Council Bluffs, IA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat
- 68°F in habitable rooms, bathrooms, toilets
- Heating season
- October 1 through May 1
- Common hall lighting
- 60-watt bulb per 200 sq ft
- Insect screens
- 16 mesh per inch, April 1-Oct 31
- Enforcing agency
- Council Bluffs Building Official
- Penalty
- Simple misdemeanor under Iowa Code § 903.1
Summary
In the City of Council Bluffs, landlords must supply heat to at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit in every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room from October 1 through May 1 under Council Bluffs Municipal Code § 17.02.090, part of the locally amended International Property Maintenance Code. The rule covers dwelling units, rooming units, dormitories and guest rooms rented under any lease.
Section 602.3 is amended as follows: Every owner or operator of any building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory, or guestroom on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat to maintain a temperature of not less than 68 degrees F. in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms from October 1 to May 1. Exceptions: When the outdoor temperature is below the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required, provided that the heating system is operating at its full design capacity.
Full Breakdown
CBMC § 17.02.090 amends IPMC Section 602.3 to require every owner or operator renting a dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory or guestroom to maintain heat of at least 68 degrees F in every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room from October 1 to May 1. The duty relaxes only when the outdoor temperature drops below the locality's winter outdoor design temperature set by the adopted International Energy Conservation Code (CBMC § 13.12), and only if the heating plant is running at full design capacity; landlords may then use listed portable heaters to help close the gap, and inspectors measure room temperature two feet from an exterior wall at a height of three feet.
Other locally amended habitability standards apply alongside the heat rule: CBMC § 17.02.087 requires a stove or range supplied at move-in to stay in operable condition and bars removing it without replacement during the tenancy; CBMC § 17.02.081 requires common halls and stairways in multi-unit buildings to be lit at all times with at least a 60-watt bulb (or equivalent) per 200 square feet of floor area; and CBMC § 17.02.070 requires tightly fitting insect screens of at least 16 mesh per inch on every door and window used for ventilation between April 1 and October 31.
Every bedroom must also have at least one operable window under CBMC § 17.02.068. The Building Official enforces these standards under CBMC Title 17 and may inspect rental property to verify compliance.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Title 17's property maintenance standards, including the heat supply rule, is punishable as a simple misdemeanor under Iowa Code Section 903.1, per CBMC § 17.01.040, or, at the city attorney's discretion, pursued as a municipal infraction under CBMC § 1.95. CBMC § 17.10.150 separately makes any violation of the housing enforcement title a misdemeanor subject to the same municipal infraction citation process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum indoor temperature landlords must provide in Council Bluffs?
Can a landlord remove the stove without replacing it?
What happens if a landlord in Council Bluffs violates the heat or maintenance rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Council Bluffs
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