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Rent Regulations

Iowa Code ch. 216C § 216C.10

Use of hearing dog

In Force
Verified 10/18/2026 · Next check 10/25/2026
IowaAssistance Animals (FHA)

Operative Text

Iowa Code ch. 216C § 216C.10
1. A deaf or hard-of-hearing person has the right to be accompanied by a hearing dog, under control and especially trained to assist the deaf or hard-of-hearing by responding to sound, in any place listed in sections 216C.3 and 216C.4 without being required to make additional payment for the hearing dog. A landlord shall waive lease restrictions on the keeping of dogs for a deaf or hard-of-hearing person with a hearing dog. The deaf or hard-of-hearing person is liable for damage done to any premises or facility by a hearing dog.

2. A person who denies or interferes with the right of a deaf or hard-of-hearing person under this section is, upon conviction, guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Iowa Code ch. 216C § 216C.10 establishes that deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals have the right to be accompanied by a trained hearing dog in housing and public accommodations without paying any extra fee or deposit for the animal. Landlords are required to waive lease provisions that would otherwise prohibit dogs when the tenant is deaf or hard-of-hearing and uses a qualifying hearing dog. The person with the hearing dog remains financially responsible for any damage the animal causes to the property, and anyone who denies or interferes with this right can face criminal liability as a simple misdemeanor upon conviction.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 18, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Iowa Code ch. 216C § 216C.10, compliant property owners and managers waive any no-pet or dog-restriction clauses in their leases when a deaf or hard-of-hearing applicant or tenant presents a hearing dog that is trained to respond to sound and kept under control. Operators generally do not charge additional pet fees, deposits, or rent surcharges specifically for the hearing dog, though they may still hold the tenant responsible for actual damage the dog causes to the premises. Familiarity with the full scope of sections 216C.3 and 216C.4 helps operators understand which places and housing types are covered by this requirement.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Iowa Code ch. 216C § 216C.10 gives deaf and hard-of-hearing tenants the right to keep a qualifying hearing dog in their rental unit even when a lease contains a no-dog or no-pet clause, and no additional payment can be required for the dog's presence. If a landlord refuses to honor this right or interferes with it, that conduct can constitute a simple misdemeanor under the same provision, which may open enforcement avenues beyond a private dispute. Tenants who believe their rights under § 216C.10 have been violated may consider contacting the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, a local tenant-rights organization, or an attorney familiar with disability access law to understand available options.

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.

Effective Timeline

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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Iowa Code § 216C.3
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References In

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Related Rules

§ 209.190
Housing accommodations, defined — discrimination against persons with visual, hearing or physical disabilities, prohibited — dogs, guide, hearing or service to have full access — liability for actual damages
§ 3-104.1
Refusal to sell or rent because a person has a guide, hearing or support dog. It is a civil rights violation for the owner or agent of any housing accommodation to: (A) refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny property to any blind or hearing impaired person or person with a physical disability because the blind or hearing impaired person or person with a physical disability has a guide, hearing, or support dog; or (B) discriminate against any blind or hearing impaired person or person with a physical disability in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental property, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because the blind or hearing impaired person or person with a physical disability has a guide, hearing, or support dog; or (C) require, because a blind or hearing impaired person or person with a physical disability has a guide, hearing, or support dog, an extra charge in a lease, rental agreement, or contract of purchase or sale, other than for actual damage done to the premises by the dog
§ 10:5-29.9
Possessors of working dog, certain, entitlement to housing, business accommodations

Source Information

Source:https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=216C&year=2026#216C.10
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