Iowa Code ch. 216 § 216.12A
Additional housing exception
Operative Text
Sections 216.8 and 216.8A do not prohibit a person engaged in the business of furnishing appraisals of real estate from taking into consideration factors other than race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status in appraising real estate.
Iowa Code § 216.12A creates a narrow carve-out within the state's fair housing framework: licensed real estate appraisers are permitted to weigh factors beyond the protected characteristics listed in §§ 216.8 and 216.8A when forming their professional valuation opinions. The provision does not eliminate anti-discrimination obligations for appraisers; it simply clarifies that considering legitimate, non-protected valuation criteria is not itself a violation. In effect, the rule acknowledges that appraisal methodology involves many variables unrelated to protected class status.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should understand that § 216.12A applies specifically to professional appraisers, not to landlords or property managers making rental or sales decisions. Compliant operators continue to follow the full scope of §§ 216.8 and 216.8A when screening applicants, setting terms, or otherwise conducting housing transactions. When commissioning an appraisal, operators generally work with licensed professionals who apply recognized valuation methodologies within the bounds of applicable law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 216.12A does not reduce the fair housing protections that tenants and prospective buyers hold under §§ 216.8 and 216.8A; those protections remain fully in force. If a tenant or buyer believes an appraisal or a housing decision was influenced by a protected characteristic such as race, national origin, or disability, that concern falls outside this exception and may warrant further inquiry. Tenant-rights organizations and the Iowa Civil Rights Commission are among the resources available to people who want to understand their options under Iowa's fair housing law.
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