Iowa rent late fee law
What your landlord is allowed to charge when rent is late, how soon they can charge it, and what to do about a fee the law doesn't allow.
Maximum late fee
$60/mo (rent ≤ $700) or $100/mo
Grace period
None
The cap
Under Iowa Code § 562A.9(4), Iowa caps late fees in dollars, tiered by rent: where rent is $700 a month or less, no more than $12 per day or $60 total per month; where rent is over $700, no more than $20 per day or $100 total per month.
When the fee can start
Iowa law sets no mandatory grace period — when a late fee kicks in is governed by the lease. The caps regulate what a rental agreement may provide for — a fee never agreed to has no statutory basis at all.
If you've been charged an illegal fee
A rental-agreement provision exceeding the caps violates the statute and is unenforceable to the extent it exceeds them — demand a refund of anything collected above the cap.
Charged a fee the law doesn't allow?
Answer a few questions and get a formal demand letter citing Iowa Code § 562A.9(4) and exactly which rule your landlord broke — free to generate and download. We can also send it by USPS Certified Mail for you, with the delivery record that holds up in court.
Dispute my late feeDid your landlord also keep your security deposit?
Every state sets a deadline for returning your security deposit, with real penalties for landlords who miss it. See what Iowa law requires and what your landlord may owe you.
Iowa deposit lawCommon questions
- Is there a limit on late fees for rent in Iowa?
- Yes. Under Iowa Code § 562A.9(4), Iowa caps late fees in dollars, tiered by rent: where rent is $700 a month or less, no more than $12 per day or $60 total per month; where rent is over $700, no more than $20 per day or $100 total per month.
- Can my landlord charge a late fee the day rent is due in Iowa?
- Iowa law imposes no mandatory grace period, so the lease controls when a late fee may be charged. The caps regulate what a rental agreement may provide for — a fee never agreed to has no statutory basis at all.
- What can I do if my landlord charged an illegal late fee in Iowa?
- A rental-agreement provision exceeding the caps violates the statute and is unenforceable to the extent it exceeds them — demand a refund of anything collected above the cap.
Statute text verified against the published source on August 6, 2026. Laws change — confirm the current text before relying on it. This page is general information, not legal advice.