Short-Term Rentals in Johnson County, IA (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Johnson County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Renting a single-family home, ADU, seasonal home, cabin, or multi-family unit short term in unincorporated Johnson County requires a Zoning Administrator permit that expires every two years. The rental must be leased whole, not room by room, and poor management can cost the operator the permit.
Johnson County Short-Term Rental Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsJohnson County UDO § 8:1.24(CC)(1),(2),(6)
CC. Short-Term Rentals. Short-term rental of single-family dwellings, Auxiliary Dwelling Unit, seasonal homes, cabins, and individual dwelling units in multiple-family dwellings is an accessory use in the A, AR, SF, RS, RM, RC, and AG-T districts and are subject to Zoning Administrator approval and the following conditions: 1. Permits authorizing the use of a single-family dwelling, Auxiliary D...
Noise Rules
State law lets cities regulate short-term rentals for noise and nuisance even though they cannot ban them. Iowa City's noise and disorderly house rules apply to STR guests, and repeat problems can jeopardize the rental permit.
Iowa City STR Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsIowa Code 414.1(1)(e)(3)(b)
Residential use and zoning purposes related to noise, property maintenance, or nuisance issues.
Taxes & Fees
Short-term stays in Johnson County owe Iowa's 5% state hotel/motel excise tax plus the local hotel/motel tax, which is 7% in Iowa City and Coralville, for a 12% total. Platforms collect the state tax automatically.
Johnson County STR Taxes & Fees
Some RestrictionsIowa Code 423A.4(1)
a hotel and motel tax, at a rate not to exceed seven percent, which shall be imposed in increments of one or more full percentage points upon the sales price from the renting of lodging
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
A short-term rental in unincorporated Johnson County must supply off-street parking under the county's standard residential table: one space per dwelling unit for a single-family rental and one space per dwelling for an auxiliary dwelling unit used as a short-term rental.
Johnson County Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsJohnson County UDO §§ 8:1.24(CC)(3) & 8:1.25(C)(1)-(2)
3. Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with subsection 8:1.25... Residential. Auxiliary Dwelling Unit: One (1) space per dwelling. Single-Family: One (1) space per dwelling unit... Sites in the RR, C, CH, AG-T, C-AG, ML, and MH districts that cannot meet parking requirements on site may provide required off-street parking on a separate parcel. Off-site parking lots shall be no fu...
Occupancy Limits
Iowa City can set occupancy limits for short-term rentals through building and nuisance rules, but state law bars STR-only caps stricter than those on comparable homes. Hosts list a maximum occupancy on the permit and in the listing.
Iowa City STR Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsIowa Code 414.1(1)(e)(2)
A city shall not adopt or enforce any regulation, restriction, or other ordinance, including a conditional use permit requirement, relating to short-term rental properties within the city. A short-term rental property shall be classified as a residential land use for zoning purposes.
Insurance Requirements
Iowa City does not impose a short-term-rental-only insurance mandate, because state law bars STR-specific requirements and permit fees. Hosts should still carry liability coverage, since standard homeowner policies often exclude rental activity.
Iowa City STR Insurance Rules
Few RestrictionsIowa Code 414.1(1)(e)(2)
A city shall not adopt or enforce any regulation, restriction, or other ordinance, including a conditional use permit requirement, relating to short-term rental properties within the city. A short-term rental property shall be classified as a residential land use for zoning purposes.
Host Presence Rule
Johnson County allows an auxiliary dwelling unit to be rented as a short-term rental only if the property's legal owner lives on site. UDO Section 8:1.24(E)(5) ties that host-presence condition directly to any ADU used as a short-term rental, layered on top of the general short-term rental permit process in Section 8:1.24(CC).
Johnson County ADU Short-Term Rental Host Rule
Some RestrictionsJohnson County UDO 8:1.24(E)(5), 8:1.24(CC)
5. Auxiliary dwelling units may be utilized as Short Term Rentals as allowed by this ordinance. Where an auxiliary dwelling unit is utilized as a Short Term Rental, the legal owner of the property shall reside on the property. ... CC. Short-Term Rentals. Short-term rental of single-family dwellings, Auxiliary Dwelling Unit, seasonal homes, cabins, and individual dwelling units in multiple-famil...
Short-Term Rentals by City in Johnson County
1 cities in Johnson County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Johnson County ordinances
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