Iowa Code ch. 562A § 562A.8
Notice
Operative Text
1. Notices required under this chapter, except those notices identified in section 562A.29A, shall be served as follows: a. A landlord shall serve notice on a tenant by one or more of the following methods: 1. Hand delivery to the tenant. 2. Delivery evidenced by an acknowledgment of delivery that is signed and dated by a resident of the dwelling unit who is at least eighteen years of age. Delivery under this subparagraph shall be deemed to provide notice to all tenants of the dwelling unit. 3. Personal service pursuant to rule of civil procedure 1.305, Iowa court rules, for the personal service of original notice. 4. Mailing by both regular mail and certified mail, as defined in section 618.15, to the address of the dwelling unit or to an address provided by the tenant for mailing. 5. Posting on the primary entrance door of the dwelling unit. A notice posted according to this subparagraph shall be posted within the applicable time period for serving notice and shall include the date the notice was posted. 6. A method of providing notice that results in the notice actually being received by the tenant. b. A tenant shall serve notice on a landlord by one or more of the following methods: 1. Hand delivery to the landlord or the landlord’s agent designated under section 562A.13. 2. Delivery evidenced by an acknowledgment of delivery that is signed and dated by the landlord or the landlord’s agent designated under section 562A.13. 3. Personal service pursuant to rule of civil procedure 1.305, Iowa court rules, for the personal service of original notice. 4. Delivery to an employee or agent of the landlord at the landlord’s business office. 5. Mailing by both regular mail and certified mail, as defined in section 618.15, to the address of the landlord’s business office or to an address designated by the landlord for mailing. 6. A method of providing notice that results in the notice actually being received by the landlord. 2. Notice served by mail under this section is deemed completed four days after the notice is deposited in the mail and postmarked for delivery, whether or not the recipient signs a receipt for the notice.
Iowa Code § 562A.8 establishes the approved methods by which landlords and tenants must deliver required notices to one another under Iowa's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Landlords may serve tenants through hand delivery, signed acknowledgment, personal service, dual mail (regular and certified), door posting, or any method that results in actual receipt. Tenants may serve landlords through similar methods directed at the landlord, their designated agent, or their business office. When notice is sent by mail under § 562A.8, it is legally considered delivered four days after it is postmarked, regardless of whether the recipient signs for it.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Iowa Code § 562A.8, compliant property operators maintain clear records of how and when every required notice is served on a tenant. Operators commonly use dual mailing (both regular and certified mail) or door posting with a dated notation to create a verifiable paper trail, since proof of delivery method can be critical if a dispute arises. When posting on the primary entrance door, the notice must be posted within the applicable time window and must display the date it was posted, as required by § 562A.8(1)(a)(5).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Iowa Code § 562A.8 gives tenants several recognized ways to serve notice on a landlord, including hand delivery, signed acknowledgment, personal service, delivery to the landlord's business office, or dual mailing by regular and certified mail. Tenants generally benefit from using a method that produces a dated record of delivery — such as certified mail or a signed acknowledgment — so that the four-day mail-completion rule under § 562A.8(2) or the fact of actual receipt can be documented if needed. Tenant-rights organizations in Iowa can help individuals understand which notice methods apply to their particular type of notice and how to preserve evidence of proper service.
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 Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation