Johnson County, IA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum heat
- 68°F habitable rooms, 65°F at floor
- Minimum floor area
- 120 sq ft for first occupant
- Natural light requirement
- 8% of room floor area
- Minimum water pressure
- 15 psi at open outlets
- Screens/storm windows due
- May 1 / November 1
Summary
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.
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 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°C) at a distance of three feet (3') above the floor level at all times.
Full Breakdown
9 of the Johnson County Rental Housing Code set the minimum physical standards every rental dwelling in the unincorporated county must meet and maintain. Heating facilities must be able to keep every habitable room, bathroom and toilet room at a minimum of 68°F, and maintain at least 65°F measured three feet above the floor, at all times. Every rental unit needs a kitchen sink, space and utility access for a refrigerator and stove, and every habitable room except the kitchen needs a window or skylight equal to at least 8% of the room's floor area for natural light, plus openable window area equal to at least 4% of the floor area for ventilation, with 16-mesh screens.
Floor area minimums require at least 120 square feet of habitable space for the first occupant and 100 additional square feet for each further occupant, with a minimum seven-foot ceiling height in habitable rooms. 9 separately makes the owner responsible for keeping the structure safe and sound: foundations, roofs, walls and stairs must support normal loads; exteriors must stay weathertight, watertight, rodent- and insect-proof; the electrical system must be free of overloading or damage that risks shock or fire; and the plumbing system must stay sanitary, leak-free and maintain at least 15 pounds of water pressure at every open outlet.
Owners must supply screens by May 1 and storm windows by November 1 each year if not already provided at move-in, and all fire extinguishers and early warning systems must be properly installed under the county's fire, building and rental housing codes.
Violations & Fines
A rental dwelling that fails to meet these minimum structure or maintenance standards can be inspected on a tenant complaint or the inspector's own observation, and the Zoning Administrator can placard it as unfit for human habitation and order it vacated under Section 8:7.6(B). Because the Rental Housing Code is enforced under Chapter 8:8, an uncorrected violation can also become a County infraction under Section 8:8.3, carrying a civil penalty of up to $750 for a first offense and $1,000 for a repeat offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature must a Johnson County rental be heated to?
How much floor space does a rental unit need per occupant?
Who is responsible for keeping a rental unit's structure and systems safe?
When must a landlord provide screens and storm windows?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johnson County
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