6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Johnson County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
Iowa limits how far cities can go: under state law they cannot ban short-term rentals or charge an STR permit fee. Iowa City still requires a free rental permit and inspection, and hosts must collect lodging tax.
Iowa 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.
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 Code 414.1(1)(e)(3)(b)
Residential use and zoning purposes related to noise, property maintenance, or nuisance issues.
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.
Iowa 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
Iowa City can address short-term rental parking through its traffic and residential rules, which state law expressly allows, but it cannot impose STR-only requirements harsher than those on comparable homes. Hosts submit a parking plan with the permit.
Iowa Code 414.1(1)(e)(3)(a)
Protection of public health and safety related to fire and building safety, sanitation, or traffic control.
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 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.
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 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.
1 cities in Johnson County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Johnson County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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