Iowa Code » Chapter 321 — MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 321.236 (2026)

Powers of local authorities

✓ current as of July 2026
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Local authorities shall not enact, enforce, or maintain any ordinance, rule, or regulation that is in conflict with, contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. An ordinance, rule, or regulation that is in conflict with, contrary to, or inconsistent with this chapter that has been or is enacted by local authorities shall not have any force or effect. However, with respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power, the provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to prevent local authorities from doing any of the following:

1. Regulating the standing or parking of vehicles.

a. Parking meter, snow route, and overtime parking violations which are contested shall be charged and proceed before a court the same as other traffic violations. Filing fees and court costs shall be assessed as provided in section 602.8106, subsection 1, and section 805.6, subsection 1, paragraph “a” for parking violation cases.

b. Parking violations which are uncontested shall be charged and collected upon a simple \n Tue Dec 09 22:16:59 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) 173 MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD, §321.236\n\nnotice of a fine payable to the city clerk. The fine for each violation charged under a simple notice of a fine shall be established by ordinance. The fine may be increased by five dollars if the parking violation is not paid within thirty days of the date upon which the violation occurred. Violations of section 321L.4, subsection 2, shall be charged and collected upon a simple notice of a one hundred dollar fine payable to the city clerk. Costs or other charges shall not be assessed. All fines collected by a city pursuant to this paragraph shall be retained by the city and all fines collected by a county pursuant to this paragraph shall be retained by the county, except as provided by an agreement between a city and a county treasurer for the collection of fines pursuant to section 331.553, subsection 8.

c. If the local authority regulating the standing or parking of vehicles under this subsection is located in a county where the renewal of registration of a vehicle shall be refused for unpaid restitution under section 321.40, the simple notice of fine under paragraph “b” shall contain the following statement: Failure to pay restitution owed by you can be grounds for refusing to renew your motor vehicle’s registration.

d. If the local authority regulating the standing or parking of vehicles under this subsection is a county or is a city which has an agreement with a county treasurer by which the renewal of registration of a vehicle shall be refused for uncontested and unpaid parking fines under section 321.40, the simple notice of a fine under paragraph “b” shall contain the following statement: Failure to pay parking fines owed by you can be grounds for refusing to renew your motor vehicle’s registration.

e. Cities that enter into chapter 28E agreements for the collection of delinquent parking fines in conjunction with renewal of motor vehicle registrations pursuant to section 321.40 shall be responsible for computer programming costs incurred by the department to accommodate the collection and dissemination of delinquent parking ticket information to county treasurers, with each such city paying a per capita share of the costs as provided in this paragraph. The department’s programming costs shall be paid by the first city to enter into such an agreement. Thereafter, cities that enter into such agreements on or before June 30, 2010, shall pay a pro rata share of the department’s programming costs on or before September 30, 2010, to the city which first paid the costs, based on the respective populations of each city as of the last decennial census.

2. Regulating traffic by means of police officers or traffic-control signals.

3. Regulating or prohibiting processions or assemblages on the highways.

4. Designating particular highways as one-way highways and requiring that all vehicles thereon be moved in one specific direction.

5. Regulating the speed of vehicles in public parks.

6. Designating any highway as a through highway and requiring that all vehicles stop or yield the right-of-way before entering or crossing the same or designating any intersection as a stop intersection and requiring all vehicles to stop at one or more entrances to such intersections.

7. Licensing and regulating the operation of vehicles offered to the public for hire and used principally in intracity operation, except to the extent such licensure and regulation conflicts with section 321.241, section 321N.11, section 325A.6, or any other provision of the Code.

8. Restricting the use of highways as authorized in sections 321.471 through 321.473.

9. Regulating or prohibiting the turning of vehicles at and between intersections.

10. Regulating the operation of bicycles and requiring the registration and licensing of the same, including the requirement of a registration fee. However, the regulations shall not conflict with the provisions of section 321.234.

11. Establishing speed limits in public alleys and providing the penalty for violation thereof.

12. Designating highways or portions of highways as snow routes.

a. When conditions of snow or ice exist on the traffic surface of a designated snow route,\n\nTue Dec 09 22:16:59 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) §321.236, MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD 174\n\nit is unlawful for the driver of a vehicle to impede or block traffic if the driving wheels of the vehicle are not equipped with snow tires, tire chains, or a nonslip differential.

b. A person charged with impeding or blocking traffic for lack of snow tires, chains, or nonslip differential shall have the charge dismissed upon a showing to the court that the person’s motor vehicle was equipped with snow tires, chains, or a nonslip differential.

13. Establishing a rural residence district.

a. The board of supervisors of a county with respect to highways under its jurisdiction may establish, by ordinance or resolution, rural residence districts and may, by ordinance or resolution, regulate the speed and parking of vehicles within the rural residence district consistent with sections 321.239, 321.285, and 321.293.

b. Before establishing a rural residence district, the board of supervisors shall hold a public hearing on the proposal, notice of which shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in the area where the proposed district is located at least twenty days before the date of hearing. The notice shall state the time and place of the hearing, the proposed location of the district, and other data considered pertinent by the board of supervisors.

14. Regulating or prohibiting the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices authorized pursuant to section 321.235A.

15. A violation of a local ordinance, rule, or regulation promulgated under the authority of this section shall be prosecuted under the local ordinance, without reference to this section. [S13, §1571-m18, -m20; C24, 27, 31, 35, §4992, 4995, 4997; C39, §5018.01; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.236; 82 Acts, ch 1111, §1] 85 Acts, ch 40, §3; 86 Acts, ch 1056, §2; 86 Acts, ch 1238, §14; 90 Acts, ch 1102, §1; 90 Acts, ch 1151, §2; 90 Acts, ch 1170, §2, 3; 92 Acts, ch 1122, §1; 95 Acts, ch 169, §2; 97 Acts, ch 108, §13; 97 Acts, ch 147, §1; 2002 Acts, ch 1063, §31; 2003 Acts, ch 178, §14; 2005 Acts, ch 54, §3, 4, 12; 2009 Acts, ch 21, §1, 2; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §115, 252; 2010 Acts, ch 1140, §7; 2016 Acts, ch 1101, §3, 24; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §167, 168; 2023 Acts, ch 66, §76 Referred to in §321.40, 321.237, 321.285, 321.449, 325A.13, 331.362, 364.3, 602.8103, 602.8106, 707.6A, 805.6, 805.8A(1)(a), 805.8A(5)(a), 805.8A(6)(a), 805.8A(8)(a), 805.8A(9)(b) For fines applicable to offenses charged as scheduled violations, see §805.8A \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases, 1951–2008 · leading case: City of Davenport v. Seymour, 755 N.W.2d 533 (Iowa 2008).
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City of Davenport v. Seymour, 755 N.W.2d 533 (Iowa 2008). · cites it 40× “Iowa Code § 321.236 (1). The legislature has not given municipalities the authority to adjudicate other violations of our traffic code administratively.”
Lemke v. Mueller, 166 N.W.2d 860 (Iowa 1969). · cites it 10× “Section 321.236 of the Code indicates how local authorities, including boards of supervisors, may designate or establish a "through" highway in their localities.”
City of Vinton v. Engledow, 140 N.W.2d 857 (Iowa 1966). · cites it 8× “Section 321.236, Code of Iowa, provides that local authorities shall have no authority to enact any ordinance in any way in conflict with, contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this chapter.”
City of Des Moines v. State ex rel. Clerk of Court, 449 N.W.2d 363 (Iowa 1989). · cites it 13× “Section 321.236 generally provides that local authorities, such as the City, have the power to enact ordinances concerning motor vehicles as long as they do not conflict with Iowa Code chapter 321.”
Jahnke Ex Rel. Jahnke v. Inc. City of Des Moines, 191 N.W.2d 780 (Iowa 1971). · cites it 2× “They shall have the care, supervision, and control of all public * * * streets, avenues * * * within the city, and shall cause the same to be kept open and in repair and free from nuisances.”
Iowa City v. Nolan, 239 N.W.2d 102 (Iowa 1976). “§§ 321.236(1), 321.482, The Code. In addition, an alleged violator is subject to misdemeanor prosecution and maximum penalties for failure to appear.”
City of Janesville v. McCartney, 326 N.W.2d 785 (Iowa 1982). · cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 321.236 . Section 321.293 allows a city to set a higher speed limit than those established for the various districts (including suburban) by section 321.”
Turbot v. Repp, 72 N.W.2d 565 (Iowa 1955). · cites it 2× “” See also section 321.236(6). Section 321.255 provides: “Local authorities in their respective jurisdiction shall place and maintain such traffic-control devices upon highways under their jurisdiction as they may deem necessary to indicate and to carry out the provisions of…”
Gates v. City Council of Bloomfield, 50 N.W.2d 578 (Iowa 1951). · cites it 2× “See section 321.236(1), Code, 1950. The argument begs the question, for our examination of the ordinance is to see if it be within the sphere of a city’s implied power to regulate its streets.”
City of Des Moines v. Iowa Dist. Court for Polk Cnty., 431 N.W.2d 764 (Iowa 1988). · cites it 2× “In the alternative, they may be completed in a manner which utilizes the “notice of fine” procedure contained in Iowa Code section 321.236(l)(a) (1987). Also, the forms are capable of being designated as a “summons” applicable for charging violations by a corporation in…”
Geisking v. Sheimo, 105 N.W.2d 599 (Iowa 1960). · cites it 2× “Code section 321.236, in effect on March 10, 1958, authorized local authorities to designate stop intersections but there is no provision therein for “Yield” signs.”
City of Des Moines v. Reiter, 102 N.W.2d 363 (Iowa 1960). “Code sections 321.236 and 321.1, subsection 46, specifically recognize the right of cities with respect to streets, within the reasonable exercise of the police power, to regulate standing or parking of vehicles.”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 321.236(1) — 3 cases
City of Des Moines v. State ex rel. Clerk of Court, 449 N.W.2d 363 (Iowa 1989). “Section 321.236 generally provides that local authorities, such as the City, have the power to enact ordinances concerning motor vehicles as long as they do not conflict with Iowa Code chapter 321.”
Iowa City v. Nolan, 239 N.W.2d 102 (Iowa 1976). “§§ 321.236(1), 321.482, The Code. In addition, an alleged violator is subject to misdemeanor prosecution and maximum penalties for failure to appear.”
Gates v. City Council of Bloomfield, 50 N.W.2d 578 (Iowa 1951). “See section 321.236(1), Code, 1950. The argument begs the question, for our examination of the ordinance is to see if it be within the sphere of a city’s implied power to regulate its streets.”
— Iowa Code § 321.236(2) — 1 case
Jahnke Ex Rel. Jahnke v. Inc. City of Des Moines, 191 N.W.2d 780 (Iowa 1971). “They shall have the care, supervision, and control of all public * * * streets, avenues * * * within the city, and shall cause the same to be kept open and in repair and free from nuisances.”
— Iowa Code § 321.236(6) — 2 cases
Lemke v. Mueller, 166 N.W.2d 860 (Iowa 1969). “Section 321.236 of the Code indicates how local authorities, including boards of supervisors, may designate or establish a "through" highway in their localities.”
Turbot v. Repp, 72 N.W.2d 565 (Iowa 1955). “” See also section 321.236(6). Section 321.255 provides: “Local authorities in their respective jurisdiction shall place and maintain such traffic-control devices upon highways under their jurisdiction as they may deem necessary to indicate and to carry out the provisions of…”
— Iowa Code § 321.236(l)(a) — 1 case
City of Des Moines v. Iowa Dist. Court for Polk Cnty., 431 N.W.2d 764 (Iowa 1988). “In the alternative, they may be completed in a manner which utilizes the “notice of fine” procedure contained in Iowa Code section 321.236(l)(a) (1987). Also, the forms are capable of being designated as a “summons” applicable for charging violations by a corporation in…”
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