Rental Property Rules in Johnson County, IA (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Johnson County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
Just Cause Eviction
Iowa is landlord-friendly and has no just-cause eviction law, so no Johnson County city can add one. But the security deposit is capped at two months' rent under Iowa Code section 562A.12, returned within 30 days, and retaliation against a complaining tenant is barred.
Johnson County Eviction & Deposit Rules
Some RestrictionsIowa 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.
Rental Registration
Rental permits are a city job, not a county one. Iowa City runs a mandatory rental-permit program with a two-year inspection cycle through its Housing Inspection Services, and Coralville and North Liberty require permits too. State law now limits how far a city can push occupancy and permit caps.
Johnson County Rental Permits & Inspections
Some RestrictionsIowa Code §414.1(1)(b)
A city shall not, after January 1, 2018, adopt or enforce any regulation or restriction related to the occupancy of residential rental property that is based upon the existence of familial or nonfamilial relationships between the occupants of such rental property.
Repairs & Habitability
Every rental dwelling in unincorporated Johnson County must meet the minimum structure standards of UDO Section 8:7.8, including heat to at least 68°F in habitable rooms, a working kitchen sink and cooking space, natural light equal to 8% of a room's floor area, and at least 120 square feet of floor space for the first occupant.
Johnson County Rental Habitability Standards
Some RestrictionsJohnson County UDO §§ 8:7.8(L), 8:7.9(A)
Every foundation, roof, floor, wall, ceiling, stair, step, elevator, handrail, guardrail, porch, sidewalk and appurtenance thereto shall be maintained in a safe and sound condition and shall be capable of supporting the loads that normal use may cause to be placed thereon. ... Every rental dwelling shall have heating facilities which are properly installed and are capable of safely and adequate...
Rental Property Rules by City in Johnson County
1 cities in Johnson County have their own rental property rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Johnson County ordinances
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