The City Planning and Zoning staff develops plans for the future development of the community and administers development regulations, which ensure that the use and development of land meet community standards.
Ottumwa offers a tax abatement on qualifying home improvements city-wide.
Want to build a new business or expand an existing business in Ottumwa? Please contact us for incentives and assistance programs.
Brownfield sites exist in a town’s industrial section, on locations with abandoned factories or commercial buildings, or other previously polluting operations. Often contaminated or potentially contaminated brownfield sites sit unused for decades because the cost of cleaning them to safe standards is more than the land would be worth after redevelopment. Our goal is to identify sites and work toward clean up in order restore them to practical uses.
Ottumwa’s Historic Preservation Commission’s works to highlight our community’s unique heritage through the identification of historic properties potentially eligible for listing on the National Register and assisting property owners in getting their historic properties and neighborhoods listed.
Ottumwa currently has 24 items registered in the National Registrar of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.
More information on these sites can be found here: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/SearchResults/
Inflated tire disposal costs have driven the Ottumwa/Wapello County Recycling Center to raise the fee for disposing of tires.
The City of Ottumwa has been awarded a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) for the upper-story apartment project at 307 East Main Street.
Shared electric scooter company Bird Rides has launched its app-based e-scooter program in Ottumwa.
Internet users interested in local historic preservation will have a new way to engage with the Historic Preservation Commission online. The Commission has expanded its online presence, offering new resources and a guided walking tour. The new webpage, www.cityofottumwa.com/preservation, includes a record of local nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, news about historic preservation in Ottumwa and a virtual guided tour. When the Commission launches its newsletter this summer, the webpage will also house current and past issues.
Improved permitting software will now allow Ottumwa residents and contractors to make payments for permits online. City Hall Departments adopted the new software, iWorQ, in March. In addition to improving recordkeeping and coordination between departments, the software has a number of features available to the public via the Public Portal. Residents and contractors can use the Public Portal to complete permit applications, search active permits, check the status of open code enforcement files and, beginning this week, make permit payments. The Public Portal supports licenses issued by the City Clerk, building and rental permits issued by Building and Code Enforcement and fence and sign permits issued by the Planning Department.
Preservation Iowa has designated 9 properties across the state for the 2020 Most Endangered Properties List including the historic Daum House at 513 N Court in Ottumwa.
Community Development Director