Manure and Nutrient Plans, Permits and Regulations
This page is designed to provide a comprehensive site for accessing information relating to manure management regulations in Iowa. These regulations are primarily divided into three categories, confinement feeding operations(the term SAFO, small animal feeding operation, only applies to small confinements), open feedlots and combined operations. For best use of this site, you must first determine how your operation is classified and the size of your operation.
In addition to the links to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Animal Feeding Operations Web page, additional resources from other sources are included. Please make sure when following links to other pages you carefully read the requirements listed on those pages and follow the appropriate links for further information.
IMMAG encourages you to contact the staff in the Animal Feeding Operations Section of DNR or visit the IDNR Animal Feeding Operations Web page for specific questions you may have regarding your animal feeding operation in Iowa and requirements for manure management plans, construction permits, and land application of manure. Please visit the IMMAG Web page regularly for new information regarding new rule packages or subscribe to our monthly email newsletter the IMMAG Update to receive information directly in your inbox.
Each link and its bulleted list below with this symbol 
is a link to forms/fact sheets and other material found on the DNR web page except when denoted with 
(IMMAG Web site) or 
(external link).
Confinement
Feeding Operations
Manure Management for Confinements
- Manure Management Plan Forms
- Appendix A
- Excel Version of Manure Management Plan Form
- Short Form for Annual Updates
- Manure Management Plan for Sales of Dry Manure
- Statement of Intent Commercial Fertilizer Application
- Stockpile Inspection Form
- Annual Compliance Fee Form
- Verification of County Receipt for MMPs and Annual Updates to MMP
- Manure Storage and Indemnity and Filing Fee
- The Iowa Phosphorus Index and MMP for Confinements
- Manure Management Plan Fact Sheet
- Preliminary Checklist for Manure Management Plan Preparation
- Manure Application Recordkeeping Form (not required)
Construction Permit
Requirements for Confinement Facilities
- Preconstruction Requirements for Permitted Operations
- Construction Design Statement
- Permit Required: Construction Permit Application and Indemnity Fee Form
- Professional Engineer Design Certification Form
- Master Matrix
- Minimum Separation Distances for Construction or Expansion of Confinement Feeding Operation Structures (All AFOs, including SAFOs)
- Floodplain Permit
- Alluvial Soils and Floodplains
- Storm Water Permit Notice of Intent for NPDES Coverage Under General Permit No. 2
- Storm Water Permit- Public Notice of Storm Water Discharge
- Storm Water Permit Notice of Discontinuation of Storm Water Discharge No. 2
- Application for Water Use Permit/Modification- Water Withdrawal/Use
- Pre-Construction for confinements with 501-999 a.u. capacity using formed storage
- Pre-construction Requirements for confinements with 500 a.u. or less capacity using formed storage
- Manure Storage Indemnity and Filing Fee (Unpermitted Facilities)
Land Application Requirements
Open Feedlots
Manure Management For Permitted Open Feedlots
- Nutrient Management Plan Form
- Excel Version of Nutrient Management Plan Form
- Public Notice Form
- Manure Application Recordkeeping Form (use of this form is not required)
- Open Feedlot Manure Stockpiling Regulations
Construction Requirements and NPDES Requirements for Large Permitted Open Feedlots
- Open Feedlot Construction Permit Manual
- Construction Permit Application Form
- Application for NPDES Operations Permits
- Application Fee Invoice for Permit Application
- Storm Water Permit- Notice of Intent for NPDES Coverage Under General Permit No. 2
- Storm Water Permit Public Notice of Storm Water Discharge
- Storm Water Permit- Notice of Discontinuation of No.2
- Application for Water Permit or Permit Modification
- Flood Plain Permit
- Annual NPDES Permit Fee Invoice
- NPDES Open Feedlot Quarterly Report
- NPDES Annual Report
The following records are required for a NPDES Permit. The use of forms 1-11 is optional, but they do meet recordkeeping requirements. You may opt to use your own recordkeeping format. The following forms were developed by ISU Extension and Outreach.
- Form 1 Solid Manure Handling
- Form 2 Weekly Manure Storage and Maintenance
- Form 3 Pumping Activity, Storage Volume and Level
- Form 4 Measured Manure Analysis
- Form 5 Manure Spreader Calibration and Inspection
- Form 6 Daily water System Inspection
- Form 7 Transfer of Manure Offsite
- Form 8 Animal Inventory and Mortality
- Form 9 Livestock Waste Discharge Notification
- Form 10 Records Checklist for NPDES Permit
- Form 11 Reports Checklist for NPDES Permit
Small (under 1,000 a.u. permitted or non-permitted) Feedlots and Dairy Operations
Combined Confinement & Open Lot Operations
- Current Requirements for Combined Operations with Open Lots and Confinements
- Dairies- Act Now!
- NPDES Permits- Combined Operations
- FAQs for Combined Open Lot and Confinements
- Open Feedlot Construction Permit Manual
- Construction Permit Application Form
- Application for NPDES Operations Permits
- Application Fee Invoice for Permit Application
- Nutrient Management Plan Form
- Excel Version of Nutrient Management Plan Form
Stockpiling Manure
- Dry-Bedded Manure Stockpiling Regulations- for cattle and swine confinements
- Confinement Dry Manure Stockpiling Regulations
- Open Feedlot Manure Stockpiling Regulations
Manure Applicator Certification
- DNR Manure Applicator Certification
- Iowa State University Manure Applicator Certification Web Page – includes current training dates and locations
= IMMAG Web site
= DNR Web site
= external link
