Deposit laws by state › Iowa
State law · Iowa
Iowa security deposit law
How long your landlord has to return your deposit, what they can deduct, and what happens if they get it wrong.
Short answer: Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit or give a written statement of the specific reason for keeping any of it.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Iowa?
- Return deadline
- Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the landlord receives the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions, the landlord must return the deposit or give a written statement of the specific reason for keeping any of it.Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)
- Itemized list
- The written statement is due within the same 30 days.Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)
- Forwarding address
- The 30-day clock starts only once the landlord has the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions. If none is given within a year, the deposit goes to the landlord.Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)
Prefer a full page? Use the security deposit deadline calculator.
What happens if an Iowa landlord misses the deadline?
- If the landlord misses it
- A landlord who misses the 30-day written statement forfeits all rights to withhold any portion of the deposit.Iowa Code § 562A.12(4)
- Penalty
- Bad-faith retention exposes the landlord to punitive damages of up to twice the monthly rent, in addition to actual damages.Iowa Code § 562A.12(7)
- Burden of proof
- The landlord must prove the reason for withholding by a preponderance of the evidence.Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)(b)
Penalties that depend on bad faith or willfulness are possible, not automatic. Only a judge can make that finding.
What can an Iowa landlord deduct from your deposit?
What can be deducted: Only amounts reasonably necessary for unpaid rent or other money due, restoring the unit to its move-in condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and costs of recovering possession from a tenant who did not act in good faith. (Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)(a))
Normal wear and tear: Ordinary wear and tear is excepted from restoration charges. (Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)(a)(2))
What the itemized list must include: A written statement showing the specific reason for withholding. (Iowa Code § 562A.12(3)(a))
More on common charges: normal wear and tear, cleaning, painting, and a missing itemized list.
Is there a limit on security deposits in Iowa?
A landlord may not demand or receive a deposit of more than two months' rent. (Iowa Code § 562A.12(1))
Taking a deposit case to small claims court in Iowa
Small-claims limit: Iowa small claims covers claims of $6,500 or less. (Iowa Judicial Branch guidance)
Most deposit disputes never get that far. A clear demand letter, sent by certified mail, often settles them first.
What to do if your Iowa landlord kept your deposit
- Pin down your dates. When you moved out, returned the keys, and gave a forwarding address in writing. Compare them with the deadline above.
- Gather your evidence. Move-in and move-out photos, the lease, the landlord's list of deductions, receipts and messages. The case checklist covers what matters.
- Send a demand letter by certified mail. Ask for the money, cite Iowa's rules, and give a deadline to pay. What a demand letter does.
- If they still don't pay, consider small claims court. You don't need a lawyer there.
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Sources
These rules come from the same verified table the Demand Letter Companion uses, checked against the sources below on October 25, 2026. Laws change; check the current official text before relying on a date.
- Iowa Code § 562A.12: legis.iowa.gov
- Iowa Judicial Branch guidance: iowacourts.gov
Other states: see the guides for all 50 states and DC
This page is general legal information, not legal advice. Local ordinances can add rules, and your lease and facts matter. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in Iowa.