A new state law that takes effect July 1st has surprised some Iowans. Linn County Road Superintendent Mike Duffy says the law lets counties can get rid of anything in in a yard that obstructs the right-of-way on county road, such as a mailbox or retaining wall.
Duffy says that includes, “Anything that someone can hit and won’t give in an accident.” Duffy says the county can go out and remove the item without notice and the homeowner would have to pay the cost of removal.
Duffy says though, Linn County will give residents a little time. He says they’ll give 48 hours notice, and you’ll have 48 hours to remove the “obstruction.”
Paul Brauer spent three-thousand dollars installing his driveway head-wall, and says 48 hours isn’t enough time to remove it. He says it would take a week for him to take out the wall.
Duffy is taking photos of potential obstructions in Linn County to show landowners.