The City of Dubuque is located on the Mississippi River in northeastern Iowa, adjacent to Illinois and Wisconsin. As Iowa's oldest city chartered in 1837, Dubuque is a community well known for its historic and architectural beauty. The city is over 30 square miles in area, with a population of nearly 60,000 persons. The community has a stable and diversified manufacturing base and a growing service sector. Dubuque is the major retail, medical, education, and employment center for the tri-state area. Tourism continues to be a major economic force in the community.

The City's current Unified Development Code (UDC) was adopted in 2009. Since its adoption, the UDC has been updated by City staff and through text amendment requests to address new issues, to reflect State-initiated regulation changes, and to accommodate growth and emerging trends. The City is now seeking a more thorough evaluation of the UDC to see that it is supporting the City Council goals and priorities, is in alignment with other City plans, and to ensure it is not serving as a barrier to development in the community.

This update is not intended to be a complete rewrite of the existing code. The City believes the current document provides a solid foundation, however, updates and enhancements are necessary to eliminate inconsistencies and incorporate zoning code best practices.

The City's primary goals and expectations for the update include:

• To consider the 2017 Imagine Dubuque Comprehensive Plan, the Equitable Poverty Reduction & Prevention Plan, and other City plans, special purpose areas, overlay districts, and standards and policies to inform the code update;
• To remove barriers to the creation of housing of various types and affordability;
• To research and consider topics mentioned in zoning reform discussions, such as changing demographics, parking, housing, flexible uses, and bulk regulations;
• To clarify certain aspects of the code inconsistencies that are ambiguous or conflicting;
• To streamline certain processes and provide options for administrative waivers;
• To consider certain aspects of the code that have led to frequent requests, such as special exceptions and variances;
• To consider issues raised through community feedback, including the Developer's Roundtable (a public-private development ad hoc committee); and
• To comply with legislation from the State of Iowa.

The City is seeking to complete the Unified Development Code Update by March 2026.

The full RFP Document can be found on the City's website: https://www.cityofdubuque.org/bids.aspx