Fair Housing: Iowa

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, legal advice. This page is not intended to provide a mandatory standard of care for the industry. Please consult with local counsel before taking any action based off of the information provided. 

On these pages, you will find information about 1) the protected classes in each state’s fair housing law, 2) protected classes in the cities and counties in the state’s three largest city or metropolitan areas, and 3) protected class information in additional jurisdictions of interest to NAA members. We highlight source of income protections, where applicable, that could substantially impact industry operations. Please see the footnotes. NAA also has resources on the federal fair housing protections that apply nationwide.

We are currently in the process of optimizing NAA’s Fair Housing Protected Class Resources. If you do not see a jurisdiction of interest, please reach out to the NAA Government Affairs Team at [email protected].

Information on this page is current as of September 2022.

Iowa Protected Classes

(State of Iowa Code - Civil Rights Commission §216.8)

  • Race

  • Color

  • National Origin

  • Religion

  • Sex

  • Familial Status

  • Disability

  • Age

  • Creed

  • Sexual Orientation

  • Gender Identity

Per state code §331.304.13  "A county shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance or regulation that prohibits an owner, lessor, sublessor, managing agent, or other person having the right to lease, sublease, or rent out a dwelling unit from refusing to lease or rent out the dwelling unit to a person because of the person’s use of a federal housing choice voucher issued by the United States department of housing and urban development. Such an ordinance or regulation in effect on January 1, 2021, is void and unenforceable on and after January 1, 2023." This preempts any local source of income protections.

(Story County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Ames Protected Classes

(Ames Municipal Code § 14.5(2))

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Linn County Code)

This Jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

City of Cedar Rapids Protected Classes

(City of Cedar Rapids Municipal Code § 69.19)​

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Marital Status

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Scott County Code)

This Jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

City of Davenport Protected Classes

(City of Davenport Municipal Code § 2.58.300 et seq. [starts page 15])​

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Marital Status

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Dallas County Code of Ordinances)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Waukee Protected Classes

(Waukee Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

West Des Moines Protected Classes1

(West Des Moines Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

1West Des Moines Resides in Dallas, Madison, Polk, and Warren Counties

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Madison County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

West Des Moines Protected Classes2

(West Des Moines Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

2West Des Moines Resides in Dallas, Madison, Polk, and Warren Counties

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Polk County Agenda and Minutes)

This Jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Des Moines Protected Classes

(Des Moines Municipal Code §62-101)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry
  • Source of Income3

 

West Des Moines Protected Classes4

(West Des Moines Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

 

3State code §331.304.13 and §364.3.13 prohibit county and city authorities, respectively, from passing any ordinance prohibiting those leasing a dwelling unit from refusing to lease or rent out the dwelling unit to a person because of that person’s used of a federal housing choice voucher issued by HUD.

4West Des Moines Resides in Dallas, Madison, Polk, and Warren Counties

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Warren County Code)

This Jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

City of Des Moines Protected Classes

(City of Des Moines Municipal Code §62-101)​

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Ancestry
  • Source of Income5

 

West Des Moines Protected Classes6

(West Des Moines Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

 

5Source of Income means any funds, income, or support used to pay for housing, and includes all legally derived funds, including pension, annuity, child support, alimony, and federal state or local government funds including SS, SSI, TANF, family investment programs, general relief, food stamps, unemployment compensation, housing vouchers or similar programs. HOWEVER, State code §331.304.13 and §364.3.13 prohibit county and city authorities, respectively, from passing any ordinance prohibiting those leasing a dwelling unit from refusing to lease or rent out the dwelling unit to a person because of that person’s used of a federal housing choice voucher issued by HUD.

6West Des Moines Resides in Dallas, Madison, Polk, and Warren Counties