How to Evict a Tenant in Iowa (2026)
The legal steps for landlords in Iowa — the notice, the court case, costs, timeline and the mistakes that get cases thrown out — with the statute or official page behind each step.
Short answer: In Iowa a landlord must give the required written notice, file an eviction case in court if the tenant doesn't pay or leave, win a judgment, and have a sheriff or other officer carry out the removal. Changing the locks or removing belongings yourself is not allowed.
Step 1: Have a legal reason and give the right notice
| Unpaid rent | 3 days' written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intent to terminate if rent is not paid within that period. After that notice, no separate 3-day notice to quit is required before filing. |
|---|---|
| Lease violation | 7 days' written notice specifying the breach; the lease terminates if the breach is not remedied within 7 days. A repeat of substantially the same breach within 6 months allows termination on 7 days' notice without a right to cure. For a clear and present danger to others, a single 3-day notice of termination and notice to quit. |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no fault) | Either party: written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice. Week-to-week: at least 10 days. Terms longer than month-to-month: at least 30 days before the end of the term. Source: Iowa Code § 562A.34 |
Local rent-control or just-cause rules can limit evictions: Preempted: cities and counties may not adopt or enforce any limit on the amount of rent for private residential or commercial property (except property in which the local government has an interest). No statewide cap.
Step 2: Write and deliver the notice correctly
| What the notice must say | Written notice of nonpayment stating the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement if rent is not paid within 3 days; if unpaid, the landlord may terminate and file without a separate 3-day notice to quit. Service must be by one of: delivery acknowledged in a signed, dated receipt by a resident 18 or older; personal service under Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305; or posting on the primary entrance door (with the posting date on the notice) plus mailing by both regular and certified mail to the unit or last known address. Mailed notice is deemed complete 4 days after mailing. |
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| How it must be delivered | Termination notices and notices to quit (3-day rent notices, 7-day cure notices, clear-and-present-danger notices, month-to-month termination notices, and § 648.3 notices to quit) must be served by: (1) delivery acknowledged in a signed, dated receipt by a resident 18 or older (which counts as notice to all tenants); (2) personal service under Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.305; or (3) posting on the unit's main entrance door AND mailing by both regular and certified mail (§ 562A.29A). Other notices under the chapter may also be given by hand delivery, regular-plus-certified mail, door posting alone, or any method that results in actual receipt (§ 562A.8). Mailed notice is deemed complete 4 days after mailing. Source: Iowa Code §§ 562A.8, 562A.29A |
Notice forms:
- Iowa notice to pay rent or quit — requirements and free draft
- Iowa notice to end a month-to-month tenancy — requirements and free draft
Step 3: File the eviction case and go to the hearing
Eviction cases in Iowa are heard in: Iowa District Court (commonly sitting in small claims) in the county where the premises are located.
- Serve written notice: 3-day notice to pay (nonpayment), 7-day notice to cure (lease violation), 30-day notice (month-to-month), or 3-day notice for clear and present danger
- If required, serve a 3-day notice to quit (not needed after a 3-day nonpayment termination notice)
- File a forcible entry and detainer petition; court sets a hearing within 8 days of filing (up to 15 days if plaintiff requests)
- Serve original notice at least 3 days before the hearing (acknowledged delivery, personal service, or posting plus regular and certified mail after two failed attempts)
- Hearing before the court (tried as an equitable action, no jury in small claims)
- Judgment for removal; execution for the defendant's removal issues within 3 days of judgment and is carried out by the sheriff
Court timing: Hearing set no later than 8 days after filing (15 days if plaintiff requests or consents); service at least 3 days before hearing; defendant may request a continuance if served fewer than 3 days before the hearing.
Source: Iowa Code §§ 648.3, 648.5, 648.22, 631.1(2)
How long it takes to evict a tenant in Iowa
For unpaid rent, the notice period is 3 days; after that comes the court process (filing, service, the tenant's answer and a hearing), then the final order and removal by an officer. Uncontested cases move fastest; a contested case, an appeal or a crowded court adds weeks. See how long evictions take in every state.
How much it costs to evict a tenant in Iowa
Court filing and service fees are set locally. Verified fees in the largest Iowa counties:
| County | Filing and service fees |
|---|---|
| Polk County (Des Moines) | $115 small claims filing (FED with $6,500 or less in damages); $215 if filed as a regular civil petition |
Add the cost of a lawyer if you hire one, lost rent during the case, and any writ or officer fee to remove the tenant.
Evicting someone without a lease (family member, roommate, guest or squatter)
| Someone with no written lease who pays rent (month-to-month / at will) | Either party: written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice. Week-to-week: at least 10 days. Terms longer than month-to-month: at least 30 days before the end of the term. Source: Iowa Code § 562A.34 |
|---|---|
| Someone who was never a tenant (squatter / unauthorized occupant) | No special affidavit or police-removal statute. The owner uses the summary forcible entry and detainer (FED) action, which lies where the defendant entered the owner's prior actual possession 'by force, intimidation, fraud, or stealth' and keeps possession. For that ground, the 3-day written notice to quit otherwise required before filing is not required. Thirty days' peaceable possession with the plaintiff's knowledge after the cause of action accrues bars the FED action, so owners should act promptly. |
Mistakes that get eviction cases dismissed — or get landlords sued
| Changing locks / shutting off utilities | If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water or other essential services, the tenant may recover possession (or terminate the lease) and recover actual damages, punitive damages up to twice the monthly rent, and reasonable attorney fees. Source: Iowa Code § 562A.26 |
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| Retaliation | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an action for possession after the tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a § 562A.15 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. A good-faith complaint within one year before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. Tenant may recover actual damages and attorney fees and has a defense to eviction. Source: Iowa Code § 562A.36 |
| Accepting rent after the notice | Yes, as a rule. Under Iowa's URLTA, if the landlord accepts performance from the tenant that varies from the rental agreement or the landlord's rules, the landlord waives the right to terminate for that breach. The landlord may instead grant a temporary waiver for a set number of days by giving the tenant notice of the breach and the temporary waiver (served under § 562A.8) before the tenant relies on it. No Iowa statute specifically addresses partial rent accepted after a 3-day notice or during an eviction. Source: Iowa Code § 562A.30 |
Federal rules that can change the process
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: eviction protection: A landlord may not evict a covered servicemember or their family during military service without a court order. When the servicemember's ability to pay is materially affected by service, the court must on request stay the case for 90 days or adjust the lease. Knowingly evicting without a court order is a federal misdemeanor. More
- VAWA housing protections: An applicant or tenant cannot be denied, evicted or cut off from assistance because they are or were a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. The abuse cannot be treated as a serious lease violation by the victim. The landlord may 'bifurcate' (split) the lease to evict the abuser and keep the victim housed. Covered programs must also have an emergency transfer plan. A transfer is available on request if the tenant reasonably fears imminent harm, or if a sexual assault happened on the premises within the prior 90 days. More
- CARES Act 30-day notice to vacate (covered dwellings): The landlord of a covered dwelling may not require the tenant to leave until 30 days after giving a notice to vacate. The 120-day filing moratorium in the same section expired in July 2020, but the 30-day notice subsection has no expiration date in its text. More
- HUD 30-day nonpayment notice (public housing and project-based Section 8): Before filing an eviction for nonpayment, the landlord must give written notice at least 30 days in advance. The notice must itemize the rent owed by month, explain how to pay it off and by what date, and explain how to recertify income or request a hardship exemption. The notice cannot be served before the day after rent is due. If the tenant pays the amount owed within the 30 days, the landlord may not file the eviction. More
Iowa eviction FAQ for landlords
How much notice does a landlord have to give to evict for unpaid rent in Iowa?
3 days' written notice of nonpayment and of the landlord's intent to terminate if rent is not paid within that period. After that notice, no separate 3-day notice to quit is required before filing.
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Iowa?
Court fees are set locally — for example, Polk County (Des Moines): $115 small claims filing (FED with $6,500 or less in damages); $215 if filed as a regular civil petition.
Can a landlord change the locks to evict a tenant in Iowa?
If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water or other essential services, the tenant may recover possession (or terminate the lease) and recover actual damages, punitive damages up to twice the monthly rent, and reasonable attorney fees.
How do you evict a tenant without a lease in Iowa?
Either party: written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice. Week-to-week: at least 10 days. Terms longer than month-to-month: at least 30 days before the end of the term.
← All Iowa landlord-tenant rules · Notice deadline calculator
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.