1. It is hereby found and declared that there exist in municipalities of the state slum and blighted areas, as defined in this chapter, which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the residents of the state; that the existence of such areas contributes substantially and increasingly to the spread of disease and crime, constitutes an economic and social liability imposing onerous municipal burdens which decrease the tax base and reduce tax revenues, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of municipalities, retards the provision of housing accommodations, aggravates traffic problems and substantially impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of slums and blighted areas is a matter of state policy and state concern in order that the state and its municipalities shall not continue to be endangered by areas which are focal centers of disease, promote juvenile delinquency and consume an excessive proportion of state revenues because of the extra services required for police, fire, accident, hospitalization, and other forms of public protection, services, and facilities.
2. It is further found and declared that certain slum or blighted areas, or portions thereof, may require acquisition, clearance, and disposition subject to use restrictions, as provided in this chapter, since the prevailing condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by conservation or rehabilitation; that other areas or portions thereof may, through the means provided in this chapter, be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such a manner that the conditions and evils hereinbefore enumerated may be eliminated, remedied or prevented; and that fringe areas can be conserved and rehabilitated through appropriate public action as herein authorized, and through the cooperation and voluntary action of the owners and tenants of property in such areas.
3. It is further found and declared that there exists in this state the continuing need for programs to alleviate and prevent conditions of unemployment and a shortage of housing; and that it is accordingly necessary to assist and retain local industries and commercial enterprises to strengthen and revitalize the economy of this state and its municipalities; that accordingly it is necessary to provide means and methods for the encouragement and assistance of industrial and commercial enterprises in locating, purchasing, constructing, reconstructing, modernizing, improving, maintaining, repairing, furnishing, equipping, and expanding in this state and its municipalities, for the provision of public improvements \n Tue Dec 09 22:13:06 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 403 (54, 1) §403.2, URBAN RENEWAL 2\n\nrelated to housing and residential development, and for the construction of housing for low and moderate income families; that accordingly it is necessary to authorize local governing bodies to designate areas of a municipality as economic development areas for commercial and industrial enterprises, public improvements related to housing and residential development, or construction of housing for low and moderate income families; and that it is also necessary to encourage the location and expansion of commercial enterprises to more conveniently provide needed services and facilities of the commercial enterprises to municipalities and the residents of the municipalities. Therefore, the powers granted in this chapter constitute the performance of essential public purposes for this state and its municipalities.
4. It is further found and declared that the powers conferred by this chapter are for public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and for which the power of eminent domain, to the extent authorized, and police power exercised; and that the necessity in the public interest for the provisions herein enacted is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination. [C58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §403.2] 85 Acts, ch 66, §1; 91 Acts, ch 186, §1; 96 Acts, ch 1204, §13; 2006 Acts, 1st Ex, ch 1001, §34, 49; 2020 Acts, ch 1063, §209 \n
Notes of Decisions
Knudson v. City of Decorah, 622 N.W.2d 42 (Iowa 2000).
· cites it 21× “” Iowa Code § 403.2 (1). The announced purpose of chapter 403 includes the prevention, elimination, and rehabilitation of “slum and blighted areas” in order that the “state and its municipalities shall not continue to be endangered by areas which are focal centers of disease,…”
McMurray v. City Council of West Des Moines, 642 N.W.2d 273 (Iowa 2002).
· cites it 15× “2d 682, 697 (Iowa 2002) (citing Iowa Code § 403.2 (3)). In order to advance these purposes, a municipality may assist and retain industries and commercial enterprises to strengthen and revitalize the economy and prevent unemployment.”
Bowers v. Polk Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors, 638 N.W.2d 682 (Iowa 2002).
· cites it 4× “§ 403.2(1). The urban renewal law looks to rebuild blighted areas and provide better housing and economic opportunities for people.”
Brady v. City of Dubuque, 495 N.W.2d 701 (Iowa 1993).
· cites it 4× “We believe the point of beginning in answering this contention is a 1985 amendment to Iowa Code section 403.2. Prior to that amendment, the declaration of legislative policy with respect to urban renewal projects indicated that the impetus for such programs was the elimination…”
Wilson v. Iowa City, 165 N.W.2d 813 (Iowa 1969).
· cites it 2× “2, includes the prevention, elimination, and rehabilitation of these “slum and blighted areas” in order that the state and its municipalities “shall not continue to be endangered by areas which are focal centers of disease, promote juvenile delinquency and consume an excessive…”
Dilley v. City of Des Moines, 247 N.W.2d 187 (Iowa 1976).
“4 (“No municipality shall exercise the authority herein conferred * * * until after its local governing body shall have adopted a resolution finding that: 1. One or more slum or blighted areas exist in such municipality.”
Webster Realty Co. v. City of Fort Dodge, 174 N.W.2d 413 (Iowa 1970).
· cites it 2× “They aim to relieve pressing and urgent municipal evils, which are clearly stated in section 403.2 of the act and are referred to in Wilson v.”
Scott v. City of Sioux City, 736 F.2d 1207 (8th Cir. 1984).
“It is hereby found and declared that there exists in municipalities of the state slum and blighted areas, as herein defined, which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious to the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the state; that the…”
Merritt v. Peet, 24 N.W.2d 757 (Iowa 1946).
“Sections 403.2 and 420.51, Code of 1946 (sections 6196 and 6740, Code of 1939) empower cities and towns to condemn gravel pits and roadways thereto outside their corporate limits: If the roadway in the case at bar was established as a public road or highway it would seem that…”
Al Brueggeman, Dan Breuker, Tom Bremer, Roger Bosma, Mark Dillehay, Randy Rowe, Allen Rowe, & Jarrod Wallace v. Osceola Cnty., Iowa & City of Harris, Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2020).
“§§ 403.2, .19. At the same time, chapter 403 imposes procedural 12 requirements for cities and counties undertaking joint ventures.”
— Iowa Code § 403.2(1) — 1 case
Bowers v. Polk Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors, 638 N.W.2d 682 (Iowa 2002).
“§ 403.2(1). The urban renewal law looks to rebuild blighted areas and provide better housing and economic opportunities for people.”
— Iowa Code § 403.2(2) — 1 case
Dilley v. City of Des Moines, 247 N.W.2d 187 (Iowa 1976).
“4 (“No municipality shall exercise the authority herein conferred * * * until after its local governing body shall have adopted a resolution finding that: 1. One or more slum or blighted areas exist in such municipality.”
— Iowa Code § 403.2(3) — 4 cases
Knudson v. City of Decorah, 622 N.W.2d 42 (Iowa 2000).
“” Iowa Code § 403.2 (1). The announced purpose of chapter 403 includes the prevention, elimination, and rehabilitation of “slum and blighted areas” in order that the “state and its municipalities shall not continue to be endangered by areas which are focal centers of disease,…”
Bowers v. Polk Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors, 638 N.W.2d 682 (Iowa 2002).
“§ 403.2(1). The urban renewal law looks to rebuild blighted areas and provide better housing and economic opportunities for people.”
McMurray v. City Council of West Des Moines, 642 N.W.2d 273 (Iowa 2002).
“2d 682, 697 (Iowa 2002) (citing Iowa Code § 403.2 (3)). In order to advance these purposes, a municipality may assist and retain industries and commercial enterprises to strengthen and revitalize the economy and prevent unemployment.”
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