Iowa Code ch. 562B § 562B.7

General definitions

In Force
Verified 10/18/2026 · Next check 10/25/2026
IowaLease Requirements

Operative Text

Iowa Code ch. 562B § 562B.7
Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent sections of this chapter which apply to specific sections thereof, and unless the context otherwise requires, in this chapter:

1. “Building and housing codes” include any law, ordinance, or governmental regulation concerning fitness for habitation, or the construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use, or appearance of any manufactured home community or mobile home park, dwelling unit, or manufactured or mobile home space.

2. “Business” includes a corporation, government, governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, two or more persons having a joint or common interest, and any other legal or commercial entity which is a landlord, owner, manager, or constructive agent pursuant to section 562B.14.

3. “Dwelling unit” excludes real property used to accommodate a manufactured or mobile home.

4. “Landlord” means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of a manufactured home community or a mobile home park and it also means a manager of the manufactured home community or a mobile home park who fails to disclose as required by section 562B.14.

5. “Manufactured home community” means the same as land-leased community defined in sections 335.30A and 414.28A.

6. “Mobile home” means any vehicle without motive power used or so manufactured or constructed as to permit its being used as a conveyance upon the public streets and highways and so designed, constructed, or reconstructed as will permit the vehicle to be used as a place for human habitation by one or more persons; but shall also include any such vehicle with motive power not registered as a motor vehicle in Iowa. References in this chapter to “mobile home” include “manufactured homes” and “modular homes” as those terms are defined in section 435.1, if the manufactured homes or modular homes are located in a manufactured home community or a mobile home park.

7. “Mobile home park” shall mean any site, lot, field or tract of land upon which three or more mobile homes, manufactured homes, or modular homes or a combination of any of these homes are placed on developed spaces and operated as a for-profit enterprise with water, sewer or septic, and electrical services available.

8. “Mobile home space” means a parcel of land for rent which has been designed to accommodate a mobile home and provide the required sewer and utility connections.

9. “Owner” means one or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested all or part of the legal title to property or all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the manufactured home community or the mobile home park. The term includes a mortgagee in possession.

10. “Rent” means a payment to be made to the landlord under the rental agreement, including base rent, utilities, late fees, and other payments made by the tenant to the landlord under the rental agreement.

11. “Rental agreement” means agreements, written or those implied by law, and valid rules and regulations adopted under section 562B.19 embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of a mobile home space.

12. “Rental deposit” means a deposit of money to secure performance of a mobile home space rental agreement under this chapter other than a deposit which is exclusively in advance payment of rent.

13. “Tenant” means a person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a mobile home space to the exclusion of others.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Iowa Code ch. 562B § 562B.7 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Chapter 562B, which governs the relationship between landlords and tenants in manufactured home communities and mobile home parks. Key terms such as "landlord," "tenant," "rent," "rental agreement," and "mobile home park" are given specific legal meanings that apply across the entire chapter. For example, "rent" is defined broadly to include not just base rent but also utilities, late fees, and other payments made under a rental agreement, and a "landlord" can include a manager who fails to make required disclosures.

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

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Operators of manufactured home communities and mobile home parks in Iowa should be aware that § 562B.7 defines "landlord" to include not only owners and lessors but also managers who fail to disclose as required by § 562B.14, meaning management staff can carry legal responsibility under the chapter. The broad definition of "rent" — encompassing base rent, utilities, late fees, and other payments — means that all charges collected from tenants under a rental agreement are subject to the chapter's rules. Compliant operators generally ensure that their rental agreements, community rules, and disclosure practices align with the specific definitions set out in § 562B.7, since those definitions shape obligations throughout the rest of Chapter 562B.

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

For Tenants

Tenants living in manufactured home communities or mobile home parks in Iowa benefit from knowing that § 562B.7 sets out precise definitions that govern their rights throughout Chapter 562B. Notably, "rent" is defined to include utilities, late fees, and other payments — not just base rent — which can be relevant when evaluating whether a landlord's charges or practices comply with the chapter. Tenants who believe their rights under Chapter 562B have been affected may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Iowa's manufactured housing laws to understand how these definitions apply to their situation.

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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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

Iowa Code § 335.30A
Not yet ingested
Iowa Code § 435.1
Not yet ingested

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

Iowa Code ch. 562B
Iowa Code § 562B.7
Iowa Code § 562B.7
Iowa Code § 562B.27
Iowa Code § 562B.27
Iowa Code § 562B.10
Iowa Code § 562B.25
Iowa Code § 562B.27
Iowa Code ch. 562B
Iowa Code § 562B.27
Iowa Code § 562B.16
Iowa Code § 562B.15
Iowa Code § 562B.16
Iowa Code § 562B.22
Iowa Code § 562B.16
Iowa Code § 562B.22
Iowa Code § 562B.18
Iowa Code § 562B.25
Iowa Code § 562B.10
Iowa Code § 562B.25
Iowa Code § 562B.25A
Iowa Code § 562B.16
Iowa Code § 562B.24
Iowa Code § 562B.22
Iowa Code § 562B.14
Iowa Code § 562B.14
Iowa Code § 562B.19
Iowa Code § 562B.27A
Iowa Code § 562B.27
Iowa Code § 562B.16
Iowa Code § 562B.27
Iowa Code § 562B.16
Iowa Code § 562B.30
Iowa Code § 562B.11
Iowa Code § 562B.18
Iowa Code § 562B.25
Iowa Code § 562B.30
Iowa Code § 562B.27A
Iowa Code § 562B.14
Iowa Code ch. 562B
Iowa Code § 562B.19
Iowa Code § 562B.25
Iowa Code ch. 562B

Related Rules

§ 244.280
Tenant to be given copy of lease
§ 151.35
SEVERABILITY
§ 165.12
SEVERABILITY

Source Information

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Fetched:Oct 18, 2026, 07:21 PM UTC