Le Mars building permits steady; 2025 code changes add rooftop-solar requirements, existing installations to be grandfathered

Building and code staff (Speakers 3, 4 and 5) reported on recent permit activity and upcoming code changes that could affect property owners and developers.

Speaker 5 said single-family dwelling permits were up (four permits noted in the report) and that 2024 had seen a significant multi-family bump (102 units) while 2025 had recorded 12 multi-family units so far. "This year... we only added 12," Speaker 3 said, while projecting that land behind a specific site could yield roughly 40 additional units "give or take." The presentation also noted 16 applicants were awarded urban-revitalization tax exemptions.

Code changes and solar: Staff discussed the 2025 international building code updates addressing rooftop solar. The new provisions require setbacks from ridges and roof edges to allow the fire department to vent a roof if a fire starts; staff described this as a significant change from prior codes. In response to a council question, staff said existing solar installations would be grandfathered and owners would not need to alter them to meet the new requirements now.

Construction values and public projects: Council members asked whether the tracked construction values included public projects; staff confirmed the unusually high year (about $58,000,000) included major public projects such as the water and sewer/wastewater plant work, which skewed totals upward.

Tax abatements: Members asked about the start date for tax abatements; staff gave uncertain recollections (suggested years included 2007 and 2012) and said the exact start year would need to be verified in paperwork.

The presentation closed with questions from council members; no formal code-adoption vote was recorded in this session.