Iowa HOA and Condo Laws, in Plain English

Iowa Code chapter 499B, the Horizontal Property Act, is Iowa's condominium statute. It governs how a condominium regime (called a horizontal property regime) is created and organized, covering the declaration, bylaws, common elements, real estate taxes and assessments, and liens against units. The chapter has no standalone resale disclosure certificate; its only resale related protection is a narrower statement of unpaid assessments, and any other resale related fee follows the association's governing documents.

• Iowa Code 499B.19 (Common Expenses After Voluntary Conveyance)

  In a voluntary conveyance of a condominium apartment the grantee is jointly and severally liable with the grantor for the grantor's unpaid common expense assessments up to the conveyance, but is entitled to a statement from the council of co-owners or its representatives setting forth the amount of the unpaid assessments against the grantor, and neither the grantee nor the apartment is liable for, or subject to a lien for, any amount beyond what the statement sets forth. No fee and no deadline are stated. Iowa has no resale certificate statute; this statement is the buyer's protection on a condominium resale.

  Official text

Iowa Code chapter 499C applies broadly across Iowa's common interest communities, including condominiums, cooperatives, and planned communities such as homeowner and property owner associations. Rather than governing formation, assessments, or resale disclosure directly, it defines these community types and gives owners a general right to obtain the association's governing documents, rules, and recent meeting minutes and financial reports on request. It does not create a dedicated resale certificate; anyone seeking assessment or financial information for a resale relies on this same general records access right.

• Iowa Code 499C.2 (Records and Documents Access)

  Enacted in 2023 for every common interest community (condominiums, cooperatives, and planned communities): within 10 business days of a request by a unit owner or the owner's authorized agent, the association, its designee, or its management company must make available the organizational documents with all amendments, the bylaws with all amendments, the rules with all amendments, and the minutes of the most recent owners' meeting and the most recent executive board meeting, each including any financial reports, on paper, by email, or by posting to a website the owner can reach. The association may charge a reasonable fee that does not exceed the estimated cost of producing or reproducing the records.

  Official text