Iowa bill lets landlords charge for assistance animal damage

A bill for an act relating to assistance animals in residential rental housing, including damage reimbursement, refundable income tax credits, and a landlord insurance risk pool, and providing penalties and effective date provisions.

Introduced· 2026-02-17

Who's it for

Who's it for: Landlords

What it means for you

3/10Hurts you

Bad for everyday people ·

Right removedCost shift

Draft summary, still being checked against the official bill text. Read the source to confirm.

If passed, landlords could get money back for pet damage through tax credits or an insurance pool, and could require refundable deposits for some assistance animals.

Our take

What we think, in plain words.

Tenants with emotional support or therapy animals may face extra deposits or be denied if the animal isn’t a dog, while landlords gain new ways to recoup damage costs.

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The facts

What the bill actually says, no spin.

Landlords can claim reimbursement via tax credit, state insurance pool, or tax setoff.
Landlords may require refundable damage deposits for emotional support or therapy animals, but not for service animals.
Misrepresenting an animal as an assistance animal is a misdemeanor.
Participation in the insurance risk pool is optional and funded by landlords.
Landlords are not required to allow non‑dog emotional support or therapy animals.