Iowa Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
Iowa rules on mold, pests, heat & ac for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No statute — Iowa has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable. Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2)
The rules in Iowa
| Mold | No statute — Iowa has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable. Tenants must keep their part of the premises as clean and safe as conditions permit and use ventilation and plumbing reasonably (§ 562A.17). |
|---|---|
| Pests & bed bugs | No statute — Iowa does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment or require a bed-bug disclosure. Infestations fall under the landlord's fit-and-habitable and code-compliance duties; tenants must keep their unit clean and dispose of garbage and waste in a clean and safe manner. Local housing codes may set extermination duties. |
| Heat | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat/hot water is generated by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities supplied by the landlord must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. For a single-family residence, the parties may agree in writing, in good faith, that the tenant supplies heat and hot water (§ 562A.15(2)). Local codes may set temperatures. |
| Air conditioning | No duty to install air conditioning and no maximum indoor temperature. Air-conditioning facilities supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord must be maintained in good and safe working order. Tenants must use A/C equipment in a reasonable manner (§ 562A.17(5)). Source: Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(4) |
| Smoke and CO detectors | Rental single-family units and multi-unit residential buildings must have smoke detectors, and those with a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage must have carbon monoxide alarms, installed under state fire rules. If a detector or alarm does not work, the owner or manager must fix it within 30 days after written notice; otherwise the tenant may repair or install one and deduct the cost from rent. A landlord may require a tenant living there longer than 30 days to supply batteries for battery-operated units. Tampering with a required detector is a simple misdemeanor. Owners must supply light-emitting detectors on request for tenants who are deaf or hard of hearing (§ 10A.518(2)(c), (3)(c)). The section was formerly § 100.18. |
Related questions
- Does a landlord have to fix mold?
- Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in a rental?
- Does a landlord have to provide heat?
- Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning?
Iowa vs. neighboring states
| State | Mold | Pests & bed bugs | Heat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | No statute — Iowa has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable. Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2) | No statute — Iowa does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment or require a bed-bug disclosure. Infestations fall under the landlord's fit-and-habitable and code-compliance duties; tenants must keep their unit clean and dispose of garbage and waste in a clean and safe manner. Iowa Code §§ 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2), (5); 562A.17(2), (3) | Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat/hot water is generated by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities supplied by the landlord must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(4), (6) |
| Illinois | No statute — Illinois has no statewide mold disclosure or remediation law for rentals. Mold falls under the landlord's general duty to keep the unit fit to live in, make necessary repairs, and comply with state and local health and housing codes. For small repairs required by the lease or by law (lesser of $500 or half a month's rent), a tenant may use the statutory repair-and-deduct procedure after 14 days' written notice. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1; 765 ILCS 742/5 | No statute — Illinois has no statewide pest or bed-bug law for private rentals. Infestations are handled under the landlord's duty to keep the unit fit to live in and comply with local health and housing codes. Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 | No statewide statute sets a heat requirement, minimum temperature, or heating season for private rentals. Heat is generally covered by the landlord's duty to keep the unit fit to live in and by local housing codes, which often set minimum temperatures (for example, in Chicago). Illinois Attorney General, Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws, p. 1 |
| Minnesota | No statute — no mold-specific disclosure or remediation law. Mold is covered by the general statutory covenants that the unit and common areas are fit for their intended use, kept in reasonable repair, and kept in compliance with state and local health and safety laws. A condition with a serious negative impact on health or safety can support an emergency tenant remedies action, and tenants can also use rent escrow or a tenant remedies action. Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, subd. 1(a)(1), (2), (4); § 504B.381, subd. 1 | The landlord's statutory duty to keep the premises in reasonable repair expressly includes extermination of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests, including bed bugs. The exception is when the problem was caused by the willful, malicious or irresponsible conduct of the tenant or someone under the tenant's control. A serious infestation is an emergency that can support an expedited emergency tenant remedies action. No bed-bug-specific disclosure statute. Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, subd. 1(a)(2); § 504B.381, subd. 1(2)(i) | Yes, statewide. The landlord must provide heat of at least 68°F in all places intended for habitation, including kitchens and bathrooms, from October 1 through April 30. The only exception is when a utility company requires and instructs the heat to be reduced. Loss of heat that the landlord is responsible for is an emergency that can support an emergency tenant remedies action. Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, subd. 1(a)(5); § 504B.381, subd. 1(2)(iv) |
| Missouri | No statute — Missouri has no mold disclosure or remediation law. Missouri courts recognize an implied warranty of habitability as case law, not statute. Local housing codes set specific standards. If a condition that detrimentally affects habitability or sanitation violates a local housing or building code, an eligible tenant may use the statutory repair-and-deduct remedy. To qualify, the tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured lease-violation notices. RSMo 441.234; RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked) | No statute — no state law assigns pest or bed bug treatment or requires disclosure. The lease, local housing codes and the case-law implied warranty of habitability govern. Where an infestation violates a local housing code, an eligible tenant may use the repair-and-deduct remedy. RSMo ch. 441 and 535 (checked); RSMo 441.234 | No statewide minimum temperature or heating season for rentals. Heat requirements come from local housing codes and the lease. By statute, in master-metered multi-unit buildings, the utility must post notice 5 days before shutting off heat-related service for the owner's nonpayment. Tenants may then petition for a receiver, and service may not be cut while the petition is pending. RSMo 441.650; ch. 441 (checked) |
| Nebraska | No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. After written or actual notice, the landlord must substantially comply with applicable minimum housing codes and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises fit and habitable. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(a)-(b) | No pest- or bed-bug-specific statute. The landlord must keep the premises fit and habitable and common areas clean and safe (after notice); the tenant must keep the occupied part of the premises clean and safe and dispose of garbage and waste properly. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1419(1)(b)-(c), 76-1421(2)-(3) | Yes. The landlord must supply reasonable heat (and running water and reasonable hot water at all times) and maintain heating facilities in good and safe working order. No statewide minimum temperature or heating season is set. Exceptions: buildings not required by law to be equipped for heat, or units where heat is generated by an installation in the tenant's exclusive control supplied by a direct public utility connection. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1419(1)(d), (1)(f) |
| South Dakota | No statute — general habitability/repair duty applies. South Dakota has no mold disclosure, remediation or exposure-standard law for rentals; the landlord must keep the premises and common areas in reasonable repair, fit for human habitation and in good and safe working order, except for disrepair caused by the tenant's (or the tenant's invitees') negligent, willful or malicious conduct. SDCL 43-32-8 | No statute — no bed-bug or pest-specific law. The landlord's general duty to keep the premises fit for human habitation applies, except where the condition was caused by the tenant's negligent, willful or malicious conduct. SDCL 43-32-8 | The landlord must maintain heating systems in good and safe working order (unless the tenant caused the disrepair) and keep the unit fit for human habitation. No state statute sets a minimum indoor temperature or heating season. SDCL 43-32-8 |
| Wisconsin | No statute — neither Wis. Stat. ch. 704 nor the rental-practices rule (ATCP 134) mentions mold. Mold is handled under the general repair duty (structural repairs, keeping equipment and landlord-controlled areas in repair, complying with any local housing code) and the pre-lease disclosure rule: before signing or taking a deposit, the landlord must disclose known uncorrected code violations that significantly threaten health or safety, and conditions that are a substantial hazard to the tenant's health or safety. A tenant may also use the untenantability remedies if the premises become unfit for occupancy. Wis. Stat. 704.07(2), (4); Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(2) | No bed-bug-specific statute. If the premises are damaged by an infestation of insects or other pests caused by the tenant's acts or inaction, the landlord may let the tenant remediate or may do the work itself and charge the tenant the reasonable cost (materials, labor, and the landlord's time at a reasonable hourly rate). Infestations not caused by the tenant fall under the landlord's general repair and local housing-code duties. Wis. Stat. 704.07(2), (3)(a) | Partly. The landlord must keep in reasonable repair any equipment it has expressly or impliedly agreed to provide to supply heat, and must comply with any local housing code. Before renting, the landlord must disclose if the heating facilities are not in safe operating condition or cannot maintain at least 67 degrees F (measured at the center of the room, midway between floor and ceiling) in all living areas during all seasons the unit may be occupied. Wis. Stat. 704.07(2)(a)2., 5.; Wis. Admin. Code ATCP 134.04(2)(b)2. |
City rules that may add to state law
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Iowa Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules FAQ
Does a landlord have to fix mold in Iowa?
No statute — Iowa has no mold-specific landlord-tenant law. Mold is handled under the landlord's duties to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety and to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to keep the premises fit and habitable. (Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2))
Who pays for pest control and bed bugs in Iowa?
No statute — Iowa does not specifically assign pest or bed-bug treatment or require a bed-bug disclosure. Infestations fall under the landlord's fit-and-habitable and code-compliance duties; tenants must keep their unit clean and dispose of garbage and waste in a clean and safe manner. (Iowa Code §§ 562A.15(1)(a)(1), (2), (5); 562A.17(2), (3))
Does a landlord have to provide heat in Iowa?
Yes. The landlord must supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water at all times, and reasonable heat — unless the building is not required by law to be so equipped or the heat/hot water is generated by equipment under the tenant's exclusive control with a direct utility connection. Heating facilities supplied by the landlord must be kept in good and safe working order. No numeric minimum temperature is set by state statute. (Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(4), (6))
Does a landlord have to provide air conditioning in Iowa?
No duty to install air conditioning and no maximum indoor temperature. Air-conditioning facilities supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord must be maintained in good and safe working order. (Iowa Code § 562A.15(1)(a)(4))
Who is responsible for smoke detectors in a rental in Iowa?
Rental single-family units and multi-unit residential buildings must have smoke detectors, and those with a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage must have carbon monoxide alarms, installed under state fire rules. If a detector or alarm does not work, the owner or manager must fix it within 30 days after written notice; otherwise the tenant may repair or install one and deduct the cost from rent. A landlord may require a tenant living there longer than 30 days to supply batteries for battery-operated units. Tampering with a required detector is a simple misdemeanor. (Iowa Code § 10A.518(2)-(3), (7)-(9))
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.