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STATE OF IOWA
KIM REYNOLDS
GOVERNOR
April 09, 2026
The Honorable Paul Pate
Secretary of State of Iowa
State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I hereby transmit:
Senate File 2369, an Act relating to county and city regulation of accessory dwelling
units.
The above Senate File is hereby approved on this date.
Sinc^ely,
am\^ynolds
Govemor of Iowa
cc: Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House
STATE CAPITOL DES MOINES, IOWA 50319 515.281.5211 WWW.GOVERNOR.IOWA.GOV
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Senate File 2369
AN ACT
RELATING TO COUNTY AND CITY REGULATION OF ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNITS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA;
Section 1. Section 331.301, subsection 29, paragraph a.
Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
a, A county shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling
unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a
zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed
principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:
(1) An accessory dwelling unit shall comply with all
applicable building regulations as defined in chapter 103A.
(2) An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed one thousand
square feet or fifty percent of the size of the single family
residence, whichever is larger. The size calculation of an
accessory dwelling unit shall exclude unfinished basements.
(3) An accessory dwelling unit shall be prohibited or
limited only to the extent that a state historic building code
restriction, aa adopted by a county in accordance with ocction
103A.43^ auboGCtion 3# a deed restrictionT- or a rule of a
common interest community, as defined in section 499C.1, limits
or prohibits the construction or use of an accessory dwelling
unit. The imposition of an ordinance, motion, resolution, or
amendment regulating accessory dwelling units that is more
restrictive when applied to a common interest community than
when applied to a single family residence is prohibited.
Senate File 2369, p. 2
An accessory dwelling unit proposed for a lot within a
historic preservation district as defined in section 15.445,
subsection 3, shall be regulated only to the extent that the
historic preservation commission as defined in section 15,445,
subsection 2, determines that the proposed accessory dwelling
unit would be incongruous with the historical, architectural,
archaeological, or cultural aspects of the district, and enters
into its records the reasons for such determination.
(4) If a manufactured home as defined in section 435.1,
subsection 3, or a mobile home as defined in section 435.1,
subsection 5, is used as an accessory dwelling unit, the
manufactured home or mobile home shall be converted to real
property by being placed on a permanent foundation and assessed
for real estate taxes pursuant to section 435.26.
Sec. 2. Section 331.301, subsection 29, paragraph e. Code
2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH, (5) means the gross living area
of the primary dwelling unit excluding garages, decks, and
unheated porches.
Sec. 3. Section 364.3, subsection 23, paragraph a. Code
2026, is amended to read as follows:
a, A city shall allow a minimum of one accessory dwelling
unit on the same lot as a single family residence within a
zoning district where a single family residence is an allowed
principal use, in accordance with the following conditions:
(1) An accessory dwelling unit shall comply with all
applicable building regulations as defined in chapter 103A.
(2) An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed one thousand
square feet or fifty percent of the size of the single family
residence, whichever is larger. The size calculation of an
accessory dwelling unit shall exclude unfinished basements.
(3) An accessory dwelling unit shall be prohibited or
limited only to the extent that a state hiotoric building
code rootriction, as adopted by a city in accordancG with
section 103A.43» subsection 3, a deed restrictionT- or a rule
of a common interest community, as defined in section 499C.1,
limits or prohibits the construction or use of an accessory
dwelling unit. The imposition of an ordinance, motion,
resolution, or amendment regulating accessory dwelling units
Senate File 2369, p. 3
that is more restrictive when applied to a common interest
community than when applied to a single family residence is
prohibited. An accessory dwelling unit proposed for a lot
within an area designated as an area of historical significance
shall be regulated to the extent that the city or commission,
pursuant to section 15.459, subsection 3, determines that the
proposed accessory dwelling unit would be incongruous with the
historical, architectural, archaeological, or cultural aspects
of the area, and enters into its records the reasons for such
determination.
(4) If a manufactured home as defined in section 435.1,
subsection 3, or a mobile home as defined in section 435.1,
subsection 5, is used as an accessory dwelling unit, the
manufactured home or mobile home shall be converted to real
property by being placed on a permanent foundation and assessed
for real estate taxes pursuant to section 435.26.
Sec. 4. Section 364.3, subsection 23, paragraph e. Code
2026, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (5) ^Size" means the gross living area
of the primary dwelling unit excluding garages, decks, and
unheated porches.
AMY SINCLi^ PAT GRASSLEYy
President of the Senate Speaker of yithe House
I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
is known as Senate File 2369, Ninety-first General Assembly.
Approved 2026
W. CHARLES SMITHSON
Secre he Senate
Governor