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Renting in Iowa

Your rights as a tenant in Iowa

In Iowa, the security deposit can be up to 2 months of rent. What state law says about your deposit, the notices you must get, repairs and eviction. Every rule comes with its citation and the text of the law.

The rules, one by oneFree or low-cost legal help
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Maximum deposit
Up to 2 months of rent
Iowa Code §562A.12(1)
To return your deposit
30 days
Iowa Code §562A.12(3)(a)
Notice for late rent
3 days
Iowa Code §562A.27(2)

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

What the law says

The rules, one by one

The basic rules for renting in Iowa, answered with state law and its citation.

Tap “What the law says” to read the exact text and see where it comes from.

  1. How much can they charge for a deposit?

    Up to 2 months of rent

    In Iowa, a landlord cannot ask for or accept a security deposit of more than 2 months' rent.

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.12(1)
    “A landlord shall not demand or receive as a security deposit an amount or value in excess of two months’ rent.”

    Source: Iowa Legislature – Iowa Code 2026 · Verified on October 24, 2026

  2. When must they return my deposit?

    30 days

    After the tenancy ends and you give the landlord your mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord has 30 days to return your deposit or give you a written statement with the specific reason for keeping any part of it. If money is kept to repair the unit, the statement must say what the damage is.

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.12(3)(a)
    “A landlord shall, within thirty days from the date of termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant’s mailing address or delivery instructions, return the rental deposit to the tenant or furnish to the tenant a written statement showing the specific reason for withholding of the rental deposit or any portion thereof. If the rental deposit or any portion of the rental deposit is withheld for the restoration of the dwelling unit, the statement shall specify the nature of the damages.”

    Source: Iowa Legislature – Iowa Code 2026 · Verified on October 24, 2026

  3. If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?

    3 days

    If you don't pay rent when it is due, the landlord can give you a written notice. If you don't pay within 3 days after the notice, the landlord can end the rental agreement.

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.27(2)
    “If rent is unpaid when due and the tenant fails to pay rent within three days after written notice by the landlord of nonpayment and the landlord’s intention to terminate the rental agreement if the rent is not paid within that period of time, the landlord may terminate the rental agreement.”

    Source: Iowa Legislature – Iowa Code 2026 · Verified on October 24, 2026

  4. How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?

    30 days

    To end a month-to-month tenancy in Iowa, the landlord or the tenant must give written notice at least 30 days before the rent due date named in the notice.

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.34(2)
    “The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by a written notice given to the other at least thirty days prior to the periodic rental date specified in the notice.”

    Source: Iowa Legislature – Iowa Code 2026 · Verified on October 24, 2026

  5. Are there limits on late fees?

    If your rent is $700 a month or less, the rental agreement cannot set a late fee of more than $12 a day or more than $60 in total per month. If your rent is more than $700 a month, the limit is $20 a day and $100 in total per month.

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.9(4)
    “For rental agreements in which the rent does not exceed seven hundred dollars per month, a rental agreement shall not provide for a late fee that exceeds twelve dollars per day or a total amount of sixty dollars per month. For rental agreements in which the rent is greater than seven hundred dollars per month, a rental agreement shall not provide for a late fee that exceeds twenty dollars per day or a total amount of one hundred dollars per month.”

    Source: Iowa Legislature – Iowa Code 2026 · Verified on October 24, 2026

  6. How much notice before a rent increase?

    30 days

    The landlord must notify you in writing at least 30 days before a rent increase, and the increase cannot start before your rental agreement (or its renewal) ends.

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.13(5)
    “5. Each tenant shall be notified, in writing, of any rent increase at least thirty days before the effective date. Such effective date shall not be sooner than the expiration date of original rental agreement or any renewal or extension thereof.”

    Source: Iowa Legislature – Iowa Code 2026 · Verified on October 31, 2026

Protections

Protections the law gives you

We show only what state law says, with its citation. Your city may give you more protections.

  • Only a court order can remove you

    Yes: state law says so

    The landlord cannot take back your home on their own, or cut off your electricity, gas, water or other essential service to force you out. The landlord can recover it only if you abandoned or surrendered the unit, or as Iowa's landlord-tenant law (chapter 562A) allows.

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.33
    “A landlord may not recover or take possession of the dwelling unit by action or otherwise, including willful diminution of services to the tenant by interrupting or causing the interruption of electric, gas, water or other essential service to the tenant, except in case of abandonment, surrender, or as permitted in this chapter.”

    Iowa Legislature – Iowa Code 2026

  • Repair and deduct from the rent

    Yes: state law says so

    If the landlord sues to remove you for not paying rent, you can use this as a defense and deduct what you spent fixing a problem if all of this is true: the landlord did not follow the rental agreement or the duty to keep the unit fit; you told the landlord at least 7 days before rent was due that you would fix it at the landlord's expense; the repair costs one month's rent or less; and you had it fixed in good faith before you got the written notice that the landlord intends to end the agreement for nonpayment.

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.27(4)
    “In any action by a landlord for possession based upon nonpayment of rent, proof by the tenant of the following shall be a defense to any action or claim for possession by the landlord, and the amounts expended by the claimant in correcting the deficiencies shall be deducted from the amount claimed by the landlord as unpaid rent: a. That the landlord failed to comply either with the rental agreement or with section 562A.15; and b. That the tenant notified the landlord at least seven days prior to the due date of the tenant’s rent payment of the tenant’s intention to correct the condition constituting the breach referred to in paragraph “a” at the landlord’s expense; and c. That the reasonable cost of correcting the condition constituting the breach is equal to or less than one month’s periodic rent; and d. That the tenant in good faith caused the condition constituting the breach to be corrected prior to receipt of written notice of the landlord’s intention to terminate the rental agreement for nonpayment of rent.”

    Iowa Legislature – Iowa Code 2026

Eviction

How an eviction works in Iowa

Step by step, with the time periods the law sets. No landlord can skip the court.

Compare with other states

  1. 3-day notice to pay rent

    at least 3 days

    What the law says · Iowa Code §562A.27(2)
    “the tenant fails to pay rent within three days after written notice by the landlord of nonpayment and the landlord’s intention to terminate the rental agreement if the rent is not paid within that period of time”

    legis.iowa.gov

  2. Landlord files the eviction case in court

    What the law says · Iowa Code §648.3(1)
    “However, a landlord who has given a tenant three days’ notice to pay rent and has terminated the tenancy as provided in section 562A.27, subsection 2, or section 562B.25, subsection 2, if the tenant is renting the manufactured or mobile home or the land from the landlord, may commence the action without giving a three-day notice to quit.”

    legis.iowa.gov

  3. You are served with the original notice (at least 3 days before the hearing)

    at least 3 days

    What the law says · Iowa Code §648.5(2)(b)
    “Service of original notice under this paragraph shall not occur less than three days prior to the hearing.”

    legis.iowa.gov

  4. Court hearing (no later than 8 days after filing)

    up to 8 days

    What the law says · Iowa Code §648.5(1)(a)
    “The court shall set the date of hearing no later than eight days from the filing date, except that the court shall set a later hearing date no later than fifteen days from the date of filing if the plaintiff requests or consents to the later date of hearing.”

    legis.iowa.gov

  5. Judgment and removal order (within 3 days of the judgment)

    up to 3 days

    What the law says · Iowa Code §648.22
    “If the defendant is found guilty, judgment shall be entered that the defendant be removed from the premises, and that the plaintiff be put in possession of the premises, and an execution for the defendant’s removal within three days from the judgment shall issue accordingly, to which shall be added a clause commanding the officer to collect the costs as in ordinary cases.”

    legis.iowa.gov

  6. An officer carries out the removal order (daytime only)

    What the law says · Iowa Code §648.20
    “The order for removal can be executed only in the daytime.”

    legis.iowa.gov

Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord charge for a deposit in Iowa?

In Iowa, a landlord cannot ask for or accept a security deposit of more than 2 months' rent. (Iowa Code §562A.12(1))

When must a deposit be returned in Iowa?

After the tenancy ends and you give the landlord your mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord has 30 days to return your deposit or give you a written statement with the specific reason for keeping any part of it. If money is kept to repair the unit, the statement must say what the damage is. (Iowa Code §562A.12(3)(a))

What notice is required for late rent in Iowa?

If you don't pay rent when it is due, the landlord can give you a written notice. If you don't pay within 3 days after the notice, the landlord can end the rental agreement. (Iowa Code §562A.27(2))

How much notice ends a month-to-month rental in Iowa?

To end a month-to-month tenancy in Iowa, the landlord or the tenant must give written notice at least 30 days before the rent due date named in the notice. (Iowa Code §562A.34(2))

Are there limits on late fees in Iowa?

If your rent is $700 a month or less, the rental agreement cannot set a late fee of more than $12 a day or more than $60 in total per month. If your rent is more than $700 a month, the limit is $20 a day and $100 in total per month. (Iowa Code §562A.9(4))

How much notice before a rent increase in Iowa?

The landlord must notify you in writing at least 30 days before a rent increase, and the increase cannot start before your rental agreement (or its renewal) ends. (Iowa Code §562A.13(5))

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

Pending

What is left to verify

We have not yet verified these Iowa rules in the law with their citation, so we do not show them. If you need them today, ask for free legal aid.

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