Iowa Residential Lease Agreement

• Max 2 months' rent. Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address, the landlord must return the deposit or send a written statement of the specific reasons for keeping any of it; missing the deadline forfeits the right to withhold. Interest earned in the first five years belongs to the landlord (Iowa Code § 562A.12).

Reviewed 5 Oct 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.12

• The reviewed rule gives no simple yes or no for Iowa.

Reviewed 5 Oct 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.12

• Written notice given at least thirty days prior to the periodic rental date specified in the notice (562A.34(2)); same for tenant.
• Landlord's notice must be served by a 562A.29A method.
• Tenancies with a term longer than month-to-month: at least thirty days before the end of the term specified in the notice (562A.34(3)).

Quoted from the source: “by a written notice given to the other at least thirty days prior to the periodic rental date specified in the notice”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.34(2), (3); § 562A.29A

• Week-to-week tenancy: written notice at least ten days prior to the termination date specified in the notice (562A.34(1)).

Quoted from the source: “terminate a week-to-week tenancy by a written notice given to the other at least ten days prior to the termination date”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.34(1)

• Tenant remaining after expiration or termination without consent: landlord may bring an action for possession (562A.34(4)); before filing, a three days' written notice to quit is required under 648.3 (except after a 562A.27(2) nonpayment notice).

Quoted from the source: “except section 648.1, subsection 1, three days' notice to quit must be given to the defendant in writing.”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.34(4); § 648.3

• No statewide good-cause requirement in ch. 562A; month-to-month terminable on 30 days' notice without cause (562A.34(2)).

Quoted from the source: “The landlord or the tenant may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by a written notice”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.34

• Rent unpaid when due; tenant fails to pay within three days after written notice of nonpayment AND of the landlord's intention to terminate if not paid within that period (Iowa Code 562A.27(2)).
• Must be served by a 562A.29A method (signed acknowledgment by adult resident; personal service under Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305; or posting on primary entrance door PLUS regular and certified mail).
• After this notice no separate 648.3 three-day notice to quit is needed (648.3 exception).

Quoted from the source: “fails to pay rent within three days after written notice by the landlord of nonpayment and the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.27(2); § 562A.29A; § 648.3

• Material noncompliance with the rental agreement, or noncompliance with 562A.17 materially affecting health and safety: written notice specifying the acts/omissions; agreement terminates on a date not less than seven days after RECEIPT if the breach is not remedied in seven days (562A.27(1)).
• After termination, a separate three-day written notice to quit under Iowa Code 648.3 is required before filing forcible entry and detainer (only the 562A.27(2) nonpayment notice is exempt).

Quoted from the source: “will terminate upon a date not less than seven days after receipt of the notice if the breach is not remedied in seven days”

Exceptions:

• Municipal housing agency may terminate on 30 days' notice for federal-regulation violations without cure (562A.27(5)).

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.27(1); § 648.3

• Clear and present danger to the health or safety of other tenants, the landlord, landlord's employees/agents, or persons within 1,000 feet (physical assault or threat; illegal use/threat/possession of a firearm or weapon; possession of a controlled substance without prescription): single three days' written notice of termination and notice to quit stating the specific activity (562A.27A(1)).
• Repeat of substantially the same noncompliance within six months of a prior 562A.27(1) notice: termination on at least seven days' written notice specifying the breach and termination date, with no cure language (562A.27(1)).

Quoted from the source: “after the service of a single three days' written notice of termination and notice to quit stating the specific activity”

Exceptions:

• 562A.27A(3): tenant avoids termination if the danger was caused by someone other than the tenant and the tenant provides written proof before suit of a protective order, police report, or written warning to the offender (copy to police).

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.27A; § 562A.27(1)

• Iowa Code 562A.29A(1): notices under 562A.27(1),(2),(5), 562A.27A, 562A.34(1)-(3) and 648.3 SHALL be served by one or more of: (a) delivery evidenced by a signed, dated acknowledgment of a resident of the unit aged 18+; (b) personal service per Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305; (c) posting on the primary entrance door AND mailing by both regular and certified mail to the unit or last known address. Mail service is deemed completed four days after deposit/postmark whether or not a receipt is signed (562A.29A(2)). Mail alone is not permitted.

Quoted from the source: “Notice served by mail under this section is deemed completed four days after the notice is deposited in the mail and postmarked for delivery”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.29A; § 648.3

• No statutory form; mandatory contents: the nonpayment notice must state the nonpayment and the landlord's intention to terminate if unpaid within the period (562A.27(2)); the cure notice must specify the acts and omissions constituting the breach and the termination date (562A.27(1)); the clear-and-present-danger notice must state the specific activity (562A.27A(1)); a posted notice must include the date it was posted (648.3).

Quoted from the source: “written notice to the tenant specifying the acts and omissions constituting the breach”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · Iowa Code § 562A.27; § 562A.27A; § 648.3