Iowa Code » Chapter 4 — CONSTRUCTION OF STATUTES
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 4.7 (2026)

Conflicts between general and special statutes

✓ current as of July 2026
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If a general provision conflicts with a special or local provision, they shall be construed, if possible, so that effect is given to both. If the conflict between the provisions is irreconcilable, the special or local provision prevails as an exception to the general provision. [C73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §4.7] Referred to in §7E.6 Intent of general assembly that §7E.6 govern compensation of members of boards, committees, commissions, or councils except for certain provisions enacted subsequent to July 1, 1986; see §7E.6(1) and (7)

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 136 cases (19 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: Cheryl Albaugh v. The Reserve, 930 N.W.2d 676 (Iowa 2019).
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Cheryl Albaugh v. The Reserve, 930 N.W.2d 676 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 10× “Iowa Code chapter 523D (retirement facilities statute) and the IURLTA address, at least in part, the same subject matter. This is a common occurrence in Iowa law.”
Goodell v. Humboldt Cnty., 575 N.W.2d 486 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 14× “See Iowa Code § 4.7 (stating where an irreconcilable conflict exists between a general statute and a special statute, the special statute prevails).”
Des Moines Flying Serv., Inc. v. Aerial Servs. Inc. Cedar Valley Aviation, LLC & Kirk P. Fisher, 880 N.W.2d 212 (Iowa 2016). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 4.7 . The UCC is to be “liberally construed and applied to promote its underlying purposes and policies,” which include simplifying, standardizing, and modernizing contract law.”
Slager v. HWA Corp., 435 N.W.2d 349 (Iowa 1989). · cites it 8× “92, on the other hand, addresses joint and several liability in only one kind of action, dram shop actions.”
Serv. Employees Int'l Union, Local 199 v. State of Iowa, Iowa Bd. of Regents, 928 N.W.2d 69 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 10× “See Iowa Code § 4.7 (“If a general provision conflicts with a special or local provision, they shall be construed, if possible, so that effect is given to both.”
Paula Segura & Ricardo Segura v. State of Iowa, 889 N.W.2d 215 (Iowa 2017). · cites it 4× “846 , 848–49 (1912) (indicating that this statute allows the attorney to sign the notice of appeal for the appellant “where there is no statutory requirement otherwise”); see also Iowa Code § 4.7 (resolving a conflict between a general provision and an irreconcilable special…”
In the Interest of A.M., Minor Child. Heather Thomas, Subpoenaed Witness, 856 N.W.2d 365 (Iowa 2014). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 4.7 ; see also Christiansen v.”
Midwest Auto. III, LLC v. Iowa Dep't of Transp., 646 N.W.2d 417 (Iowa 2002). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code § 4.7 (stating that where irreconcilable conflict exists between two statutes, "the special or local provision prevails as an exception to the general provision").”
Freedom Fin. Bank v. Est. of Edward J. Boesen, 805 N.W.2d 802 (Iowa 2011). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code § 4.7 (special provision controls as exception to general provision).”
Citizens' Aide/Ombudsman v. Miller, 543 N.W.2d 899 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 8× “Iowa Code § 4.7 (stating “[i]f a general provision conflicts with a special or local provision, they shall be construed, if possible, so that effect is given to both”); see Farmers Coop.”
In Re the Marriage of Baculis, 430 N.W.2d 399 (Iowa 1988). · cites it 8× “Relying on Iowa Code section 4.7, 1 we noted in Balster that the Tort Claims Act specifically addressed state liability for prejudgment interest, and thus, as a specific statute, it prevailed over the provisions of section 535.”
Des Moines Area Reg'l Transit Auth. & United Heartland v. Arbreina Young, 867 N.W.2d 839 (Iowa 2015). · cites it 4× “2d at 411 ; see also Iowa Code § 4.7 (providing the special provision prevails if the statutes cannot be construed to give effect to both).”
Show all 136 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 4.7(1) — 1 case
R & V, Ltd. v. Iowa Dep't of Com., Alcoholic Beverages Div., 470 N.W.2d 59 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991).
— Iowa Code § 4.7(c) — 1 case
State v. Farber, 314 N.W.2d 365 (Iowa 1982).
— Iowa Code § 4.7(l)(c) — 1 case
Hiserote Homes, Inc. v. Riedemann, 277 N.W.2d 911 (Iowa 1979).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.