Iowa Code § 562B.1 Short title.
562B.1. Short title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Manufactured Home Communities or Mobile Home Parks Residential Landlord and Tenant Act”.
[C79, 81, §562B.1] 2001 Acts, ch 153, §16
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Iowa Code tit. XIV, ch. 562B, art. I
in effectIowa Code § 562B.2 Purposes.
562B.2. Purposes.
Underlying purposes and policies of this chapter are:
1. To simplify, clarify and establish the law governing the rental of manufactured or mobile home spaces and rights and obligations of landlord and tenant.
2. To encourage landlord and tenant to maintain and improve the quality of manufactured or mobile home living.
[C79, 81, §562B.2] 2001 Acts, ch 153, §15; 2001 Acts, ch 176, §80
Iowa Code § 562B.3 Supplementary principles of law applicable.
562B.3. Supplementary principles of law applicable.
Unless displaced by the provisions of this chapter, the principles of law and equity, including the law relating to capacity to contract, mutuality of obligations, principal and agent, real property, public health, safety and fire prevention, estoppel, fraud, misrepresentation, duress, coercion, mistake, bankruptcy or other validating or invalidating cause supplement its provisions.
[C79, 81, §562B.3]
Iowa Code § 562B.4 Administration of remedies — enforcement.
562B.4. Administration of remedies — enforcement.
1. The remedies provided by this chapter shall be so administered that the aggrieved party may recover appropriate damages. The aggrieved party has a duty to mitigate damages.
2. Any right or obligation declared by this chapter is enforceable by action unless the provision declaring it specifies a different and limited effect.
[C79, 81, §562B.4]
Iowa Code § 562B.5 Exclusions from application of chapter.
562B.5. Exclusions from application of chapter.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to an occupancy in or operation of public housing as authorized, provided or conducted pursuant to chapter 403A, or pursuant to any federal law or regulation with which it might conflict.
[C79, 81, §562B.5]
Iowa Code § 562B.6 Jurisdiction and service of process.
562B.6. Jurisdiction and service of process.
1. The appropriate district court of this state may exercise jurisdiction over a landlord or tenant with respect to conduct in this state governed by this chapter or with respect to any claim arising from a transaction subject to this chapter. An action under this chapter may be brought as a small claim pursuant to the provisions of chapter 631. In addition to any other method provided by rule or by statute, personal jurisdiction over a landlord or tenant may be acquired in a civil action or proceeding instituted in the appropriate district court by the service of process in the manner provided by this section.
2. If a landlord is not a resident of this state or is a corporation not authorized to do business in this state and engages in conduct in this state governed by this chapter, or engages in a transaction subject to this chapter, the landlord shall designate an agent upon whom service of process may be made in this state. The agent shall be a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to do business in this state. The designation shall be in writing and filed with the secretary of state. If no designation is made and filed or if process cannot be served in this state upon the designated agent, process may be served upon the secretary of state, but the plaintiff or petitioner shall forthwith mail a copy of this process and pleading by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the defendant or respondent at that person’s last reasonably ascertained address. If there is no last reasonably ascertainable address and if the defendant or respondent has not complied with section 562B.14, subsections 1 and 2, then service upon the secretary of state shall be sufficient service of process without the mailing of copies to the defendant or respondent. Service of process shall be deemed complete and the time shall begin to run for the purposes of this section at the time of service upon the secretary of state. The defendant shall appear and answer within thirty days after completion thereof in the manner and under the same penalty as if defendant had been personally served with the summons. An affidavit of compliance with this section shall be filed with the clerk of the district court on or before the return day of the process, or within any further time the court allows.
[C79, 81, §562B.6]
Iowa Code § 562B.7 General definitions.
562B.7. General definitions.
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent sections of this chapter which apply to specific sections thereof, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this chapter:
1. “Building and housing codes” include any law, ordinance, or governmental regulation concerning fitness for habitation, or the construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use, or appearance of any manufactured home community or mobile home park, dwelling unit, or manufactured or mobile home space.
2. “Business” includes a corporation, government, governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, and any other legal or commercial entity which is a landlord, owner, manager, or constructive agent pursuant to section 562B.14.
3. “Dwelling unit” excludes real property used to accommodate a manufactured or mobile home.
4. “Landlord” means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of a manufactured home community or a mobile home park and it also means a manager of the manufactured home community or a mobile home park who fails to disclose as required by section 562B.14.
5. “Manufactured home community” means the same as land-leased community defined in sections 335.30A and 414.28A.
6. “Mobile home” means any vehicle without motive power used or so manufactured or constructed as to permit its being used as a conveyance upon the public streets and highways and so designed, constructed, or reconstructed as will permit the vehicle to be used as a place for human habitation by one or more persons; but shall also include any such vehicle with motive power not registered as a motor vehicle in Iowa. References in this chapter to “mobile home” include “manufactured homes” and “modular homes” as those terms are defined in section 435.1, if the manufactured homes or modular homes are located in a manufactured home community or a mobile home park.
7. “Mobile home park” shall mean any site, lot, field or tract of land upon which three or more mobile homes, manufactured homes, or modular homes or a combination of any of these homes are placed on developed spaces and operated as a for-profit enterprise with water, sewer or septic, and electrical services available.
8. “Mobile home space” means a parcel of land for rent which has been designed to accommodate a mobile home and provide the required sewer and utility connections.
9. “Owner” means one or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested all or part of the legal title to property or all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the manufactured home community or the mobile home park. The term includes a mortgagee in possession.
10. “Rent” means a payment to be made to the landlord under the rental agreement, including base rent, utilities, late fees, and other payments made by the tenant to the landlord under the rental agreement.
11. “Rental agreement” means agreements, written or those implied by law, and valid rules and regulations adopted under section 562B.19 embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of a mobile home space.
12. “Rental deposit” means a deposit of money to secure performance of a mobile home space rental agreement under this chapter other than a deposit which is exclusively in advance payment of rent.
13. “Tenant” means a person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a mobile home space to the exclusion of others.
[C79, 81, §562B.7] 94 Acts, ch 1110, §23; 97 Acts, ch 121, §32; 2001 Acts, ch 153, §13; 2022 Acts, ch 1070, §3, 6, 7 2022 amendment to subsection 10 applies to rent increases first noticed under chapter 562B occurring on or after May 17, 2022; 2022 Acts, ch 1070, §7
Iowa Code § 562B.8 Unconscionability.
562B.8. Unconscionability.
1. If the court, as a matter of law, finds that:
a. A rental agreement or any provision thereof was unconscionable when made, the court may refuse to enforce the agreement, enforce the remainder of the agreement without the unconscionable provision, or limit the application of any unconscionable provision to avoid an unconscionable result.
b. A settlement in which a party waives or agrees to forego a claim or right under this chapter or under a rental agreement was unconscionable at the time it was made, the court may refuse to enforce the settlement, enforce the remainder of the settlement without the unconscionable provision, or limit the application of any unconscionable provision to avoid any unconscionable result.
2. If unconscionability is put into issue by a party or by the court upon its own motion the parties shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present evidence as to the setting, purpose and effect of the rental agreement or settlement to aid the court in making the determination.
[C79, 81, §562B.8]
Iowa Code § 562B.9 Notice.
562B.9. Notice.
1. Notices required under this chapter, except those notices identified in section 562B.27A, shall be served as follows:
a. A landlord shall serve notice on a tenant by one or more of the following methods:
(1) Hand delivery to the tenant.
(2) Delivery evidenced by an acknowledgment of delivery that is signed and dated by a resident of the dwelling unit who is at least eighteen years of age. Delivery under this subparagraph shall be deemed to provide notice to all tenants of the dwelling unit.
(3) Personal service pursuant to rule of civil procedure 1.305, Iowa court rules, for the personal service of original notice.
(4) Mailing by both regular mail and certified mail, as defined in section 618.15, to the address of the dwelling unit or to an address provided by the tenant for mailing.
(5) Posting on the primary entrance door of the dwelling unit. A notice posted according to this subparagraph shall be posted within the applicable time period for serving notice and shall include the date the notice was posted.
(6) A method of providing notice that results in the notice actually being received by the tenant.
b. A tenant shall serve notice on a landlord by one or more of the following methods:
(1) Hand delivery to the landlord or the landlord’s agent designated under section 562B.14.
(2) Delivery evidenced by an acknowledgment of delivery that is signed and dated by the landlord or the landlord’s agent designated under section 562B.14.
(3) Personal service pursuant to rule of civil procedure 1.305, Iowa court rules, for the personal service of original notice.
(4) Delivery to an employee or agent of the landlord at the landlord’s business office.
(5) Mailing by both regular mail and certified mail, as defined in section 618.15, to the address of the landlord’s business office or to an address designated by the landlord for mailing.
(6) A method of providing notice that results in the notice actually being received by the landlord.
2. Notice served by mail under this section is deemed completed four days after the notice is deposited in the mail and postmarked for delivery, whether or not the recipient signs a receipt for the notice.
[C79, 81, §562B.9] 96 Acts, ch 1203, §4, 5; 99 Acts, ch 155, §8, 14; 2001 Acts, ch 153, §14; 2010 Acts, ch 1017, §4, 11
Iowa Code § 562B.9A Computation of time.
562B.9A. Computation of time.
The calculation of all time periods required under this chapter shall be made in accordance with section 4.1, subsection 34.
99 Acts, ch 155, §9, 14
Iowa Code § 562B.10 Terms and conditions of rental agreement.
562B.10. Terms and conditions of rental agreement.
1. The landlord and tenant may include in a rental agreement terms and conditions not prohibited by this chapter or other rule of law, including rent, term of the agreement, and other provisions governing the rights and obligations of the parties.
2. The tenant shall pay as rent the amount stated in the rental agreement. In the absence of a rental agreement, the tenant shall pay as rent the fair rental value for the use and occupancy of the mobile home space.
3. Rent shall be payable without demand or notice at the time and place agreed upon by the parties. Unless otherwise agreed periodic rent is payable at the beginning of any term and thereafter in equal monthly installments. Rent shall be uniformly apportionable from day to day.
4. For rental agreements in which the rent does not exceed seven hundred dollars per month, a rental agreement shall not provide for a late fee that exceeds twelve dollars per day or a total amount of sixty dollars per month. For rental agreements in which the rent is greater than seven hundred dollars per month, a rental agreement shall not provide for a late fee that exceeds twenty dollars per day or a total amount of one hundred dollars per month.
5. Rental agreements shall be for a term of one year unless otherwise specified in the rental agreement. Rental agreements shall be canceled by at least ninety days’ written notice given by either party. A landlord shall not cancel a rental agreement solely for the purpose of making the tenant’s mobile home space available for another mobile home.
6. If a tenant should die, the surviving joint tenant or tenant in common in the mobile home shall continue as tenant with all rights, privileges and liabilities as the original tenant.
7.
a. If a tenant who was sole owner of a mobile home dies during the term of a rental agreement then that person’s heirs at law or the personal representative of the decedent’s estate, or the landlord shall have the right to cancel the tenant’s lease by giving sixty days’ written notice to the person’s heirs at law or the personal representative of the decedent’s estate, or to the landlord, whichever is appropriate, and the heirs at law or the personal representative of the decedent’s estate, shall have the same rights, privileges, and liabilities of the original tenant, provided that such heirs at law and personal representative of the estate shall not have the right to occupy or otherwise use the home or mobile home space as a tenant unless approved by the landlord as a tenant. In the event the landlord, after such a written notice is given and the tenant’s lease is canceled, brings an action for forcible entry and detainer or action for abandonment, the estate of the tenant and the person’s located heirs at law or personal representative shall be named as defendants in the action. The landlord may serve notice upon such defendants pursuant to the method set forth in section 562B.27A, subsection 1, paragraph “c”, or by mailing notice by both regular mail and certified mail, as defined in section 618.15, to the defendant’s last known address.
b.
(1) If a tenant who was sole owner of a mobile home dies during the term of a rental agreement resulting in the mobile home being abandoned as provided in section 562B.27, subsection 1, and the landlord cannot, despite due diligence, locate such a tenant’s heirs at law or personal representative, then the landlord may bring an action for abandonment as provided in section 555B.3, naming as defendants the estate of the tenant and all unknown heirs at law of the tenant, and, upon the landlord’s filing of an affidavit that personal service cannot be had on any heirs at law, personal representative, or estate of the tenant, the court shall permit original notice of such action to be served by publication pursuant to subparagraph (2).
(2) Publication of original notice shall be made once each week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county where the petition is filed, pursuant to the Iowa rules of civil procedure. Service is complete after the third consecutive weekly publication.
(3) In the event any tax lien or other liens exist on the mobile home, the landlord may proceed with an action for abandonment as provided in section 555B.3, except that the notice shall be provided to the county treasurer as provided in section 555B.4, subsection 3, if a tax lien exists, and personal service pursuant to the Iowa rules of civil procedure shall be made upon any lienholder no less than twenty days before the hearing. Any notice to a lienholder shall state that failure to assert a claim to the mobile home is deemed a waiver of all rights, title, claims, and interest in the mobile home and is deemed consent to the sale or disposal of the mobile home. If personal service upon the lienholder cannot be completed in time to give the lienholder the minimum notice required by this subsection, the court may set a new hearing date.
8. Improvements, except a natural lawn, purchased and installed by a tenant on a mobile home space shall remain the property of the tenant even though affixed to or in the ground and may be removed or disposed of by the tenant prior to the termination of the tenancy, provided that a tenant shall leave the mobile home space in substantially the same or better condition than upon taking possession.
[C79, 81, §562B.10] 2013 Acts, ch 97, §10; 2022 Acts, ch 1070, §4, 6, 7, 25; 2023 Acts, ch 64, §95 2022 amendment to subsection 5 applies to rent increases first noticed under chapter 562B occurring on or after May 17, 2022; 2022 Acts, ch 1070, §7
Iowa Code § 562B.11 Prohibited provisions in rental agreements.
562B.11. Prohibited provisions in rental agreements.
1. A rental agreement shall not provide that the tenant or landlord does any of the following:
a. Agrees to waive or to forego rights or remedies under this chapter.
b. Agrees to pay the other party’s attorney fees.
c. Agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the other party arising under law or to indemnify the other party for that liability or the costs connected therewith.
d. Agrees to a designated agent for the sale of tenant’s mobile home.
e. Agrees to modify the mobile home, manufactured home, or modular home in a way that would substantially impair the ability of the tenant to move the home from the mobile home space, unless such modification is required by federal law, including but not limited to the model manufactured home installation standards, 24 C.F.R. pt. 3285, the manufactured home construction and safety standards, 24 C.F.R. pt. 3280, or the manufactured home procedural and enforcement regulations, 24 C.F.R. pt. 3282, or by state or local law, the manufacturer’s installation instructions, any requirement arising from the landlord’s financing of the home or of the mobile home park or manufactured home community in which the home is located, or unless such modification is otherwise necessary for the safe and proper installation of the home.
2. If the landlord receives rental assistance payments under a rental assistance agreement administered by the United States department of agriculture under the multifamily housing rental assistance program under Tit. V of the federal Housing Act of 1949, Pub. L. No. 81-171, or receives housing assistance payments under a housing assistance payment contract administered by the United States department of housing and urban development under the housing choice voucher program, the new construction program, the substantial rehabilitation program, or the moderate rehabilitation program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, Pub. L. No. 75-412, a rental agreement shall not contain a provision or impose a rule that requires a person to agree, as a condition of tenancy, to a prohibition or restriction on the lawful ownership, use, or possession of a firearm, a firearm component, or ammunition within the tenant’s specific rental unit. A landlord may impose reasonable restrictions related to the possession, use, or transportation of a firearm, a firearm component, or ammunition within common areas as long as those restrictions do not circumvent the purpose of this subsection. A tenant shall exercise reasonable care in the storage of a firearm, a firearm component, or ammunition. This subsection does not apply to any prohibition or restriction that is required by federal or state law, rule, or regulation.
3. A provision prohibited by this section included in a rental agreement is unenforceable. If a landlord or tenant knowingly uses a rental agreement containing provisions known to be prohibited by this chapter, the other party may recover actual damages sustained.
4. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a rental agreement from requiring a tenant to maintain liability insurance which names the landlord as an insured as relates to the mobile home space rented by the tenant.
[C79, 81, §562B.11] 2013 Acts, ch 30, §179; 2021 Acts, ch 35, §25, 26; 2022 Acts, ch 1070, §12
Iowa Code § 562B.12 Separation of rents and obligations to maintain property forbidden.
562B.12. Separation of rents and obligations to maintain property forbidden.
A rental agreement, assignment, conveyance, trust deed or security instrument shall not permit the receipt of rent, unless the landlord has agreed to comply with section 562B.16, subsection 1.
[C79, 81, §562B.12]
Source: Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov)URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=562B&year=2026Fetched: 10/20/2026