Iowa Uniform Landlord-Tenant Law Preempts Just-Cause

Chapter 562A allows landlords to terminate month-to-month tenancies with 30 days' written notice for any reason and to refuse renewal of fixed-term leases without cause. Iowa Code Section 364.3(13) prohibits cities from adopting ordinances regulating tenant screening, rental application criteria, or other landlord-tenant matters covered by 562A. There is no Iowa just-cause eviction statute, and cities cannot create one. Landlords must still follow proper notice (typically 3-day notice for nonpayment, 7 days for lease violations) and obtain a court order before removing a tenant. Source-of-income protections at the local level are also preempted.

Local ordinances requiring just-cause eviction or restricting landlord termination grounds are void. Landlords need only comply with Chapter 562A notice requirements; tenants cannot use a local ordinance to defeat a no-cause termination.