Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 216.2 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026

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When used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. “Agency” means the administrative function of the Iowa office of civil rights, including the director and staff. “Agency” does not include a member of the Iowa state civil rights commission. 2. “Commission” means the Iowa state civil rights commission created within the Iowa office of civil rights. 3. “Commissioner” means a member of the commission. 4. “Court” means the district court in and for any judicial district of the state of Iowa or any judge of the court if the court is not in session at that time. 5. “Covered multifamily dwelling” means any of the following: a. A building consisting of four or more dwelling units if the building has one or more elevators. b. The ground floor units of a building consisting of four or more dwelling units. 6. “Director” means the director of the Iowa office of civil rights. 7. “Disability” means the physical or mental condition of a person which constitutes a substantial disability, and the condition of a person with a positive human immunodeficiency

Tue Dec 09 22:22:07 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 216 (47, 2) §216.2, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS 2\n\nvirus test result, a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related complex, or any other condition related to acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The inclusion of a condition related to a positive human immunodeficiency virus test result in the meaning of “disability” under the provisions of this chapter does not preclude the application of the provisions of this chapter to conditions resulting from other contagious or infectious diseases. 8. “Employee” means any person employed by an employer. 9. “Employer” means the state of Iowa or any political subdivision, board, commission, department, institution, or school district thereof, and every other person employing employees within the state. 10. “Employment agency” means any person undertaking to procure employees or opportunities to work for any other person or any person holding itself to be equipped to do so. 11. a. “Familial status” means one or more individuals under the age of eighteen domiciled with one of the following: (1) A parent or another person having legal custody of the individual or individuals. (2) The designee of the parent or the other person having custody of the individual or individuals, with the written permission of the parent or other person. (3) A person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of the individual or individuals. b. “Familial status” also means a person who is pregnant or who is in the process of securing legal custody of an individual who has not attained the age of eighteen years. 12. “Labor organization” means any organization which exists for the purpose in whole or in part of collective bargaining, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms, or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment. 13. “Office” means the Iowa office of civil rights. 14. “Person” means one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal representatives, trustees, receivers, and the state of Iowa and all political subdivisions and agencies thereof. 15. a. “Public accommodation” means each and every place, establishment, or facility of whatever kind, nature, or class that caters or offers services, facilities, or goods for a fee or charge to nonmembers of any organization or association utilizing the place, establishment, or facility, provided that any place, establishment, or facility that caters or offers services, facilities, or goods to the nonmembers gratuitously shall be deemed a public accommodation if the accommodation receives governmental support or subsidy. Public accommodation shall not mean any bona fide private club or other place, establishment, or facility which is by its nature distinctly private, except when such distinctly private place, establishment, or facility caters or offers services, facilities, or goods to the nonmembers for fee or charge or gratuitously, it shall be deemed a public accommodation during such period. b. “Public accommodation” includes each state and local government unit or tax-supported district of whatever kind, nature, or class that offers services, facilities, benefits, grants or goods to the public, gratuitously or otherwise. This paragraph shall not be construed by negative implication or otherwise to restrict any part or portion of the preexisting definition of the term “public accommodation”. 16. “Sexual orientation” means actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. 17. “Unfair practice” or “discriminatory practice” means those practices specified as unfair or discriminatory in sections 216.6, 216.6A, 216.7, 216.8, 216.8A, 216.8B, 216.9, 216.10, 216.11, and 216.11A. [C66, 71, §105A.2; C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §601A.2] 84 Acts, ch 1096, §1; 88 Acts, ch 1236, §1; 89 Acts, ch 205, §1; 91 Acts, ch 184, §1; 92 Acts, ch 1129, §1 – 3\n\nTue Dec 09 22:22:07 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 216 (47, 2) 3 OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, §216.5\n\n C93, §216.2 94 Acts, ch 1023, §42; 95 Acts, ch 129, §2; 96 Acts, ch 1129, §113; 2007 Acts, ch 191, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 96, §1; 2019 Acts, ch 65, §1; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §252, 253; 2025 Acts, ch 1, §7 Referred to in §19.1, 279.80, 708.7 Subsection 12 stricken and former subsections 13 – 18 renumbered as 12 – 17

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 71 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case: John Goodpaster v. Schwan's Home Serv., Inc. & Todd Swanson, Individually & in His Corp. Capacity, 849 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2014).

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John Goodpaster v. Schwan's Home Serv., Inc. & Todd Swanson, Individually & in His Corp. Capacity, 849 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 14× “, Iowa Code § 216.2 (5) (“ ‘Disability’ means the physical or mental condition of a person which constitutes a substantial disability, and the condition of a person with a positive human immunodeficiency virus test result, a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a…”

Matthew Jahnke v. Deere & Co., Richard Czarnecki, & Bernhard Haas, 912 N.W.2d 136 (Iowa 2018). · cites it 8× “Iowa Code § 216.2 (6) (2015). Under our presumption against extraterritorial application, "a statute is prima facie operative only as to persons or things within the territorial jurisdiction of the lawmaking power which enacted it" even if the statute uses general words to…”

Nicole Lara Shumate v. Drake Univ. A/K/A Drake Univ. Law Sch., 846 N.W.2d 503 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 8× “See Iowa Code § 216.2 (5) (defining “disability” in the context of the ICRA).”

Christopher J. Godfrey v. State of Iowa Terry Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, Individually & in His Off. Capacity Kimberly Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Iowa, Individually & in Her Off. Capacity Jeffrey Boeyink, Chief of Staff to the Governor of the State of Iowa, Individually & in His Off. Capacity Brenna Findley, Legal Couns. to the Governor of The, 898 N.W.2d 844 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 4× “Here, as I have already noted, there is no dispute that Godfrey’s employer, the State of Iowa, is an “employer” within the meaning of the 93 ICRA, see Iowa Code § 216.2 (7), and thus in my view, the Act provides Godfrey with an adequate statutory remedy.”

Eerieanna Good & Carol Beal v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 924 N.W.2d 853 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 7× “Iowa Code § 216.2 (4) (emphasis added.) The use of the term "unit" to describe a "covered multifamily dwelling" is vastly different from the use of "government unit" within the definition of "public accommodation" given the context in which both terms are used.”

Renda v. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n, 784 N.W.2d 8 (Iowa 2010). · cites it 4× “§ 216.2(6). Employer is defined as "the state of Iowa or any political subdivision, board, commission, department, institution, or school district thereof, and every other person employing employees within the state.”

Simon Seeding & Sod, Inc. v. Dubuque Human Rights Comm'n & Jermaine Stapleton, 895 N.W.2d 446 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 4× “” Iowa Code § 216.2 (7). The numerosity requirement is placed in the substantive portion of the Act.”

Nolan Deeds v. City of Marion, Iowa, St. Luke's Work Well Solutions St. Luke's Healthcare, & Iowa Health Sys., 914 N.W.2d 330 (Iowa 2018). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code § 216.2 (5) (defining “[d]isability” as “the physical or mental condition of a person which constitutes a substantial disability”); Goodpaster, 849 N.”

Fuller v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 576 N.W.2d 324 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 6× “” Iowa Code § 216.2 (5). 4 The regulations promulgated pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 216 expand on this definition: The term “substantially handicapped person” shall mean any person who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life…”

Varnum v. Brien, 763 N.W.2d 862 (Iowa 2009). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code §§ 216.2 -.18A (Iowa Civil Rights Act) (sexual-orientation-based discrimination); id.”

Fort Des Moines Church of Christ v. Jackson, 215 F. Supp. 3d 776 (S.D. Iowa 2016). · cites it 11× “4 See Iowa Code § 216.2 (13); Des Moines City Code § 62-1.”

Hawkins v. Grinnell Reg'l Med. Ctr., 929 N.W.2d 261 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 2× “96 (codified as amended at Iowa Code §§ 216.2 (15), .6A, .15(9)( a )(9)); 2007 Iowa Acts ch.”

Show all 71 citing cases →

— Iowa Code § 216.2(10) — 1 case

Jesse Vroegh v. Iowa Dep't of Corr., & Wellmark, Inc. (Iowa 2022).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(11) — 3 cases

Vivian v. Madison, 601 N.W.2d 872 (Iowa 1999).

Bales v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 972 F. Supp. 483 (S.D. Iowa 1997).

State Of Iowa, Ex Rel. Alicia Claypool Vs. Michael Evans, Mte Proj. Dev., & Anderson-bogert Engineers & Surveyors, Inc. Vs. Michael Evans, & Mte Proj. Dev. (Iowa 2008).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(12) — 6 cases

Joanne Cote v. Derby Ins. Agency, Inc., an Iowa Corp., & Kevin Dorn, Individually, 908 N.W.2d 861 (Iowa 2018).

Johnson v. Be & K Constr. Co., LLC, 593 F. Supp. 2d 1044 (S.D. Iowa 2009).

Joanne Cote v. Derby Ins. Agency, Inc., an Iowa Corp., & Kevin Dorn, Individually (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).

Joanne Cote v. Derby Ins. Agency, Inc., an Iowa Corp., & Kevin Dorn, Individually (Iowa 2018).

James Rixner & the Sioux City Human Rights Comm'n of the City of Sioux City v. James W. Boyd Revocable Trust & Jennifer Boyle & James W. Boyd, Individually (Iowa Ct. App. 2019).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(13) — 3 cases

Eerieanna Good & Carol Beal v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 924 N.W.2d 853 (Iowa 2019). “Iowa Code § 216.2 (4) (emphasis added.) The use of the term "unit" to describe a "covered multifamily dwelling" is vastly different from the use of "government unit" within the definition of "public accommodation" given the context in which both terms are used.”

Fort Des Moines Church of Christ v. Jackson, 215 F. Supp. 3d 776 (S.D. Iowa 2016). “4 See Iowa Code § 216.2 (13); Des Moines City Code § 62-1.”

Van Meter Indus. v. Mason City Human Rights Comm'n, 675 N.W.2d 503 (Iowa 2004).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(14) — 1 case

Kimberly Hively v. Ivy Tech Cmty. Coll., 830 F.3d 698 (7th Cir. 2016).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(15) — 1 case

Darren Petro v. Palmer Coll. of Chiropractic (Iowa 2020).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(5) — 10 cases

John Goodpaster v. Schwan's Home Serv., Inc. & Todd Swanson, Individually & in His Corp. Capacity, 849 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2014). “, Iowa Code § 216.2 (5) (“ ‘Disability’ means the physical or mental condition of a person which constitutes a substantial disability, and the condition of a person with a positive human immunodeficiency virus test result, a diagnosis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a…”

Fuller v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 576 N.W.2d 324 (Iowa 1998). “” Iowa Code § 216.2 (5). 4 The regulations promulgated pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 216 expand on this definition: The term “substantially handicapped person” shall mean any person who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life…”

Bearshield v. John Morrell & Co., 570 N.W.2d 915 (Iowa 1997).

Vincent v. Four M Paper Corp., 589 N.W.2d 55 (Iowa 1999).

Howell v. Merritt Co., 585 N.W.2d 278 (Iowa 1998).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(6) — 4 cases

Renda v. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n, 784 N.W.2d 8 (Iowa 2010). “§ 216.2(6). Employer is defined as "the state of Iowa or any political subdivision, board, commission, department, institution, or school district thereof, and every other person employing employees within the state.”

Christopher J. Godfrey v. State of Iowa, Terry Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, in His Off. Capacity, Renna Findley, Legal Couns. to the Governor of the State of Iowa, in Her Off. Capacity (Iowa 2021).

Christopher J. Godfrey v. State of Iowa, Terry Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, in His Off. Capacity, Brenna Findley, Legal Couns. to the Governor of the State of Iowa, in Her Off. Capacity (Iowa 2021).

Melissa Lee Renda Vs. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n (Iowa 2010).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(7) — 7 cases

Matthew Jahnke v. Deere & Co., Richard Czarnecki, & Bernhard Haas, 912 N.W.2d 136 (Iowa 2018). “Iowa Code § 216.2 (6) (2015). Under our presumption against extraterritorial application, "a statute is prima facie operative only as to persons or things within the territorial jurisdiction of the lawmaking power which enacted it" even if the statute uses general words to…”

Nelson v. JC Penney Co., Inc., 858 F. Supp. 914 (N.D. Iowa 1994).

Schallehn v. Cent. Trust & Sav. Bank, 877 F. Supp. 1315 (N.D. Iowa 1995).

— Iowa Code § 216.2(9) — 2 cases

Joanne Cote v. Derby Ins. Agency, Inc., an Iowa Corp., & Kevin Dorn, Individually (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).

Joanne Cote v. Derby Ins. Agency, Inc., an Iowa Corp., & Kevin Dorn, Individually (Iowa 2018).

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