Iowa Code ch. 555B § 555B.2
Removal — notice to sheriff
Operative Text
1. A real property owner may remove or cause to be removed a mobile home and other personal property which is unlawfully parked, placed, or abandoned on that real property, and may cause the mobile home and personal property to be placed in storage until the owner of the personal property pays a fair and reasonable charge for removal, storage, or other expense incurred, including reasonable attorney fees, or until a judgment of abandonment is entered pursuant to section 555B.8 provided that there is no lien on the mobile home or personal property other than a tax lien pursuant to chapter 435. For purposes of this chapter, a lien other than a tax lien exists only if the real property owner receives notice of a lien on the standardized registration form completed by a tenant pursuant to section 562B.27, subsection 3, or a lien has been filed in state or county records on a date before the mobile home is considered to be abandoned. The real property owner or the real property owner’s agent is not liable for damages caused to the mobile home and personal property by the removal or storage unless the damage is caused willfully or by gross negligence. 2. The real property owner shall notify the sheriff of the county where the real property is located of the removal of the mobile home and other personal property. a. If the mobile home owner can be determined, and if the real property owner so requests, the sheriff shall notify the mobile home owner of the removal by restricted certified mail. If the mobile home owner cannot be determined, and the real property owner so requests, the sheriff shall give notice by one publication in one newspaper of general circulation in the county where the mobile home and personal property were unlawfully parked, placed, or abandoned. If the mobile home and personal property have not been claimed by the owner within six months after notice is given, the mobile home and personal property shall be sold by the sheriff at a public or private sale. After deducting costs of the sale the net proceeds shall be applied to the cost of removal, storage, notice, attorney fees, and any other expenses incurred for preserving the mobile home and personal property, including any rent owed by the mobile home owner to the real property owner in connection with the presence of the mobile home on the real property. The remaining net proceeds, if any, shall be paid to the county treasurer to satisfy any tax lien on the mobile home. The remainder, if any, shall be retained by the county treasurer. A sheriff’s sale transfers to the purchaser for value, all of the mobile home owner’s rights in the mobile home and personal property, and discharges the real property owner’s interest in the mobile home and personal property, and discharges the tax lien on the mobile home. If the purchaser acts in good faith the purchaser takes free of all rights and interests even though the real property owner fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter or of any judicial proceedings. b. If the real property owner removes the mobile home and personal property but does not request that the sheriff notify the mobile home owner, the real property owner shall proceed with an action for abandonment as provided in sections 555B.3 through 555B.9.
Iowa Code ch. 555B § 555B.2 establishes a process by which a real property owner may remove a mobile home and associated personal property that has been unlawfully parked, placed, or abandoned on their land, provided no non-tax lien exists on the property. After removal, the property may be held in storage until the owner pays reasonable removal and storage costs, or until a court enters a judgment of abandonment. If the mobile home goes unclaimed for six months after proper notice, the county sheriff may sell it at public or private sale, with proceeds applied to costs and any tax liens before any remainder is held by the county treasurer.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code ch. 555B § 555B.2, real property owners who remove an unlawfully parked or abandoned mobile home are required to notify the county sheriff of the removal. Compliant operators typically verify whether any non-tax liens exist on the mobile home before proceeding, since the removal authority under this section applies only when no such liens are on record. Operators who choose to have the sheriff notify the mobile home owner generally do so by restricted certified mail if the owner is identifiable, or by newspaper publication if not; those who skip the sheriff-notification step must instead pursue a formal abandonment action under sections 555B.3 through 555B.9.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code ch. 555B § 555B.2 provides mobile home owners with rights to notice before their property can be sold — either by restricted certified mail or newspaper publication — and a six-month window after that notice to reclaim the home and personal property. If a lien on the mobile home was properly recorded or disclosed on the standardized registration form under section 562B.27, that lien may limit the real property owner's authority to remove the home under this section. Mobile home owners who believe a removal was improper or that their property was damaged through willful conduct or gross negligence may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Iowa mobile home 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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