Short-term rental permit rules in Linn County, IA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Iowa HF 2641 (2020), codified at Iowa Code §335.30, limits county authority over short-term rentals. Linn County addresses STRs in unincorporated areas via UDC §107-117 (short-term rental use), but cannot ban residential rentals based solely on rental status.
Iowa Code §335.30 prohibits counties from adopting or enforcing zoning regulations that prohibit short-term rental of a residential property or treat STRs differently than other residential property uses, except for limited health, safety, and nuisance purposes. Linn County UDC Chapter 107 Article VI includes Section 107-117 (Short-Term Rental Use Standards) for unincorporated areas. Operators must collect and remit Iowa's 5% state hotel/motel excise tax on stays of 31 days or less under Iowa Code Chapter 423A. Incorporated cities like Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha have separate STR ordinances.
Violations of Linn County UDC §107-117 are enforced through Planning & Development. Failure to remit state hotel/motel tax under Iowa Code Ch. 423A may result in Iowa Department of Revenue penalties.
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See how Linn County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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