Iowa Eviction Notice Law
Iowa's notice period for unpaid rent is 3 days (3-day notice to pay rent or quit). For a lease violation it is 7 days, and the tenant gets a chance to fix the problem.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
Not legal advice. A defective notice can restart an eviction case; ask a Iowa attorney or court self-help center before serving one. See our disclaimer.
Iowa eviction notice rules at a glance
| Notice for unpaid rent | 3 days (3-day notice to pay rent or quit)Iowa Code § 562A.27(2) |
|---|---|
| Notice for a lease violation | 7 days (chance to cure)Iowa Code § 562A.27(1) |
| Ending a month-to-month tenancy (no-fault) | 30 days (either side)Iowa Code § 562A.34 |
What Iowa law says
What notice must an Iowa landlord give before filing an eviction for unpaid rent?
If rent is unpaid when due, serve a written notice of nonpayment stating the landlord will end the rental agreement unless rent is paid within three days, and the landlord may terminate if it is not paid (Iowa Code § 562A.27(2)).
How much notice is required for a lease violation in Iowa?
For a material lease violation, give written notice describing the breach and stating the agreement ends no sooner than seven days after receipt unless the tenant fixes it; a substantially similar breach within six months allows a 7-day termination notice without a cure (Iowa Code § 562A.27(1)).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Iowa?
Either landlord or tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice given at least 30 days before the rent due date named in the notice (Iowa Code § 562A.34(2)).
How Iowa compares
No verified jurisdiction uses a shorter unpaid-rent notice.
None of Iowa's 6 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Unpaid rent · lease violation | States |
|---|---|
| 3 days · 7 days, with cure | Iowa |
| 5 days · 10 days | Illinois |
| 14 days · no statewide rule | Minnesota |
| No statewide rule · 10 days | Missouri |
| 7 days · 30 days, with cure | Nebraska |
| No statewide rule · no statewide rule | South Dakota |
| 5 days · 5 days, with cure | Wisconsin |
Other Iowa rules
| Security deposit limit | 2 months' rentIowa Code § 562A.12(1) |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after the lease endsIowa Code § 562A.12(3)(a) |
| Late-fee cap | Rent ≤ $700/month: max $12 per day and $60 per month; rent > $700/month: max $20 per day and $100 per monthIowa Code § 562A.9(4) |
| Entry notice | 24 hours' noticeIowa Code § 562A.19 |
| Rent-increase notice | 30 days (The increase may not take effect before the original rental agreement (or any renewal or extension) expires)Iowa Code § 562A.13(5) |