The city council or the county board of supervisors may designate a solar access regulatory board to receive and act on applications for a solar access easement. The board designated by the city council may be a board of adjustment having jurisdiction in the city, the city council itself, or any board with at least three members. The board designated by the county board of supervisors may be a board of adjustment having jurisdiction in the county, the board of supervisors itself, or any other board with at least three members. The jurisdiction of a board designated by the city council extends to applications when the dominant estate is located in the city. The jurisdiction of a board designated by the county board of supervisors extends to applications when the dominant estate is located in the county but outside the city limits of a city. In the absence of the designation of a specific board under this section, the district court having jurisdiction in the area where the dominant estate is located shall receive and act on applications submitted under section 564A.4 and to that extent shall serve as the solar access regulatory board for purposes of this chapter. Notwithstanding chapter 602 the jurisdiction of the district court established in this section may be exercised by district associate judges.