Iowa Code ch. 562A § 562A.5
Exclusions from application of chapter
Operative Text
Unless created to avoid the application of this chapter, the following arrangements are not governed by this chapter: 1. Residence at an institution, public or private, if incidental to detention or the provision of medical, geriatric, educational, counseling, religious, or similar service. 2. Occupancy under a contract of sale of a dwelling unit or the property of which it is a part, if the occupant is the purchaser or a person who succeeds to the purchaser’s interest. 3. Occupancy by a member of a fraternal or social organization in the portion of a structure operated for the benefit of the organization. 4. Transient occupancy in a hotel, motel or other similar lodgings. 5. Occupancy by an employee of a landlord whose right to occupancy is conditional upon employment in and about the premises. 6. Occupancy by an owner of a condominium unit or a holder of a proprietary lease in a cooperative. 7. Occupancy under a rental agreement covering premises used by the occupant primarily for agricultural purposes. 8. Occupancy in housing owned by a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide transitional housing for persons released from drug or alcohol treatment facilities and in housing for homeless persons.
Iowa Code § 562A.5 carves out eight categories of living arrangements from the state's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. These exclusions cover situations such as institutional residency tied to detention or care, occupancy under a purchase contract, transient hotel stays, employee housing tied to job conditions, condominium ownership, agricultural leases, and transitional or homeless housing run by nonprofits. The exclusions apply only when the arrangement is genuine — any arrangement structured specifically to sidestep the chapter's protections does not qualify for an exemption.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators whose properties fall into one of the eight categories listed in § 562A.5 — such as agricultural rentals, employee housing, or transitional nonprofit housing — generally operate outside the Iowa Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act's requirements. Compliant operators in these categories typically document the nature of the arrangement clearly (e.g., an employment agreement tied to occupancy, or a purchase contract) so the basis for the exclusion is evident. Because the statute expressly disqualifies arrangements created to avoid the chapter's protections, operators should ensure that the structure of any such arrangement reflects its genuine purpose rather than an attempt to circumvent tenant protections.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 562A.5 defines the living arrangements that fall outside the state's residential landlord-tenant law, which means tenants in those situations generally cannot rely on that chapter's protections. If a tenant believes their arrangement was deliberately structured to avoid the chapter — for example, a nominal employment or purchase agreement used to disguise what is really a standard rental — the statute's anti-avoidance clause may be relevant to their situation. Tenants who are uncertain whether their housing falls within or outside § 562A.5 may benefit from contacting a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general information about how the exclusions are applied.
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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