SF 2369: A bill for an act relating to county and city regulation of accessory dwelling units. - Iowa

Enrolled → Enrolled with Governor's Action · 6 edits · Apr 9, 2026

MODERATE

This bill enacts laws requiring counties and cities in Iowa to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on single-family lots, with specific size limits and exceptions for historic districts. It standardizes rules for both counties and cities, ensuring that ADUs cannot be more restricted in common interest communities than in single-family zones.

Scope change

The scope expanded to explicitly include cities, matching the requirements previously established for counties, and clarified definitions for size calculations and historic preservation exceptions.

SCOPE

Added identical requirements for cities to allow one ADU per lot, mirroring the existing county regulations.

REQUIREMENT

Set a maximum size limit for ADUs at 1,000 square feet or 50% of the primary residence size, whichever is larger, excluding unfinished basements.

Mandated that manufactured or mobile homes used as ADUs must be placed on a permanent foundation and taxed as real property.

Required historic preservation commissions to document reasons for denying ADUs in historic districts if they determine the unit would be incongruous with the area's character.

ADDED

Defined 'size' for ADU calculations as gross living area, excluding garages, decks, and unheated porches.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that ADUs are prohibited only if state historic codes, deed restrictions, or community rules specifically forbid them, preventing local ordinances from adding extra restrictions.

Signed Enrolled Bill (PDF) → Enrolled · 3 edits · Apr 9, 2026

MINOR

The bill was finalized by removing the Governor's signature block and adding the official enrolled title and certification signatures from the Senate President, House Speaker, and Secretary of the Senate. The substantive policy text regarding accessory dwelling unit regulations remains unchanged.

TECHNICAL

Removed the Governor's signature block, date, and handwritten-style text from the top of the document.

Added the official enrolled title 'Senate File 2369 - Enrolled' and the certification signatures of the Senate President, House Speaker, and Secretary of the Senate.

Reformatted the bill text to use a numbered line-by-line layout instead of paragraph blocks, while keeping the legal language identical.

Introduced → Signed Enrolled Bill (PDF) · 5 edits · Apr 9, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into an enrolled act ready for the Governor's signature, transitioning from a draft legislative text to an official executive document. The core policy regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) remained consistent, mandating that counties and cities allow at least one ADU per single-family lot with specific size and regulatory limits.

Scope change

The scope of applicability was expanded to explicitly include 'cities' in the text, whereas the initial draft primarily focused on 'counties' before the city provision was added in later sections.

SCOPE

Added explicit provisions requiring cities to allow one accessory dwelling unit per lot, matching the requirements previously listed only for counties.

TECHNICAL

Converted the raw legislative text into a formal signed document format, including the Governor's signature block, certification by the Secretary of State, and official page numbering.

Corrected minor typos and formatting inconsistencies found in the draft text, such as misspelled words and section numbering errors.

DEFINITION

Formally defined 'size' for ADU calculations as the gross living area excluding garages, decks, and unheated porches to ensure consistent measurement.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that manufactured or mobile homes used as ADUs must be placed on a permanent foundation to be converted to real property for tax purposes.

A bill for an act relating to county and city regulation of accessory dwelling units.

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