Iowa Code » Chapter 216 — OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 216.8 (2026)

Unfair or discriminatory practices — housing

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. It shall be an unfair or discriminatory practice for any person, owner, or person acting for an owner, of rights to housing or real property, with or without compensation, including but not limited to persons licensed as real estate brokers or salespersons, attorneys, auctioneers, agents or representatives by power of attorney or appointment, or any person acting under court order, deed of trust, or will: a. To refuse to sell, rent, lease, assign, sublease, refuse to negotiate, or to otherwise make unavailable, or deny any real property or housing accommodation or part, portion, or interest therein, to any person because of the race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status of such person. b. To discriminate against any person because of the person’s race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status, in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale, rental, lease assignment, or sublease of any real property or housing accommodation or any part, portion, or interest in the real property or housing accommodation or in the provision of services or facilities in connection with the real property or housing accommodation. c. To directly or indirectly advertise, or in any other manner indicate or publicize that the purchase, rental, lease, assignment, or sublease of any real property or housing accommodation or any part, portion, or interest therein, by persons of any particular race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, disability, or familial status is unwelcome, objectionable, not acceptable, or not solicited. d. To discriminate against the lessee or purchaser of any real property or housing accommodation or part, portion, or interest of the real property or housing accommodation, or against any prospective lessee or purchaser of the property or accommodation, because of the race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, or national origin of persons who may from time to time be present in or on the lessee’s or owner’s premises for lawful purposes at the invitation of the lessee or owner as friends, guests, visitors, relatives, or in any similar capacity.

2. For purposes of this section, “person” means one or more individuals, corporations, partnerships, associations, labor organizations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint stock companies, trusts, unincorporated organizations, trustees, trustees in cases under Tit. 11 of the United States Code, receivers, and fiduciaries. [C71, §105A.13; C73, §601A.13; C75, 77, 79, 81, §601A.8] 89 Acts, ch 205, §2; 92 Acts, ch 1129, §4 C93, §216.8 2007 Acts, ch 191, §7; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §86; 2025 Acts, ch 1, §16 Referred to in §216.2, 216.11A, 216.12, 216.12A, 216.15A, 216.16A Subsection 1, paragraphs a, b, c, and d amended\n\nTue Dec 09 22:22:08 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 216 (47, 2) 9 OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, §216.8A \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case: Renda v. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n, 784 N.W.2d 8 (Iowa 2010).
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Renda v. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n, 784 N.W.2d 8 (Iowa 2010). · cites it 4× “Renda claims both of these conclusions constitute errors of law, and we will review each in turn.”
Cheryl Albaugh v. The Reserve, 930 N.W.2d 676 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code § 216.8 (1)(b). The majority’s approach to this case might allow such discrimination, so long as both entrance fees are greater than $5000, because the regulation of entrance fees in the retirement facilities statute is considered sui generis.”
Tina Haskenhoff v. Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, 897 N.W.2d 553 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 2× “We emphasized section 216.8(1)⅛ instruction to interpret the ICRA broadly in reaching the result that multiple sclerosis could be a disability under the ICRA.”
Baker v. City of Iowa City, 750 N.W.2d 93 (Iowa 2008). · cites it 3× “6 (1)( z) (prohibiting employment discrimination on several bases, but not mentioning marital status); compare Iowa City City Code § 2-5-1 (prohibiting discrimination in housing on the basis of marital status), with Iowa Code § 216.8 (prohibiting discriminatory housing practices…”
State v. Keding, 553 N.W.2d 305 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 8× “Iowa Code § 216.8 (3) (1995). This portion of the Iowa Civil Rights Act was patterned after the 1988 amendments to the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA).”
State Ex Rel. Dobbs v. Burche, 729 N.W.2d 431 (Iowa 2007). · cites it 6× “8(2); (3) constructively evicted female tenants through quid pro quo sexual harassment and creation of a hostile housing environment, in violation of section 216.8(1); (4) interfered with female tenants’ enjoyment of their apartments without sex discrimination, in violation of…”
Krisha Bowman v. City of Des Moines Mun. Hous. Agency Scott Littell in His Off. Capacity as Review Officer & Sara Henry, in Her Off. Capacity as Occupancy & Prog. Enf't Adm'r, 805 N.W.2d 790 (Iowa 2011). · cites it 2× “§ 3604 ; see also Iowa Code § 216.8 (prohibiting discrimination in housing based on familial status under the Iowa Civil Rights Act).”
Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n v. McKillip (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 18× “Iowa Code § 216.8 (1)(b) (2021). Hostile-housing-environment-sexual-discrimination claims have been recognized by federal courts under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.”
State Of Iowa, Ex Rel. Jeannie E. Dobbs Vs. John Burche Vs. John A. Burche & Maura Burche (Iowa 2007). · cites it 4× “8(2); (3) constructively evicted female tenants through quid pro quo sexual harassment and creation of a hostile housing environment, in violation of section 216.8(1); (4) interfered with female tenants’ enjoyment of their apartments without sex discrimination, in violation of…”
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). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code §§ 216.8 (1), .8A(3)(a). “An aggrieved person may file a civil action in district court .”
John Baker Vs. City Of Iowa City, Iowa, & Iowa City Human Rights Comm'n (Iowa 2008). · cites it 3× “6 (1)(a) (prohibiting employment discrimination on several bases, but not mentioning marital status); compare Iowa City City Code § 2–5–1 (prohibiting discrimination in housing on the basis of marital status), with Iowa Code § 216.8 (prohibiting discriminatory housing practices…”
Melissa Lee Renda Vs. Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n (Iowa 2010). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code §§ 216.8 , 216.8A. The terms “real property,” “housing,” “housing accommodation,” and “dwelling” are used in the various statutory provisions to describe the type of facilities to which the prohibition applies.”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 216.8(1) — 4 cases
Tina Haskenhoff v. Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, 897 N.W.2d 553 (Iowa 2017). “We emphasized section 216.8(1)⅛ instruction to interpret the ICRA broadly in reaching the result that multiple sclerosis could be a disability under the ICRA.”
State Ex Rel. Dobbs v. Burche, 729 N.W.2d 431 (Iowa 2007). “8(2); (3) constructively evicted female tenants through quid pro quo sexual harassment and creation of a hostile housing environment, in violation of section 216.8(1); (4) interfered with female tenants’ enjoyment of their apartments without sex discrimination, in violation of…”
Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n v. McKillip (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “Iowa Code § 216.8 (1)(b) (2021). Hostile-housing-environment-sexual-discrimination claims have been recognized by federal courts under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.”
State Of Iowa, Ex Rel. Jeannie E. Dobbs Vs. John Burche Vs. John A. Burche & Maura Burche (Iowa 2007). “8(2); (3) constructively evicted female tenants through quid pro quo sexual harassment and creation of a hostile housing environment, in violation of section 216.8(1); (4) interfered with female tenants’ enjoyment of their apartments without sex discrimination, in violation of…”
— Iowa Code § 216.8(2) — 3 cases
State Ex Rel. Dobbs v. Burche, 729 N.W.2d 431 (Iowa 2007). “8(2); (3) constructively evicted female tenants through quid pro quo sexual harassment and creation of a hostile housing environment, in violation of section 216.8(1); (4) interfered with female tenants’ enjoyment of their apartments without sex discrimination, in violation of…”
Iowa Civil Rights Comm'n v. McKillip (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “Iowa Code § 216.8 (1)(b) (2021). Hostile-housing-environment-sexual-discrimination claims have been recognized by federal courts under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.”
State Of Iowa, Ex Rel. Jeannie E. Dobbs Vs. John Burche Vs. John A. Burche & Maura Burche (Iowa 2007). “8(2); (3) constructively evicted female tenants through quid pro quo sexual harassment and creation of a hostile housing environment, in violation of section 216.8(1); (4) interfered with female tenants’ enjoyment of their apartments without sex discrimination, in violation of…”
— Iowa Code § 216.8(3) — 1 case
State v. Keding, 553 N.W.2d 305 (Iowa 1996). “Iowa Code § 216.8 (3) (1995). This portion of the Iowa Civil Rights Act was patterned after the 1988 amendments to the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA).”
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