History notes
Moments of Tiffin's history found in the minutes and ordinances of this archive, each with the page's own words and where to read it: the start of a history of the town. Notes on the City Code's history also appear on the City Code pages.
Building and housing codes, 1964 to today
November 3, 1964
The council agrees the town needs a housing ordinance
With the new sewer system under construction, the council discussed proposed housing ordinances and agreed "there is a real need for a good one as soon as possible". It was the start of Tiffin's building and housing codes.
“Housing Ordinance: Proposed housing ordinances were discussed, with the agreement that there is a real need for a good one as soon as possible.” (document 3322, p. 2)
Sources: document 3322, p. 2 (regular meeting of 1964-11-03 (continued on page 2)) · City Code chapter 155, chapter 156
Important codification history (Eric, 2026-10-17): at the special meeting of November 17, 1964 the council weighed what code to adopt. The Iowa League of Municipalities recommended "the uniform building code originated at Pacific Coast conference", a nation-wide code a town could adopt in part, like the State Housing Code. This is the original name of the building code in use today. Background, not from the archive: the Uniform Building Code was first published in 1927 by the Pacific Coast Building Officials Conference (later the International Conference of Building Officials); in 2000 it was succeeded by the International Building Code of the International Code Council, whose 2018 edition Chapter 155 of the City Code adopts. Tiffin first passed a housing ordinance (Ordinance No. 56, January 1965) and adopted the Uniform Building Code itself only in 1997 (Ordinance No. 1997-214). The minutes of 1964-11-17 are typed after those of November 3 and 9 in the same document (doc 3322 p2) and run on in doc 3323 p1.
“League of Municipalities recommends that uniform building code originated at Pacific Coast conference be adopted. It is a code that is nation-wide and can be adopted in part just like the State Housing Code.” (document 3322, p. 2)
“It has nothing to do with zoning. It has nothing to do with the structure of the building nor the electrical make-up. In other words, the only thing we have control over now is plumbing. What the Town of Algona did is adopt the uniform building code and left out the things that didn't apply.” (document 3322, p. 2)
Sources: document 3322, p. 2 (Special Council Meeting, November 17, 1964); document 3323, p. 1 (the same discussion, continued ("Zoning has to do with the town …")) · City Code chapter 155, chapter 156
January 6, 1965
Ordinance No. 56: Tiffin's first housing ordinance
Two months later the council passed Ordinance No. 56, "An Ordinance Providing for Minimum Housing Requirements and Regulations for the Town of Tiffin, Iowa", effective the same day (Verry, Potter, Spivey and Stratton voting aye) and waived the three readings. The minutes later call it the "Building Ordinance #56"; it also governed house trailers.
“Ordinance #56, AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR MINIMUM HOUSING REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS FOR THE TOWN OF TIFFIN, IOWA. Bill Verry made the motion to pass this ordinance, effective today.” (document 3319, p. 1)
Sources: document 3319, p. 1 (regular meeting of 1965-01-06); document 3320, p. 1 (another copy of the same minutes); document 3260, p. 1 (1968-11-06: "trailer ordinance as is in Building Ordinance #56") · Ord. 56 · City Code chapter 155, chapter 156
March 5, 1969
Ordinance No. 60 replaces No. 56 as the Building and Housing Ordinance
Attorney Ralph Neuzil drafted a new ordinance when No. 56 proved too weak to keep trailers out. The council adopted the new ordinance and rescinded No. 56 on February 25, 1969, and on March 5 accepted Ordinance No. 60 as "the Building and Housing Ordinance for Tiffin", repealing the old Building Ordinance No. 56.
“Ned Allen made a motion we accept Ordinance #60 as the Building and Housing Ordinance for Tiffin.” (document 3253, p. 1)
Sources: document 3255, p. 1 (1969-02-22: Mr. Neuzil to draw up a trailer ordinance; the old building ordinance No. 56 would have to be repealed); document 3254, p. 1 (1969-02-25: new ordinance adopted, Ordinance #56 rescinded); document 3253, p. 1 (1969-03-05: second reading of Ordinance #60, which repeals Building Ordinance #56; adopted) · Ord. 60, Ord. 56 · City Code chapter 155, chapter 156 · People: Ralph Neuzil
August 12, 1987
Ordinance No. 145: the CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Code
In August 1987 the council adopted the CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Code and repealed the Iowa State Building Code for Tiffin. (In 1984 the city attorney had told the council that Tiffin could adopt the state's building code; when it did is not yet found in the archive.)
Sources: document 4786, p. 1 (Ordinance No. 145, "An Ordinance Adopting the C.A.B.O. One and Two Family Dwelling Code, and Repealing the Iowa State Building Code"); document 4401, p. 6 (1984-08-08: "Attorney stated that Tiffin could adopt the state's uniform building code"; Spivey: "Don't have means of inspecting and enforcing it") · Ord. 145 · City Code chapter 155
Thirty-three years after the League's recommendation, Ordinance No. 1997-214 repealed Ordinance No. 145 and adopted the Uniform Building Code for all new construction in the city, with fire sprinkler and fire safety provisions (Mayor Glenn R. Potter). In 1999 the city described itself as using "the Uniform Building Code regulations for all residential, commercial, and industrial buildings".
“AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 145 AND ADOPTING THE UNIFORM BUILDING CODE FOR ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY AND ADOPTING ADDITIONAL FIRE SAFETY PROVISIONS FOR THE CITY OF TIFFIN, IOWA” (document 4858, p. 1)
Sources: document 4858, p. 1 (Ordinance No. 1997-214, passed 1997-06-11); document 4184, p. 6 (1999-04-21: "The City of Tiffin uses the Uniform Building Code regulations …") · Ord. 1997-214 · City Code chapter 155 · People: Glenn R. Potter
May 28, 2008
Ordinance No. 2008-292: the International Building Code for nonresidential buildings
Ordinance No. 2008-292 amended the 1997 Uniform Building Code ordinance and adopted certain International and National Building Codes for nonresidential buildings. Today Chapter 155 ("Building Codes") adopts the International Building Code and the International Residential Code, 2018 editions (section 155.01).
Sources: document 4934, p. 1 (Ordinance No. 2008-292, passed 2008-05-28) · Ord. 2008-292 · City Code chapter 155