Not legal advice. This page summarizes public statutes and court fee schedules as of the date shown. Rules and fees change; confirm with the court before you file, and talk to a local attorney about your situation.
Iowa eviction at a glance
| Court | District court (small claims) in the county |
|---|
Iowa evictions are heard in the district court (small claims) in the county. Before filing for unpaid rent, the landlord must give the notice required by Iowa Code §562A.27(2).
Step by step
- Notice for unpaid rent. A written 3-day notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate. (Iowa Code §562A.27(2))
- File in court. If the tenant doesn't pay or move out, file the eviction case in the district court (small claims) in the county. Ask the clerk for current filing and service fees. (Iowa Judicial Branch)
- Hearing, judgment and removal. After the tenant is served, the court sets a hearing. If the landlord wins, removal happens only through the court's order or writ, carried out by a law enforcement officer. Exact timelines are in the court's self-help materials. (Iowa Judicial Branch)
Statewide fees
| Eviction filing fee | Not verified Set by each court or county; no single statewide figure published |
|---|---|
| Service of process and writ / removal | Not verified Set by the county sheriff, marshal or constable |
Fees vary by court or county. For any county we haven't verified, call the clerk before filing.
About the missing details
Why it's missing: We only list eviction court fees published by an official source. Iowa hasn't published its local filing, service and writ fees online in a form we could verify, so call the clerk of the district court to confirm before you file.
General information
Not specific to Iowa
Across the 21 counties where we've read the official fee schedule, the eviction filing fee runs from $41 to $322. Sheriff or constable service usually adds a per-tenant charge, and a writ of possession adds another. Statewide fixed filing fees we've verified: California $240 (claims up to $10,000), Connecticut $175, Delaware $45, Florida $185, Texas $54.
Closest place with verified data
Hennepin County, MN (about 206 miles away): eviction action filing fee $322
Call or visit the official office
Iowa Judicial Branch · Official website
Ask for the clerk's office for the court that handles evictions in your county.
Know the current fee? Tell us. We check every tip against an official source before publishing it.
Official resources
All Iowa counties
Counties without verified local fees show the statewide rules above.
- Adair County
- Adams County
- Allamakee County
- Appanoose County
- Audubon County
- Benton County
- Black Hawk County
- Boone County
- Bremer County
- Buchanan County
- Buena Vista County
- Butler County
- Calhoun County
- Carroll County
- Cass County
- Cedar County
- Cerro Gordo County
- Cherokee County
- Chickasaw County
- Clarke County
- Clay County
- Clayton County
- Clinton County
- Crawford County
- Dallas County
- Davis County
- Decatur County
- Delaware County
- Des Moines County
- Dickinson County
- Dubuque County
- Emmet County
- Fayette County
- Floyd County
- Franklin County
- Fremont County
- Greene County
- Grundy County
- Guthrie County
- Hamilton County
- Hancock County
- Hardin County
- Harrison County
- Henry County
- Howard County
- Humboldt County
- Ida County
- Iowa County
- Jackson County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson County
- Johnson County
- Jones County
- Keokuk County
- Kossuth County
- Lee County
- Linn County
- Louisa County
- Lucas County
- Lyon County
- Madison County
- Mahaska County
- Marion County
- Marshall County
- Mills County
- Mitchell County
- Monona County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Muscatine County
- O'Brien County
- Osceola County
- Page County
- Palo Alto County
- Plymouth County
- Pocahontas County
- Polk County
- Pottawattamie County
- Poweshiek County
- Ringgold County
- Sac County
- Scott County
- Shelby County
- Sioux County
- Story County
- Tama County
- Taylor County
- Union County
- Van Buren County
- Wapello County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Webster County
- Winnebago County
- Winneshiek County
- Woodbury County
- Worth County
- Wright County
Frequently asked
Which court handles evictions in Iowa?
District court (small claims) in the county.
How much notice does a Iowa landlord have to give?
A written 3-day notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Iowa?
Fees vary by court or county. For any county we haven't verified, call the clerk before filing.