Rental Property Rules in Iowa City, IA (2026)
5 verified rental property rules for Iowa City, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Iowa City has no rent-control ordinance and cannot adopt one. Iowa Code section 364.3(9) bars any city ordinance imposing any limitation on the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. Rent is set by lease.
Iowa City Rent Control: Preempted by State Law
Few RestrictionsIowa Code §364.3(9)
A city shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance imposing any limitation on the amount of rent that can be charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. This subsection does not prevent the right of a city to manage and control residential property in which the city has a property interest.
Just Cause Eviction
Iowa City has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Termination of residential tenancies is governed by the Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law (Iowa Code chapter 562A), which permits no-cause termination of month-to-month tenancies on 30 days' notice.
Iowa City Just-Cause Eviction: Governed by Iowa URLTA
Few RestrictionsIowa 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.
Rental Registration
Iowa City bars anyone from renting out a dwelling unit, duplex, rooming unit, or type III unit without both a certificate of structure compliance and a rental permit issued in the owner's name, unless an owner-occupant lets to no more than one tenant. Both documents are filed with the Department of Housing and Inspection Services.
Iowa City Rental Permit Requirement
Significant RestrictionsIowa City Code § 17-5-16(A)
A. Certificate And Permit Required For Rental Property: It shall be a violation of this Code for any person to let to another any dwelling, dwelling unit, duplex, multiple dwelling, rooming unit, type III dwelling unit, or rooming house, except the owner occupant who lets to no more than one tenant, unless: 1. The owner or operator holds a valid certificate of structure compliance, issued by th...
Security Deposit Rules
Iowa City security deposits follow the Iowa URLTA. Iowa Code 562A.12 caps the deposit at two months' rent, requires return or written itemized deductions within 30 days of tenancy termination and receipt of the tenant's forwarding address.
Iowa City Security Deposits: Iowa Code 562A.12
Some RestrictionsIowa Code § 562A.12
A landlord shall not demand or receive as a security deposit an amount or value in excess of two months’ rent. 2. All rental deposits shall be held by the landlord for the tenant, who is a party to the agreement, in a bank or savings and loan association or credit union which is insured by an agency of the federal government.
Repairs & Habitability
Iowa City's Housing Code sets numeric habitability minimums for every dwelling and rental unit: heat capable of reaching 68 degrees Fahrenheit, hot water of at least 110 degrees, at least 120 square feet of floor space for the first occupant, and natural light equal to 8% of a habitable room's floor area. Rental units add smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
Iowa City Minimum Rental Habitability Standards
Some RestrictionsIowa City Code § 17-5-17; § 17-5-18
I. Heating: 1. Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed and are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms located therein to a temperature of at least sixty eight degrees Fahrenheit (68°) (20°C) and shall be capable of maintaining in all said locations a minimum temperature of sixty five degrees Fahrenheit (65°) (18...
Looking for Johnson County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Iowa City city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Johnson County →