HOA LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Federal laws - In addition to state law regulations, the federal government has laws that govern the operation of homeowners' associations, condominiums, and other residential properties in the state of Iowa.
Iowa Horizontal Property Act (Condominiums), Iowa Code § 499B.1 (2020), et seq.: The statute governs the formation, management, powers, and operation of horizontal property regimes that expressly elect to be governed by the Act by recording a Master Deed (or Declaration) in the office of the county recorder of the county in which such property lies. See § 499B.3.
Revised Iowa Nonprofit Corporation Act, Iowa Code § 504.101, et seq.: The law governs the corporate structure and procedure of nonprofit corporations in Iowa. If a condominium or homeowners' association is organized as a nonprofit corporation, it will be governed by the Act. Visit the Iowa Secretary of State to find an association's corporation status.
Iowa Civil Rights Act, Iowa Code §§ 216.8, 216.8A (Unfair or discriminatory practices — housing): The law protects people's right to access all housing opportunities without discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or national origin. See also, Iowa Code Ann. §§ 216.2 (Definitions), 216.12 (Exemptions). These state-level protections are similar to the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA). Victims of housing discrimination may file a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, HUD, or file a private lawsuit in federal or state court.
Recommended Reading:

SOLAR RIGHTS AND EASEMENTS

Solar Access Easements, Iowa Code 564A.7. The statute grants any person or entity the right to create a solar access easement voluntarily or through the regulatory board. The statute also provides guidelines for the composition of the solar access easements.
Restrictive Covenants, Iowa Code 564A.8. The law gives local city councils and county boards of supervisors the authority to implement ordinances prohibiting homeowners' associations or subdivisions from restricting or limiting the use of solar collectors. Local governments are tasked with adopting and administering these protections. See also, Iowa Code, § 18B.1 (Iowa smart planning principles), § 335.5 (Regulations and comprehensive plan — considerations and objectives — notice, adoption, distribution).

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Federal Agencies - List of federal agencies with oversight authority over homeowners’ associations.
Iowa Civil Rights Commission. The Division has the statutory authority to investigate alleged violations of housing discrimination and may issue a charge if it concludes probable cause exists to believe that unlawful discrimination has occurred. Iowa Code Ann. § 216.5.
Iowa Government Portal - Search for government information by topic and agency.
- Fair Housing Resources from Iowa Civil Rights Commission
Iowa Attorney General - The attorney general’s office plays a vital role in protecting the state's citizens.
- Consumer Protection
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

HOA INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS

Iowa Homeowners' Association Directory - Find the association's contact information, list of active board members, articles of incorporation, and important corporation information by searching for the subdivision or community name.
Iowa Recorded Document Search - Visit your county recorder's office to find HOA documents, like CC&Rs, Amendments, Bylaws, HOA Notices, Subdivision Maps, Plats, Recorded Land Surveys, Deeds, Deeds of Trust, Liens, and Judgments. Search under the subdivision or community name.

LEGAL RESOURCES

The Iowa Legislature - Search your state representative and the legislation (or, "statutory law") database.
Iowa Judicial Branch - Find court information, self-help, forms, court documents, search cases, and legal opinions.
Iowa State Bar Association - The agency provides public access to a lawyer directory, lawyer referral service, and free or low-cost legal services.
Legal aid for low-income Iowans - The office provides free legal services in non-criminal cases to low-income individuals.
American Arbitration Association - The association, provides alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services.

DISCOVER MORE

Educational HOA articles. Giving you facts, not opinions.

Homeowners' Association As Vacation Destination: Short-Term Rental Restrictions in HOAs

Even if a community has a valid reason to restrict short-term rentals, it still needs legal and/or contractual authority to support the restriction. Typically, the authority comes from an HOA's declaration, from state law, or a combination of the two. A declaration is a contract among property owners in a community. The owners jointly agree to accept certain obligations and restrictions on how properties in the community can be used. If everyone complies, the community as a whole will benefit—or at least that is the idea.

Enforcing Conformity: Home Improvement Projects And Architectural Review Boards In HOAs

The U.S. legal system generally views any land-use restrictions with suspicion. However, the law also recognizes that reasonable restrictions are sometimes justified if they benefit the community as a whole. With that in mind, courts throughout the country have consistently upheld the right of HOAs to impose architectural restrictions as long as the restriction serves a legitimate purpose, is within the association's power under state law and/or the community's declaration, and does not violate any other law or public policy.

Step-By-Step Guide To The HOA Assessment Collections Process

When you purchase a property in a community with a homeowners’ association, you’re also acquiring the obligation to pay regular assessments. Unfortunately, though, homeowners are sometimes financially unable to pay assessments. Homeowners faced with potential collections action must understand how the HOA collections process works and the legal rights and redress available for both homeowners and the association. This guide will help all community members, including the board, resolve conflict, and avoid escalation.

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 Within HOA Communities

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 (the medical condition caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2), a global pandemic. HOAs and condominium associations have an essential role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19. By applying the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) recommendations in the planned community setting, HOA board members, owners, residents, visitors, and employees can help prevent illness in their communities and keep their loved ones, friends, and neighbors healthy and safe.

HOA Powers and Obligations In Emergency Situations

The fundamental purpose of a homeowners’ association is to benefit the community and its members. Usually, that means preserving the aesthetic beauty of the neighborhood by maintaining common areas and ensuring homeowners keep up their properties. Or, it might mean using pooled resources to make life easier for the entire community—through road and sidewalk repairs or snow removal, for instance. Most of the time, the overall goal is to increase property values and raise the living standard in the community. In an emergency, though, an HOA’s role can take on an entirely new dimension.

Weathering The Storm: Coronavirus And Its Financial Impact on Homeowners

One way or another, future historians will consider the Coronavirus Pandemic among the most noteworthy events of the early 21st Century. The full economic impact on homeowners and their families cannot yet be precisely predicted, but it is likely to be immense. Taking the necessary precautions to avoid exposure to the virus and preparing for the financial ramifications will require prudence, careful planning, and maybe even a little creative thinking. Homeowners can't completely avoid the fallout from Coronavirus, but there are a few measures that could hopefully soften the blow.

Iowa HOA Laws and Resources