Iowa tenant screening and landlord-tenant law guide

We checked Iowa Code chapter 562A (the state's residential landlord-tenant law) section by section and did not find a state statute capping tenant application or screening fees. Iowa also does not appear to require a fee-related disclosure specific to tenant screening. In the absence of a confirmed cap, treat any fee amount as a business decision, not a legal ceiling — and note that some cities may weigh in even where the state hasn't.

Iowa's state fair housing law (Iowa Code §216.8A) lists protected classes for housing but does not include criminal history as a protected category or otherwise restrict how landlords may consider criminal records in a rental decision. Iowa has no consumer-reporting statute that limits how far back a criminal record can be reported for tenant-screening purposes. That means criminal history screening in Iowa is generally governed by the federal Fair Housing Act's disparate-impact framework, recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court in Texas Dept. of Housing & Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project (2015).

Source of income (including housing vouchers) is not a protected class under Iowa's Civil Rights Act (§216.8A) — the federal Fair Housing Act doesn't cover source of income either. Iowa goes a step further at the local level: Iowa Code §364.3(16) expressly prohibits Iowa cities from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that stops a landlord from refusing to rent to someone because they use a federal housing choice voucher, and the statute specifically voided any such local ordinance that was in effect as of January 1, 2021, effective January 1, 2023. In practice, this means Iowa landlords generally are not required — by the state or by any city — to accept housing vouchers, though accepting a voucher applicant remains entirely permitted and is a common practice.

Federal FCRA §615 sets the baseline: before taking adverse action based on a consumer report, you generally must provide a pre-adverse-action notice with a copy of the report and a summary of rights, then, after taking adverse action, a final adverse-action notice identifying the reporting agency and the applicant's FCRA rights. Iowa has no state law adding extra adverse-action requirements on top of FCRA for tenant screening.

Under Iowa Code §562A.12, a landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit worth more than two months' rent. Deposits must be held in an FDIC/NCUA-insured account, separate from the landlord's personal funds; interest earned on the deposit during the first five years of a tenancy belongs to the landlord (the statute doesn't specifically address interest after year five). Within 30 days of the tenancy ending and receiving the tenant's forwarding address or delivery instructions, the landlord must either return the deposit or provide a written statement itemizing the specific reasons for withholding any portion (limited to unpaid rent/other amounts due, restoring the unit beyond ordinary wear and tear, or costs of regaining possession from a tenant acting in bad faith). Failing to send that statement within 30 days forfeits the landlord's right to withhold anything; if the tenant never provides a forwarding address within one year of termination, the deposit reverts to the landlord. Bad-faith retention exposes a landlord to punitive damages up to twice the monthly rent plus actual damages, and courts may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party.

Iowa does not have state or local rent control: Iowa Code §364.3(9) expressly bars cities from adopting any ordinance capping the rent that can be charged on private residential or commercial property (a narrow exception applies to residential property in which the city itself holds a property interest). For rent increases on existing tenancies, landlords generally must give tenants written notice at least 30 days before the increase takes effect (§562A.13(5)). For eviction notices, Iowa law generally distinguishes: for nonpayment of rent, a landlord may terminate if the tenant doesn't pay within 3 days after written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate; for other lease violations, the landlord generally must give 7 days' written notice specifying the breach, with an opportunity for the tenant to cure within that period (§562A.27) — Iowa does not appear to require a "just cause" showing for ending a periodic tenancy at the end of its term.

In larger rental markets like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, state law (Iowa Code §364.3) preempts local ordinances on rent control and mandatory voucher acceptance. While Iowa City has historically had a broader municipal human rights ordinance, the 2023 statutory preemption on voucher-related ordinances means any such local voucher protection is no longer enforceable. Whether cities like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, or Iowa City have local fair-chance or criminal-history screening ordinances should be verified directly with each city's human rights office. Outside city limits, landlord-tenant regulation is primarily governed by the statewide Chapter 562A framework, as Iowa townships and counties do not typically have ordinances that layer on top of state law.

Does Iowa cap how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit? Yes — generally, an Iowa landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit worth more than two months' rent (Iowa Code §562A.12).

Is source of income (like a housing voucher) a protected class in Iowa? No. Source of income is not listed as a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act, and state law specifically bars Iowa cities from requiring landlords to accept housing vouchers.

Does Iowa require a special disclosure before pulling a tenant screening report? Iowa has no state screening disclosure law beyond the federal FCRA requirement to provide a standalone disclosure and get written authorization before ordering a report.

How much notice does a landlord generally need to give before eviction in Iowa? It depends on the reason: generally 3 days' notice for nonpayment of rent, or 7 days' notice with a cure opportunity for other lease violations, under Iowa Code §562A.27.

Checkr helps Iowa landlords and property managers run FCRA-compliant background checks quickly, with built-in adverse action workflows to help you stay organized. Start screening tenants in Iowa to get a consistent, documented process in place before your next lease.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.