Iowa Code ch. 10A § 10A.901
Definitions
Operative Text
For the purposes of this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. a. “Child-occupied facility” means a building, or portion of a building, constructed prior to 1978, that is described by all of the following: 1. The building is visited on a regular basis by the same child, who is less than six years of age, on at least two different days within any week. For purposes of this subsection, a week is a Sunday through Saturday period. 2. Each day’s visit by the child lasts at least three hours, and the combined annual visits total at least sixty hours. b. A child-occupied facility may include but is not limited to a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten classroom. A child-occupied facility also includes common areas that are routinely used by children who are less than six years of age, such as restrooms and cafeterias, and the exterior walls and adjoining space of the building that are immediately adjacent to the child-occupied facility or the common areas routinely used by children under the age of six years. 2. “Target housing” means housing constructed prior to 1978 with the exception of housing for the elderly or for persons with disabilities and housing that does not contain a bedroom, unless at least one child, under six years of age, resides or is expected to reside in the housing.
Iowa Code ch. 10A § 10A.901 establishes the definitions of 'child-occupied facility' and 'target housing' that apply throughout the lead-safety subchapter. A 'child-occupied facility' is a pre-1978 building—or portion of one—where the same child under six years old visits at least two days per week, with each visit lasting at least three hours and combined annual visits totaling at least sixty hours; examples include child care centers, preschools, and kindergarten classrooms, along with shared spaces like restrooms and cafeterias. 'Target housing' refers to pre-1978 residential housing where a child under six resides or is expected to reside, with specific exclusions for housing designed for elderly or disabled persons and housing without a bedroom.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating or leasing pre-1978 buildings should understand that Iowa Code ch. 10A § 10A.901 sets the threshold definitions that trigger lead-safety obligations under this subchapter. A compliant operator generally assesses whether their property meets the 'child-occupied facility' or 'target housing' definitions—considering factors such as the age of the building, the ages of occupants or regular visitors, and the frequency and duration of children's visits. Operators of facilities such as child care centers or preschools housed in pre-1978 buildings, as well as landlords renting to families with young children, typically review these definitions carefully to determine which lead-safety requirements apply to their properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in or regularly bringing young children to pre-1978 buildings may find that Iowa Code ch. 10A § 10A.901 is directly relevant to their situation, as it defines which properties fall under the subchapter's lead-safety protections. If a rental unit qualifies as 'target housing' under this provision—meaning it was built before 1978 and a child under six resides or is expected to reside there—tenants may have rights related to lead hazard disclosure and remediation under the broader subchapter. Tenants who believe their housing meets these definitions and have concerns about lead safety can explore options such as contacting a local tenant-rights organization or reaching out to the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals for guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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