Iowa Code ch. 216 § 216.8
Unfair or discriminatory practices — housing
Operative Text
1. It shall be an unfair or discriminatory practice for any person, owner, or person acting for an owner, of rights to housing or real property, with or without compensation, including but not limited to persons licensed as real estate brokers or salespersons, attorneys, auctioneers, agents or representatives by power of attorney or appointment, or any person acting under court order, deed of trust, or will: a. To refuse to sell, rent, lease, assign, sublease, refuse to negotiate, or to otherwise make unavailable, or deny any real property or housing accommodation or part, portion, or interest therein, to any person because of the race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status of such person. b. To discriminate against any person because of the person’s race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status, in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale, rental, lease assignment, or sublease of any real property or housing accommodation or any part, portion, or interest in the real property or housing accommodation or in the provision of services or facilities in connection with the real property or housing accommodation. c. To directly or indirectly advertise, or in any other manner indicate or publicize that the purchase, rental, lease, assignment, or sublease of any real property or housing accommodation or any part, portion, or interest therein, by persons of any particular race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status is unwelcome, objectionable, not acceptable, or not solicited. d. To discriminate against the lessee or purchaser of any real property or housing accommodation or part, portion, or interest of the real property or housing accommodation, or against any prospective lessee or purchaser of the property or accommodation, because of the race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, or national origin of persons who may from time to time be present in or on the lessee’s or owner’s premises for lawful purposes at the invitation of the lessee or owner as friends, guests, visitors, relatives, or in any similar capacity. 2. For purposes of this section, “person” means one or more individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, labor organizations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees, trustees in cases under Tit. 11 of the United States Code, receivers, and fiduciaries.
Iowa Code ch. 216 § 216.8 establishes that refusing to sell, rent, lease, or negotiate housing, imposing different terms and conditions, or publishing discriminatory advertising based on protected characteristics—including race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status—constitutes an unfair or discriminatory practice under Iowa law. The provision applies broadly to owners, their agents, brokers, attorneys, auctioneers, and anyone else acting on behalf of a property owner, regardless of whether they are compensated. It also prohibits penalizing a lessee or owner simply because guests, visitors, or relatives of a protected class are lawfully present on the premises.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code ch. 216 § 216.8, compliant property owners and their agents apply uniform criteria—such as income thresholds, credit standards, and rental history—consistently across all applicants without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status. Operators generally review all advertising and listing language to ensure nothing signals that certain groups are unwelcome or not solicited. Managers also take care not to treat tenants differently based on the protected characteristics of the guests or visitors those tenants lawfully invite onto the premises.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code ch. 216 § 216.8 gives tenants and housing applicants the right to be free from discriminatory refusals, unequal lease terms, and exclusionary advertising based on protected characteristics including race, disability, sex, and familial status. Individuals who believe this provision has been violated may file a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, which is the state agency charged with investigating housing discrimination claims. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can also help people understand the complaint process, available remedies, and other enforcement paths that may be open to them.
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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