Terms Used In Iowa Code > Chapter 103A - State Building Code

• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• board: means the state building code board of review created by this chapter. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• building: includes any part of a building unless the context clearly requires a different meaning. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Building regulations: means any law, bylaw, rule, resolution, regulation, ordinance, or code or compilation enacted or adopted, by the state or any governmental subdivision, including departments, boards, bureaus, commissions or other agencies, relating to the construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, repair or use of buildings and installation of equipment therein. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• code: means the state building code provided for in section 103A. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Commissioner: means the state building code commissioner created by this chapter. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
• Construction: means the construction, erection, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, repair, equipping of buildings, structures or facilities, and requirements or standards relating to or affecting materials used in connection therewith, including provisions for safety and sanitary conditions. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
• Council: means the state building code advisory council created by this chapter. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Department: means the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Director: means the director of the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing or the director's designee. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Equipment: means plumbing, heating, electrical, ventilating, conditioning, refrigerating equipment, elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, and other mechanical facilities or installations. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Factory-built structure: includes the terms "mobile home" "manufactured home" and "modular home". See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Finance charge: The total cost of credit a customer must pay on a consumer loan, including interest. The Truth in Lending Act requires disclosure of the finance charge. ^{Source: OCC}
• 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
• Governmental subdivision: means any city, county, or combination thereof. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
• Installation: means the assembly of factory-built structures on site and the process of affixing factory-built structures to land, a foundation, footings, or an existing building. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Local building department: means an agency of any governmental subdivision charged with the administration, supervision, or enforcement of building regulations, approval of plans, inspection of buildings, or the issuance of permits, licenses, certificates and similar documents, prescribed or required by state or local building regulations. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Local building regulations: means building regulations adopted by a governmental subdivision. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" and the abbreviation "A. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
• New construction: means construction of buildings and factory-built structures which is commenced on or after January 1, 1978. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Owner: means the owner of the premises, a mortgagee or vendee in possession, an assignee of rents, or a receiver, executor, trustee, lessee or other person in control of a building or structure. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
• property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
• Rule: includes "regulation". See Iowa Code 4.1
• seal: shall include an impression upon the paper alone, or upon wax, a wafer affixed to the paper, or an official stamp of a notarial officer as provided in chapter 9B. See Iowa Code 4.1
• Signature: includes an electronic signature as defined in section 554D. 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
• State agency: means a state department, board, bureau, commission, or agency of the state of Iowa. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• State historic building code: means the alternative building regulations and building standards for certain historic buildings provided for in section 103A. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• structure: includes any part of a structure unless the context clearly requires a different meaning. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Sustainable design: means construction design intended to minimize negative environmental impacts and to promote the health and comfort of building occupants including but not limited to measures to reduce consumption of nonrenewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments. See Iowa Code 103A.3
• Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
• United States: includes all the states. See Iowa Code 4.1
• year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1