Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—9 § 161—9.13
Procedures for documents and inspections.
Operative Text
The request shall set forth the items to be inspected either by individual item or by category and describe each item and category with reasonable particularity. The request shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts. The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within 30 days after the service of the request. The presiding officer for discovery may allow a shorter or longer time. The response shall state, with respect to each item or category, that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless the request is objected to, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated. If objection is made to part of an item or category, the part shall be specified. The commission may move for an order under rule 161--9.16(216) with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to the request or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as requested.
Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—9 § 161—9.13 establishes the procedural framework governing requests to inspect documents or other items during civil rights commission proceedings. A requesting party must describe what it wants to inspect with reasonable specificity and propose a workable time, place, and manner. The party receiving the request has 30 days to respond in writing, either agreeing to the inspection or stating specific reasons for any objection; if the commission believes a response is inadequate or inspection is improperly refused, it may seek a court-like order under rule 161--9.16(216) to compel compliance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners or managers involved in a proceeding before the Iowa Civil Rights Commission should be aware that under Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—9 § 161—9.13, any inspection request they receive must be answered in writing within 30 days of service. A compliant respondent either agrees to permit the described inspection or clearly states the specific reasons for any objection, identifying which particular items or categories are being challenged. Operators who fail to respond or who refuse inspection without stated grounds risk a motion for a compelled-inspection order under rule 161--9.16(216).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants who are parties to a proceeding governed by Iowa Admin. Code r. 161—9 § 161—9.13 have the right to request inspection of documents or items relevant to their case, provided the request describes those items with reasonable particularity and proposes a reasonable time and place. If the other side objects or fails to respond within the 30-day window, the commission has authority to pursue an order under rule 161--9.16(216) to enforce the inspection right. Tenants navigating this process may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with Iowa Civil Rights Commission procedures.
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