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1. Do I need a permit to paint my house?

No.

2. Do I need a permit to re-shingle my house?

Yes, you need a roof permit.

3. Do I need a permit to put up a pool?

If your pool is over 24" it is required to be fenced in.  You will need to fill out a fence permit and also contact the code office to check on proper location.

4. Can I do my own repairs on my house?

Yes, but some work my require a permit.  Always check with the code office if in doubt.

5. How often is citywide clean-up conducted?

The City provides a clean-up once in the Spring and once in the Fall.  These dates will be advertised in advance, call 365-4910 to get your name on the list.

6. Can the City mark my property lines?

No.

7. Are vehicles in my drive and/or yard required to be tagged?

Yes, they are required to be properly tagged and operable.

8. Can I store a couch or washer on my front porch?

No.  Indoor furniture, appliances, and/or electronics are not permitted to be stored on front porches or anywhere in the yard.

9. Do I need a permit to build or place a pre-fab shed in my yard?

Yes, you need an Accessory Structure Permit. 

10. Do I need permit to put up a fence?

Yes, you will need a fence permit.

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1. What do I need to receive utility service from the City of Iola?

New service requires a current rent receipt or proof of ownership, if you own the property. Picture I.D., proof of Social Security Number, and signatures for all adults residing at the property. Initial service fees are $10.00 per utility, or $30.00 for gas, water and electric services, these charges are non-refundable.

If you are transferring from one residence to another within the City of Iola you will need to provide us with a current rent receipt or proof of ownership, fees of $5.00 per utility and any billing, that is over 10 days old, will have to be paid. When transferring please be aware that your bill may be due on a different date than at your previous address.

2. Is there a late payment fee if my utility bill is not paid by the due date?

A 2.5% penalty will be applied to all unpaid utility account balances after the due. Fourteen days after the original due date a $35 delinquent fee will be charged if still unpaid.

3. Can my utilities be shut off for nonpayment during winter months?

The city takes into consideration if the temperature is below freezing, disconnects will not be done until the next day the temperature is above freezing. No notice will be given before disconnects are done. The city utility office has a list available of local organizations that at times will help individuals pay their utility bills. All disconnected accounts paid after 4 p.m. will be reconnected after 8 a.m. the following business day, unless a $75 after hours surcharge is paid.

4. What if I have a utility account that is left unpaid?

All unpaid accounts that are older than 60 days will be classified as a bad debt. Delinquent fees may be added at this time and the bad debts will be submitted to the State of Kansas Set off Program for collection and reporting purposes.

5. What do I need to do if I have a bad check?

All checks issued to the City of Iola are automatically processed once by the bank, before the City is notified of a bad check. The City is required to redeem the check within 24 hours. When advised by the bank of a bad check, the City will notify the customer that the amount of the check plus a $30.00 fee must be paid within a specified time. After two bad checks on any account in a year, the customer will be required to pay cash for a period of one year.

6. What are seasonal utilities service charges?

Any gas, water, or electric customers requesting reconnection of service, which has been disconnected during the off-season for a period of more than 30 days, shall be charged a fee of $40 for gas, $20 for water and $20 for electric. Commercial customers will be charged the same with the exception of electric and it will be $25.

7. May I establish service outside of regular work hours?

A charge of $75 for connection or disconnection of gas and/or water service and a charge of $75 for connection or disconnection of electric service will be made if work is done other than during the hours when the utilities office of the City of Iola is open for business. The Iola Police Department, 620-365-4960, will take all information regarding after-hours connections or disconnections. 

For new consumers, these charges shall be in addition to the initial service charge. A charge of $75 for disconnection of water and $75 for disconnection of electric service shall be made in cases of emergency, due to water leakage or electric shorts. No charge will be made for emergency disconnection of gas due to leaks.

8. If a leak is discovered am I responsible for all charges incurred because of the leak?

The City of Iola maintains the utility line to the meter. If the leak occurs before the utility goes through the meter, you will not be charged, however, if the utility goes through the meter you will be responsible for all charges.

9. What types of utility bill payments are available?

Visit our Utility Bill Payment Options page for all of the types of utility bill payment options.

10. How much are new electric service charges?

See the new electric service charges on the New Electric Service Charges page.