Iowa Code ch. 231C § 231C.11A
Iowa Code Chapter 231C — Assisted Living Programs (tenancy sections)
Operative Text
1. The department shall adopt rules regarding the voluntary cessation of program operations of an assisted living program, including decertification. The rules shall address notification of the tenants, tenant legal representatives, the department, and the tenant advocate at least ninety days prior to the anticipated date of cessation of program operations; the requirements for the safe and orderly transfer or transition of all tenants; and monitoring of the program during the process and after cessation of program operations. 2. Within seven days following provision of notice of cessation of program operations, the assisted living program shall hold a meeting and invite all tenants, tenant legal representatives, families of tenants, representatives of the department, and the tenant advocate to discuss the pending cessation of the program and to answer any questions. The department and the tenant advocate shall have access to attend the meeting and provide information to the tenants regarding their legal rights. 3. The tenant advocate shall monitor the decertification process and shall undertake any investigations necessary to ensure that the rights of tenants are protected during the process and after cessation of program operations. The tenant advocate shall assist tenants during the transition, including assisting tenants in finding necessary and appropriate service providers if the assisted living program is unable to provide such necessary and appropriate services during the transition period. The assisted living program shall cooperate with the tenant advocate by providing contact information for service providers within a thirty-mile radius of the program. 4. Following cessation of program operations and decertification, the department shall retain authority to monitor the decertified program to ensure that the entity does not continue to act as an uncertified assisted living program or other unlicensed, uncertified, or unregistered entity otherwise regulated by the state following decertification. If a decertified assisted living program continues to or subsequently acts in a manner that meets the definition of assisted living pursuant to section 231C.2, the decertified program is subject to the criminal penalties and injunctive relief provisions of section 231C.15, and any other penalties applicable by law.
Iowa Code ch. 231C § 231C.11A establishes a structured process for when an assisted living program voluntarily closes or loses its certification. At least 90 days before closing, the program must notify tenants, their legal representatives, the state department, and a tenant advocate, and must hold a community meeting within seven days of that notice. The state retains oversight authority even after closure, and a decertified program that continues operating as an assisted living facility faces criminal penalties and potential injunctive relief under section 231C.15.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code ch. 231C § 231C.11A, operators of assisted living programs who plan to cease operations are generally expected to provide at least 90 days' advance notice to tenants, legal representatives, the department, and the tenant advocate, and to convene a meeting within seven days of that notice. Compliant operators work to ensure a safe and orderly transfer or transition for all tenants and cooperate with the tenant advocate by supplying contact information for service providers within a 30-mile radius. Even after decertification, the department retains monitoring authority, and any continued operation that meets the statutory definition of assisted living under section 231C.2 can trigger criminal penalties and injunctive action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code ch. 231C § 231C.11A gives tenants and their legal representatives the right to at least 90 days' notice before an assisted living program closes, as well as the right to attend and ask questions at a meeting held within seven days of that notice. The tenant advocate is specifically empowered under this provision to monitor the decertification process, investigate potential rights violations, and help tenants find appropriate service providers during the transition. Tenants who believe their rights are not being protected during a program closure may reach out to the tenant advocate or contact the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing for information about available protections.
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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