A modern, comprehensive and continually updated Code of Ordinances is essential in order to enable city officials to operate efficiently and to provide citizens with a basic understanding of their local government.

In addition, Iowa Code Section 380.8 requires that "a city shall compile a code of ordinances containing all of the city ordinances in effect, except grade ordinances, bond ordinances, zoning map ordinances, ordinances vacating streets and alleys, and ordinances containing legal descriptions of urban revitalization areas and urban renewal areas."

Iowa Codification offers cities in Iowa a variety of services relating to the codification of ordinances, including review of codes and ordinances, ongoing supplement services, complete updates and recodification of existing codes, model ordinances and drafting assistance and annual state legislative summaries of new and amended state laws that impact on and many require amendments to local codes.