1. A municipality shall have the right to acquire by condemnation any interest in real property, including a fee simple title thereto, which it may deem necessary for or in connection with an urban renewal project under this chapter, subject to the limitations on eminent domain authority in chapter 6A. However, a municipality shall not condemn agricultural land included within an economic development area for any use unless the owner of the agricultural land consents to condemnation or unless the municipality determines that the land is necessary or useful for any of the following:

 a. The operation of a city utility as defined in section 362.2.
 b. The operation of a city franchise conferred the authority to condemn private property under section 364.2.
 c. The operation of a combined utility system as defined in section 384.80.

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Terms Used In Iowa Code 403.7

  • City utility: means all or part of a waterworks, gasworks, sanitary sewage system, storm water drainage system, electric light and power plant and system, heating plant, cable communication or television system, telephone or telecommunications systems or services offered separately or combined with any system or service specified in this subsection or authorized by other law, any of which are owned by a city, including all land, easements, rights-of-way, fixtures, equipment, accessories, improvements, appurtenances, and other property necessary or useful for the operation of the utility. See Iowa Code 362.2
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • real property: include lands, tenements, hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. A municipality shall exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided in chapter 6B. Property already devoted to a public use may be acquired in like manner. However, real property belonging to the state, or any political subdivision of this state, shall not be acquired without its consent, and real property or any right or interest in the property owned by any public utility company, pipeline company, railway or transportation company vested with the right of eminent domain under the laws of this state shall not be acquired without the consent of the company, or without first securing, after due notice to the company and after hearing, a certificate authorizing condemnation of the property from the board, commission, or body having the authority to grant a certificate authorizing condemnation.
 3. In a condemnation proceeding, if a municipality proposes to take a part of a lot or parcel of real property, the municipality shall also take the remaining part of the lot or parcel if requested by the owner.