Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—9 § 161—9.12
Production of documents and things and entry upon land for inspection and other purposes.
Operative Text
The commission may serve on any party a request: 9.12(1) To produce and permit the commission, or someone acting on the commission’s behalf, to inspect and copy any designated documents (including writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, and other data compilations from which information can be obtained, translated, if necessary, by the party upon whom the request is served through detection devices into reasonably usable form), or to inspect and copy, test, or sample any tangible things which constitute or contain matters within the scope of rule 161--9.7(216) and which are in the possession, custody or control of the party upon whom the request is served; or 9.12(2) Except as otherwise provided by statute, to permit entry upon designated land or other property in the possession or control of the party upon whom the request is served for the purpose of inspection and measuring, surveying, photographing, testing, or sampling the property or any designated object or operation thereon, within the scope of rule 161--9.7(216).
Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—9 § 161—9.12 establishes a formal discovery mechanism through which the Iowa Civil Rights Commission may request that any party to a proceeding produce documents, tangible items, or access to physical property for inspection. Covered materials include a broad range of records—from written documents and photographs to data compilations—as well as physical objects that fall within the scope of the Commission's investigative authority. Entry onto land or property for purposes such as measuring, surveying, photographing, testing, or sampling is also authorized, subject to any applicable statutory limitations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—9 § 161—9.12, property owners and managers involved in a Commission proceeding should be aware that the Commission may formally request access to documents, records, physical items, and even the property itself. Operators who maintain organized records and clear documentation of their practices are generally better positioned to respond to such requests in a timely and complete manner. Familiarity with what types of materials—including digital data compilations—may be subject to a production request helps ensure that a response is both accurate and appropriately scoped.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—9 § 161—9.12 gives the Iowa Civil Rights Commission the authority to compel the production of documents and physical evidence from any party, which can be a meaningful tool in proceedings where a tenant has filed a complaint. This provision means that relevant records held by a landlord—such as leasing documents, correspondence, or property records—may be subject to Commission inspection as part of an investigation. Tenants who believe they have experienced a civil rights violation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how this discovery process could 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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation