Iowa Residential Lease Agreement
What Iowa law requires in a residential lease — the deposit cap, the return deadline, the notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and the disclosures you have to give the tenant. Every figure is cited to the statute it comes from and dated. The free Iowa lease template is one click away.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
Other Iowa rules your lease has to live with
Beyond the deposit, Iowa law sets rules on entry, late fees, and repairs that apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
- Landlord entry. Iowa requires at least 24 hours’ notice before a non-emergency entry. — Iowa Code §562A.19(3) (Iowa Code 2026) ↗
- Late fees. Rent ≤$700/month: max $12/day, $60/month total; rent >$700/month: max $20/day, $100/month total — Iowa Code §562A.9(4) (2013 Acts, ch 97, §3; Iowa Code 2026) ↗
- Rent increases. At least 30 days' written notice before the effective date; not sooner than expiration of the current rental agreement or renewal — Iowa Code §562A.13(5) (Iowa Code 2026) ↗
- Habitability. Iowa law implies a warranty of habitability into every residential lease; a clause waiving it is unenforceable. — Iowa Code §562A.15(1)(a)(2) (2013 Acts, ch 30, §177; Iowa Code 2026) ↗
Each point links to the Iowa source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
What Iowa law requires · as of 2026
- Max security deposit
- 2 months' rent
- Deposit return deadline
- 30 days after move-out
- Notice to end month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: Iowa Code §562A.12 · verify ↗. Laws change — confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
Deposit still not back 30 days after move-out? Ask for it in writing with a Iowa security deposit demand letter; if that doesn’t work, the usual next step is Iowa small claims court.
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Required disclosures in Iowa
What Iowa law says a residential landlord has to tell the tenant, each with the statute it comes from. Federal rules and some city ordinances can add more.
Manager and owner/agent for service of process
Written disclosure at or before commencement of tenancy of name and address of the person authorized to manage the premises and an owner or agent for service of process and notices.
Source: Iowa Code §562A.13(1)
Utility rates, charges and services
Landlord must fully explain utility rates, charges and services before the rental agreement is signed unless the tenant pays the utility company directly.
Source: Iowa Code §562A.13(4)
CERCLIS (Superfund) listing
Written disclosure before commencement of tenancy if the property is listed in the federal EPA comprehensive environmental response compensation and liability information system.
Frequently asked questions
How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Iowa?
In Iowa, the security deposit is limited to 2 months' rent, and it must be returned within 30 days after move-out (as of 2026). Source: Iowa Code §562A.12. Confirm the current rule before you sign.
Is this lease valid in Iowa?
A written lease that identifies the parties, the property, the term, and the rent is generally enforceable in Iowa once both sides sign. What it cannot do is contract around Iowa law: the deposit rules, entry notice, and habitability duties below apply whether or not the lease mentions them.
How much notice must a landlord give before entering a rental in Iowa?
Iowa requires at least 24 hours' notice for a non-emergency entry. Source: Iowa Code §562A.19(3) (Iowa Code 2026).
Can a landlord charge late fees in Iowa?
Rent ≤$700/month: max $12/day, $60/month total; rent >$700/month: max $20/day, $100/month total Source: Iowa Code §562A.9(4) (2013 Acts, ch 97, §3; Iowa Code 2026).
What does a landlord have to disclose in Iowa?
Under Iowa law: Manager and owner/agent for service of process (Iowa Code §562A.13(1)); Utility rates, charges and services (Iowa Code §562A.13(4)); CERCLIS (Superfund) listing (Iowa Code §562A.13(6) (2004 Acts, ch 1071, §1)). Federal and local rules can add more; each item on this page links to the law it comes from.
How does Iowa compare? See the security deposit limits in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute.
How Iowa compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Iowa: Iowa Code §562A.12 ↗.
- Iowa is one of 29 of 51 jurisdictions that cap the deposit by statute (22 set no statutory cap on the security deposit).
- Deposit return deadline
Deposit return deadline: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 26 other states.
Deposit return deadline in neighboring states — Illinois (45 days), Minnesota (21 days), Missouri (30 days), Nebraska (14 days), South Dakota (14 days), Wisconsin (21 days).
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 39 other states.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Illinois (30 days), Minnesota (30 days), Missouri (30 days), Nebraska (30 days), South Dakota (30 days), Wisconsin (28 days).
The rest of what Iowa requires
The figures below are Iowa's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Iowa page for that document.
- Notice for unpaid rent · as of 2026
- 3 days to pay or quit Iowa Code § 562A.27; § 562A.34(2) ↗
- Notice to cure a lease violation · as of 2026
- 7 days Iowa Code § 562A.27; § 562A.34(2) ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $6,500 Iowa Code § 631.1; § 631.6 (fees) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small claims docket of the Iowa District Court (heard by magistrates and district associate judges) · filing fee $95 flat statewide (Iowa Code 631.6 / 602.8105), plus service costs. Iowa Code § 631.1; § 631.6 (fees) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Iowa Legislature ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Iowa DOT / DMV.ORG ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required Iowa Code §633B.105 (form §633B.301) ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Not required by statute, but it controls over the default rules Iowa Code § 489.102(19) (definition); Iowa Code § 489.105 (scope/function) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- County Recorder (Iowa Code § 558.11 — 'recorder of deeds of the county in which the real estate is situated') · no witnesses Iowa Code §§ 558.19, 558.42 ↗
Lease agreement in other states
More Iowa legal forms
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