote of at least
two-thirds of all members of the council, regardless of whether
an appeal has been brought.
Sec. 3. Section 657.9, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended
to read as follows:
1. Before a person improves property acquired to establish,
use, and maintain a shooting range by the erection of
buildings, breastworks, ramparts, or other works or before a
person substantially changes the existing use of a shooting
range, the person shall obtain approval of the county zoning
commission or the city zoning commission, whichever is
appropriate. The appropriate commission shall comply with
section 335.8 or 414.6. In the event a county ee — c-i-ty does
not have a zoning commission, the county board of supervisors
Senate File 2378, p. 3
Of— the e-ity council shall comply with section 335.6 e r — 414.5
before granting the approval.
Sec. 4. REPEAL. Section 414.5, Code 2026, is repealed.
AMY SINCLAIR PAT GRASSLEY
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2378, Ninety-first General Assembly.
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Sécréta
Approved 2026
KIM
Governo