{"id":"us-ia","slug":"iowa","name":"Iowa","license":"CC-BY-4.0","placeNode":"/places/us-ia.json","construction":{"reviewStatus":"none","applications":[],"localApplications":[],"requirements":[],"sources":[{"title":"661 IAC Chapter 301 State Building Code—Administration","url":"https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/08-20-2025.661.301.pdf","publisher":"Iowa Legislature","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z","documentDate":"2025-08-06T00:00:00.000Z"}]},"localAuthorities":[],"claims":{"exact":[{"id":"guide:windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks:2","anchor":"local-us-ia-windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks-2","place":"Iowa farmstead species (PM 1717, February 2005)","placeId":"us-ia","scopeKind":"place","scopeMode":"descendants","scopeRef":null,"claim":"If possible, use conifers in the windbreak because they retain their leaves during the winter months. Five to eight rows of deciduous trees are required to produce the same wind reduction as two rows of conifers. Conifers commonly used for windbreaks in Iowa are eastern red cedar, concolor fir, Douglas fir, white spruce, Black Hills spruce, Colorado spruce, Norway spruce, red pine, jack pine, white pine, ponderosa pine, and arborvitae. Due to problems with disease, Scotch pine is no longer recommended. Never use a single species.","asOf":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","object":{"kind":"guide","id":"windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks","title":"Windbreaks that don't become wicks","url":"/guides/windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks/"},"source":{"title":"Farmstead Windbreaks: Establishment, Care, and Maintenance (PM 1717)","url":"https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/files/inline-files/farmstead_windbreaks_establishment.pdf","publisher":"Iowa State University Extension","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","documentDate":"2005-02-01T00:00:00.000Z"}},{"id":"guide:windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks:3","anchor":"local-us-ia-windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks-3","place":"Iowa DNR Firewise landscape (Fall 2009)","placeId":"us-ia","scopeKind":"place","scopeMode":"descendants","scopeRef":null,"claim":"Start with the 5-foot perimeter nearest the home; it should have nonflammable landscaping such as rock, pavers, annuals, high-moisture perennials. The 30-foot zone surrounding the home should be well-irrigated and free from flammable materials and debris; plants should be carefully spaced and low-growing; prune trees so the lowest limbs are at least 6 to 10 feet above ground; remove limbs that hang over the house. At 30 to 100 feet, clusters of two or three trees should be 30 feet apart or individual trees 20 feet apart; try to mix deciduous and evergreen trees. At 100 to 200 feet, remove any evergreen seedlings growing among taller trees; they act as ladders for a fire to climb to the treetops. Do not attach wood fences to the home. Move stacked firewood to at least 100 feet from the house. A fire’s fuel is anything that burns, including trees, shrubs, grass, homes, fences, decks.","asOf":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","object":{"kind":"guide","id":"windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks","title":"Windbreaks that don't become wicks","url":"/guides/windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks/"},"source":{"title":"Be Firewise Part 2: Wildland / Urban Landscape","url":"https://www.iowadnr.gov/media/536/download?inline","publisher":"Iowa Department of Natural Resources","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","documentDate":"2009-09-01T00:00:00.000Z"}},{"id":"guide:windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks:1","anchor":"local-us-ia-windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks-1","place":"Iowa State University farmstead windbreaks","placeId":"us-ia","scopeKind":"place","scopeMode":"descendants","scopeRef":null,"claim":"Windbreaks have been part of Iowa’s forest since settlement. Incorporate conifers as the major tree in the windbreak where soil conditions allow. Deciduous trees are only 5–20 percent as effective as conifers. Plant a minimum of three rows. Locate on the north and west; avoid surrounding the farmstead with a solid barrier of trees. The 2019 HTML stores the inside row 50 feet from the protected site (to minimize snow accumulation), or with wider windbreaks 100 feet from the outside rows. PM-1716 (August 1997) stores the inside row of narrow windbreaks at least 75 feet from buildings, or the outside row 100 to 150 feet from the protected zone, because significant snow drifting can occur in the first two heights of a narrow windbreak. The standard arrangement is a row of shrubs with two rows of conifers. Homes or confinement buildings require 7 to 25 percent less fuel for heating (2019 HTML); PM-1716 stores energy-cost reductions as much as 20 to 40 percent.","asOf":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","object":{"kind":"guide","id":"windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks","title":"Windbreaks that don't become wicks","url":"/guides/windbreaks-that-dont-become-wicks/"},"source":{"title":"Windbreaks","url":"https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/planning/windbreaks.html","publisher":"Iowa State University Extension and Outreach","sourceType":"official","accessedOn":"2026-08-25T00:00:00.000Z","documentDate":"2019-04-01T00:00:00.000Z"}}],"local":[]},"placeFocusedGuides":[],"findings":[],"plants":{"grain":"state","total":399,"nativeDocumented":0,"invasiveOrNoxiousFlagged":96,"fireResistant":260,"keepAway":25,"conflicts":9,"page":"/grow/iowa/"},"fireEvidencePublicationScope":{"answerGrain":"no-typed-local-source","sourceCount":0}}