Iowa caps a security deposit at two months' rent. Under Iowa Code 562A.12, a landlord must return the deposit, or a written statement of deductions, within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address. A landlord who misses the 30-day deadline forfeits all right to withhold any portion of the deposit.
Iowa Code 562A.12 governs rental deposits. Subsection 1 states a landlord "shall not demand or receive as a security deposit an amount or value in excess of two months' rent." Within 30 days from termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit or furnish a written statement showing the specific reason for withholding (562A.12(3)). Deductions are limited to unpaid rent or other funds due, restoring the unit to its original condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and recovering possession from a non-good-faith holdover tenant. A landlord who fails to give the written statement within 30 days "shall forfeit all rights to withhold any portion of the rental deposit" (562A.12(4)). The landlord bears the burden of proving the reason for any withholding.
Under Iowa Code 562A.12(7), bad-faith retention of a deposit subjects the landlord to punitive damages not to exceed twice the monthly rental payment, in addition to actual damages. Section 562A.12(8) lets the court award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party in any action on the rental agreement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
polk-county-ia
Polk County allows backyard composting but regulates it through the Health Nuisance Regulation: a compost pile that harbors vermin, produces offensive odors,...
polk-county-ia
Polk County has no ordinance for or against artificial turf on residential lots. Installation on unincorporated land is generally unrestricted; cities and HO...
polk-county-ia
Polk County has no ordinance banning native or prairie landscaping, and the county promotes native roadside vegetation. The one legal limit: your planting ca...
polk-county-ia
Iowa has no state ban on collecting rainwater, and Polk County sets no rain-barrel ordinance. Residents may capture roof runoff in barrels or cisterns; only ...
polk-county-ia
Polk County sets no lawn-watering schedule. Central Iowa's water is managed by Central Iowa Water Works / Des Moines Water Works, which can impose voluntary ...
polk-county-ia
Iowa Code 317.10 requires every landowner to destroy all noxious weeds on their land as directed by the county board of supervisors. Polk County's Weed Commi...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in this county.
See how West Des Moines's security deposit rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.