Building Department
The Waterloo Building Department administers all matters related to commercial and residential construction as well as the enforcement of building codes through education, plan review, permitting and inspections. The Waterloo Building Department encourages you to contact us when considering a building project. Residents are reminded that if they are hiring a contractor to do work, that their contractor should be taking out the required permits.
Preconstruction meetings can held upon request on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in the Mollenhoff Room on 2nd floor of City Hall. These can be requested to discuss upcoming commercial projects by the owner, developer or contractor.
The Waterloo Building Inspection Department offers Residential Contractor Exams for those who want to become a licensed residential contractor with the City of Waterloo.
Exams will be given for one week each month during business hours. Two applicants per day will be scheduled. Exam time is 8:00 am on your designated day. The exam will be given at the Building Department located on the second floor of City Hall.
Select a day of the week that best suits your schedule on the application which can be accessed by clicking the link below. Applications along with the $50 registration fee must be received one week prior to your exam date.
Commercial Contractor:
When submitting plans for a commercial plan review, please provide two full sets, signed and sealed. These will be internally distributed for review between the Building Department, Planning & Zoning, Engineering Department and Fire Marshall’s office.
For new construction, a site plan is required. For new construction over 5000 square feet, civil plans are required along with SWPPP plans and application.
If the project is a food and or alcohol establishment, please submit a set of construction documents to the Black Hawk County Health Department. Call 319-291-2413 with questions.
For small commercial remodel projects, digital submittal is permissible to submit via email.Mechanical Contractors:
- Plumbing Contractor Registration (pdf)
- BHC Electrical Contractor Registration (pdf)
- Electrical Contractor Registration (pdf)
- HVAC Contactor Registration (pdf)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Waterloo Building Department
715 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor
Waterloo, Iowa 50703
Phone: 319-291-4319
Fax: 319-291-4262
Greg Ahlhelm, Building Official/Commercial Plans Examiner
Email: greg.ahlhelm@waterloo-ia.org Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm
Jennifer Sparks, Permit Writer/Residential Plans Examiner
Email: jennifer.sparks@waterloo-ia.org Hours: 7:30am - 4:30pm
FOR REQUIRED INSPECTIONS, PLEASE SCHEDULE DIRECTLY WITH THE RESPECTIVE INSPECTOR:
Bob Ball, Building Inspector - Commercial, New Dwellings
Bob Stanley - Black Hawk County Combination
Brian Baker - HVAC
Scott Strader- Plumbing
Tim Moyer - Electrical
Brian Wirtz – Residential, Fats Oils Grease (FOG), Rental Safety Inspector
Brad Baldwin - Residential Combination
Jeff Siebel - Commercial Safety Inspector
Barry Stratton - Rental Safety Inspector
Mike Heerkes - Rental Safety Inspector
Rental Registration