Alcoholic Beverage Policy:
AGE: You must be 21 years of age to purchase, consume, or possess beer or liquor in the State of Iowa. PARKS: Intoxicants are not permitted in any city playground, swimming pool, or city park. OPEN CONTAINERS: Open containers of alcoholic beverages are not permitted on public property in the City of Decorah.
Curfew Policy:
Curfew is established for unmarried minors under the age of eighteen years in the city of Decorah. SENIOR HIGH GROUP: All minors enrolled in grades ten through twelve in any high school, and any minor of the age fifteen through eighteen not enrolled in any school. Curfew restrictions begin at 11 PM on each weekday and 1 AM on weekends, and shall remain in effect until 5 AM of each day. JUNIOR HIGH GROUP: All minors enrolled in grade nine and under in any school, and any minors under the age of fifteen not enrolled in any school. Curfew restrictions for the junior high group shall begin at 10 PM on each weekday and at twelve midnight on weekends, and shall remain in effect until 5 AM of each day. Note: During the summer months, each minor shall be considered to be in the group applicable from the preceding school year until actual attendance in the next grade.
Bicycle Policy:
The City of Decorah has much to offer the cycling enthusiast; from paved trails to challenging off road trails. Please visit the City of Decorah website so that you can take full advantage of all that we have to offer. Decorah also has specific laws pertaining to cyclists. Those laws are in place for the safety of all. We ask that you follow the laws and remain courteous to others. No riding bicycles on the sidewalk in the commercial district (the downtown area). Decorah residents shall have their bikes registered and licensed (available at the Police Dept. for $2.00. The license is non-expiring). When riding on the sidewalk outside of the commercial district; yield the right of way to pedestrians. To view the downloadable brochure, click here.
Pet Policy:
RUNNING AT LARGE: It is a misdemeanor to allow dogs, cats, or similar domestic animals to run at large within the city. BOTHERSOME ANIMALS: It is a misdemeanor to keep within the city such bothersome animals such as barking dogs, which tend to disrupt the peace and good order of the community. IMMUNIZATION: All dogs six months of age or older shall be vaccinated against rabies. A tag showing evidence of proper vaccination shall be worn by any dog when not confined. DOG AND CAT WASTE: Any person who shall walk a dog or cat on public or private property shall provide for the disposal of the solid waste material excreted by the dog or cat by immediate removal of the waste unless the dog or cat is on the owners’ or keepers’ property.
Snow Emergency Procedures:
Declaration of snow emergency.
Whenever the city experiences a snowfall which accumulates to a depth of one inch or more, a snow emergency shall automatically be in effect and all procedures prescribed by this chapter shall be observed by all persons. A snow emergency shall also be in effect whenever the street commissioner or designee, in exercise of sound judgement and discretion, determines that a snow or ice emergency exists or is expected to occur, requiring the removal of snow or ice from the public streets and alleys.
Notice to the public.
A. Notice. The street commissioner or designee shall declare such emergency in writing, file the same with the city clerk, and cause notice of such emergency to be given to the public by social media, press, radio, or television. Failure of a person to receive such a notice shall not constitute a defense to any prosecution for violation of the rules, regulations and procedures prescribed by this chapter.
B. General duration. A snow or ice emergency shall be in effect starting a minimum of four hours after the earlier of either:
- The accumulation of snow or ice to a depth of one inch or more within a twenty-four-hour period; or
- Such emergency is declared by the street commissioner or designee; and such snow or ice emergency shall continue for forty-eight hours.
The duration of the snow or ice emergency may be extended at the discretion of the street commissioner or designee. Notice for such an extension shall be given in the manner prescribed in Section 10.76.020.A.
Removing violators from the street.
In case any motor vehicle is found parked on any street or alley in the city in violation of established or snow emergency restrictions, the police department or the streets department, or anyone under their direction, is authorized to move such vehicle and to tow such vehicle to a designated impounding area at the owner’s expense. When such vehicle is reclaimed by its owner, there shall be assessed, in addition to any court-imposed fine and costs, a reasonable fee for towing and storage. Neither the city nor its employees or agents designated to move vehicles in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be responsible for any damage to such vehicle occasioned by such moving, towing, or storage.
Any vehicle parked or standing on any street or alley in violation of any provision of this chapter so as to interfere with prompt and orderly snow removal, is declared to be a nuisance, and in addition to being subject to removal and impounding, may be ticketed for illegal parking and its owner, upon conviction, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to fine or imprisonment as prescribed in Chapter 1.24 of this code.
Any person who removes an impounded vehicle from any police-designated impounding area without first paying all fines, costs, towing and storage charges, is guilty of a misdemeanor under this chapter.
Severe Storm Procedures:
In the event of severe weather the Decorah Police Department is notified by the National Weather Service in LaCrosse as storms are tracked by radar. The Decorah Communication Center then notifies all city and county officers and area fire departments if storm spotters are needed.
A storm warning is issued when the National Weather Service feels that severe weather has developed and extensive property damage or loss of life could be the result of the storm, or if spotters confirm strong winds, cloud rotation, or large diameter hail.
In the case of imminent potentially damaging weather, the outdoor weather sirens are activated. General criteria for siren activation are:
- Issuance of a tornado warning, or activity, reported by trained spotters for a specified area.
- 70 mph or greater winds.
- Golf ball sized hail, or larger.
Warning sirens are located in incorporated communities, as well as Freeport and Frankville.
The outdoor sirens are intended to warn people outdoors. The siren’s warning signal is a solid blast of three to five minutes. This warning signal means individuals should seek shelter, moving to a place of safety. Persons should tune to media sources such as weather radios, local radio stations, area TV stations or the Internet for further information as to the duration of the warning and to determine when it is safe to resume normal activities.
There will be no “all clear” signal from the outdoor warning system. Citizens are expected to be indoors and monitoring local media for additional information. If a second siren is heard, it is an indicator of further severe weather in the area.
Please do not dial 911 for weather information. If residents wish more information on severe weather warnings and alerts, or about the Winneshiek County National Weather Service radio operating on 162.525 MHz, they may contact the National Weather Service LaCrosse office at (608) 784-8275 or the Winneshiek County Emergency Management office at (563) 387-4095.