Administrative Rules:
The Administrative Procedures Act, Iowa Code Chapter 17A, requires all state agencies to promulgate rules for the operation of their programs. The rulemaking process increases agencies’ accountability to the public, allows public participation in the formulation of rules, and provides legislative oversight for program operations.

Before the Department’s rules are adopted, they are published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin as a "notice of intended action." Any interested people may submit comments on the proposed rules within time frames set forth in the notice. All notices must allow at least 20 days for persons to submit comments or to request an oral presentation.

The Department may not adopt the rules until 35 days after the date the notice adoption is published. Following notice and adoption, the final rules are again published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin. They become effective at a date specified with the final rule. Normally the Department must allow at least 35 days from the date of publication for people to prepare to implement the rules.

All chapters of the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) relevant to the DNR are available through the Iowa General Assembly website.

• Description of DNR Rules

Rules Docket for October 2008: (*.pdf file)
This link takes you to the Department’s docket of pending rulemaking proceedings.

The following may be inspected at the Department’s Record Center, Fifth Floor, Wallace State Office Building, 502 East Ninth Street, Des Moines:

• Copies of any written submissions concerning any proposed rules
• Copies of any request for the issuance of a regulatory analysis of a proposed rule
• Copy of any regulatory analysis

Regulatory Plan for State Fiscal Year 2009,*pdf:
This link provides the Department's expected regulatory actions for State Fiscal Year 2009, which began July 1, 2008, and extends through June 30, 2009.

Understanding Iowa's Administrative Rulemaking Process (off-site)




For additional information:
General Counsel, Ed Tormey, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building, Des Moines, IA 50319. Phone: 515-281-5377 Fax: 515-281-8973 Email: Ed.Tormey@dnr.iowa.gov