EVERY DEADLINE
62 periods Iowa law measures, gathered out of the file and put in order, shortest first. Each one says what starts it, whose period it is, and what the law attaches to it. The shortest here is 24 hours. The longest is 10 years.
Every period on this page is stated by a section of the file and carries that section's own authority. None of it is a calculation: a period that turns on facts, on service, or on a court's discretion is described the way the section describes it and no further.
62 deadlines
Traffic stops1
48 hours
Moving a car off the road after a citation for no insurance
- From
- The citation for no financial liability coverage
- Whose
- The driver
After the citation, the vehicle may be driven for up to 48 hours only to remove it from the highways, unless the driving privilege is otherwise suspended.
Being stopped1
10 days
Executing a search warrant
- From
- The date of the search warrant
- Whose
- The officer
A search warrant is executed within ten days from its date; one not executed in that time is void.
Marijuana and drugs1
90 days
Filing a notice of pending forfeiture
- From
- The seizure of the property
- Whose
- The prosecutor
On the owner's request, seized property is released if the prosecutor has not filed a notice of pending forfeiture within ninety days after the seizure.
Impaired driving6
10 days
Asking for a hearing on an OWI revocation
- From
- Receipt of the notice of revocation
- Whose
- The driver
The hearing request form goes back within ten days of receipt, or the right to a hearing to contest the revocation is lost.
45 days
The hearing on an OWI revocation
- From
- A timely request for the hearing
- Whose
- The department
A driver who returns the hearing request in time gets a hearing to contest the revocation within 45 days.
180 days
Revocation for a test over the limit, no prior revocation
- From
- The revocation on the test result
- Whose
- The driver
A chemical test at or over the limit with no prior revocation brings a license revocation of 180 days.
1 year
Revocation for a test over the limit after a prior revocation
- From
- The revocation on the test result
- Whose
- The driver
A chemical test at or over the limit after a prior revocation brings a license revocation of one year.
1 year
Revocation for refusing a chemical test, no prior revocation
- From
- The revocation on the officer's certification
- Whose
- The driver
Refusing the chemical test with no prior revocation brings a license revocation of one year.
2 years
Revocation for refusing a chemical test after a prior revocation
- From
- The revocation on the officer's certification
- Whose
- The driver
Refusing the chemical test after a prior revocation brings a license revocation of two years.
Court and money30
3 business days
Cancelling a door to door sale
- From
- The transaction
- Whose
- The buyer
The buyer may cancel until midnight of the third business day after the transaction, using the Notice of Cancellation the seller attaches.
10 days
An employer's protest of an unemployment claim
- From
- The notice that the claim was filed
- Whose
- The employer
The employer has ten days from the notice of the claim to protest payment of benefits.
10 calendar days
Appealing an unemployment decision
- From
- Notification of the decision
- Whose
- The claimant or the employer
A decision on benefits becomes final unless a party appeals within ten calendar days after notification was issued.
10 days
Arranging a final repair under the lemon law
- From
- The consumer's notice to the manufacturer
- Whose
- The manufacturer
Within ten days of the consumer's notice, the manufacturer arranges a final repair attempt at a reasonably accessible facility.
10 days
Conforming the car at the final repair
- From
- Delivery of the vehicle for the final repair
- Whose
- The manufacturer
Within ten days after delivery, the manufacturer conforms the vehicle to the warranty; if it still fails, the manufacturer replaces or repurchases it.
10 business days
The refund after a door to door cancellation
- From
- The buyer's cancellation
- Whose
- The seller
After a cancellation, the seller returns payments, any trade in and any note within ten business days.
12 days
Payday after a pay period ends
- From
- The last day of the pay period
- Whose
- The employer
A regular payday may not be more than 12 days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, after the end of the period in which the wages were earned.
14 days
The director's word on declining a wage complaint
- From
- The director's receipt of the complaint
- Whose
- The director
If the director decides not to determine the wage claim, the complaining employee is told within 14 days of receipt of the complaint.
15 days
Appealing an administrative law judge's unemployment decision
- From
- Notification or mailing of the judge's decision
- Whose
- The claimant or the employer
An administrative law judge's decision is the department's final decision unless further appeal is started within 15 days after notification or mailing.
15 days at most
The hearing on a protective order petition
- From
- The start of the protective order case
- Whose
- The court
The hearing is held not less than five and not more than 15 days after the case begins, and a temporary order can be entered before it on good cause.
20 calendar days
A delay to decide whether a record is confidential
- From
- The request to examine the record
- Whose
- The records custodian
A good faith delay to decide whether a confidential record should be released may not exceed 20 calendar days, and ordinarily should not exceed ten business days.
30 days
Commission owed after a job ends
- From
- The end of the employment
- Whose
- The employer
Commission still owed, above credits already paid, is due within 30 days after the employment is suspended or ends.
30 days
Complaining of retaliation for a wage claim
- From
- The firing or discrimination
- Whose
- The employee
A complaint that the employer fired or discriminated against the employee for a wage complaint or suit goes to the director within 30 days after the violation.
40 days
Collecting a small estate by affidavit
- From
- The death
- Whose
- The successor
When personal property is worth $50,000 or less and there is no real property, a successor may collect it by affidavit once 40 days have passed since the death.
8 weeks at most
Leave for a pregnancy disability with no plan
- From
- The start of the disability leave
- Whose
- The employer
Where no plan gives enough leave, the employer does not refuse leave for the period of pregnancy disability or eight weeks, whichever is less.
60 days
Asking for a release to sue
- From
- The filing of the complaint with the commission
- Whose
- The complainant
After the complaint has been on file 60 days, the complainant may ask the commission for a release to sue in district court.
60 days
Suing after a firing for jury service
- From
- The discharge
- Whose
- The employee
An employee fired for jury service may sue within 60 days for lost wages of up to six weeks and reinstatement, with attorney fees on winning.
90 days
Suing after a release from the commission
- From
- The issuance of the release
- Whose
- The complainant
A suit under the civil rights act is barred unless it is started within 90 days after the release.
90 days
Telling the employer about a work injury
- From
- Knowing, or when one should have known, the injury was work related
- Whose
- The employee
No workers' compensation is allowed unless the employer knew of the injury, or was given notice of it, within 90 days.
90 calendar days
The lower starting wage for a new employee
- From
- The employee's first day
- Whose
- The employer
Until an employee completes 90 calendar days, the employer may pay at least $6.35 an hour; after that, the state or federal minimum, whichever is greater.
90 days
The wait before a divorce decree
- From
- Service of the original notice
- Whose
- The court
No decree dissolving a marriage is granted until 90 days have passed, unless a written motion shows an emergency or necessity.
300 days
Filing a civil rights complaint
- From
- The discriminatory practice
- Whose
- The person discriminated against
A claim under the civil rights act is not maintained unless a complaint is filed with the commission within 300 days after the practice.
1 year
Filing a wage complaint with the director
- From
- The day the wages became due
- Whose
- The employee
The director does not accept a wage complaint more than one year after the wages became due.
2 years
Starting a contested workers' compensation claim
- From
- The date of the injury
- Whose
- The employee
A contested claim for benefits is not maintained unless it is started within two years from the date of the occurrence of the injury.
2 years
Suing for an injury to the person
- From
- The claim accruing
- Whose
- The injured person
An action for injuries to the person or reputation is brought within two years after it accrues, and not afterwards.
2 years
Suing for unpaid wages
- From
- The wage claim accruing
- Whose
- The employee
An action for wages, or for a penalty for not paying them, is brought within two years after it accrues.
3 years
A workers' compensation claim after weekly payments
- From
- The last payment of weekly benefits
- Whose
- The employee
When weekly compensation benefits were paid, a contested claim is started within three years from the date of the last weekly payment.
5 years
Suing for unpaid rent
- From
- The rent claim accruing
- Whose
- The landlord
An action for rent is brought within five years after it accrues.
5 years
Suing on an unwritten contract, property damage or fraud
- From
- The contract or property claim accruing
- Whose
- The person with the claim
An action on an unwritten contract, for injuries to property, or for fraud is brought within five years after it accrues.
10 years
Suing on a written contract
- From
- The written contract claim accruing
- Whose
- The person with the claim
An action on a written contract, or to recover real property, is brought within ten years after it accrues.
Your home17
24 hours
Notice before a landlord enters
- From
- The landlord's notice of the entry
- Whose
- The landlord
Except in an emergency or where it is impracticable, the landlord gives at least 24 hours' notice of an intent to enter and enters only at reasonable times.
3 days
A notice to quit for a clear and present danger
- From
- Service of the single notice to quit
- Whose
- The tenant
A tenant who creates a clear and present danger to others' health or safety can be served a single three day notice to quit, and may contest it in court.
3 days
Notice to quit before an eviction is filed
- From
- Service of the written notice to quit
- Whose
- The landlord
Before filing, the landlord gives three days' written notice to quit, unless the three day notice to pay rent already ended the tenancy.
3 days
Paying rent after a notice of nonpayment
- From
- The landlord's written notice of nonpayment
- Whose
- The tenant
If the rent is not paid within three days after the written notice of nonpayment and intent to terminate, the landlord may end the agreement.
3 days
Removal after an eviction judgment
- From
- The judgment for the landlord
- Whose
- The tenant
If the landlord wins, the judgment orders the tenant removed, and an execution issues for removal within three days.
5 days
Ending a lease when possession is not delivered
- From
- The tenant's written notice
- Whose
- The tenant
If the landlord does not deliver possession, the tenant may end the agreement on at least five days' written notice and get back all prepaid rent and the deposit.
7 days
A landlord's notice to fix a tenant's breach
- From
- The tenant's receipt of the landlord's notice
- Whose
- The tenant
For a material breach other than rent, the landlord's written notice ends the agreement on a date at least seven days after receipt unless the breach is remedied in seven days.
7 days
A tenant's notice to fix a breach or end the lease
- From
- The landlord's receipt of the tenant's written notice
- Whose
- The landlord
The agreement ends on a date at least seven days after the landlord receives the tenant's notice unless the breach is remedied within seven days.
8 days
The hearing in an eviction case
- From
- The filing of the eviction petition
- Whose
- The court
The court sets the hearing no later than eight days from filing, or up to 15 days if the landlord asks or agrees.
10 days before
Ending a week to week tenancy
- From
- The end of the week to week term, counted back
- Whose
- Either side
A week to week tenancy ends on written notice given at least ten days before the termination date.
14 days
An absence that lets the landlord enter
- From
- The start of the tenant's absence
- Whose
- The landlord
During a tenant's absence of more than 14 days, the landlord may enter the unit at times reasonably necessary.
30 days before
Ending a month to month tenancy
- From
- The periodic rental date the tenancy ends on, counted back
- Whose
- Either side
A month to month tenancy ends on written notice given at least 30 days before the periodic rental date.
30 days
Returning a security deposit
- From
- The end of the tenancy and receipt of the mailing address
- Whose
- The landlord
The landlord returns the deposit, or a written statement of the specific reasons for keeping any of it, within 30 days; a landlord who misses it forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit.
90 days
Utility service while a head of household is deployed
- From
- The end of the service member's deployment
- Whose
- The utility
Gas or electric service is not disconnected to a residence where a head of household is deployed for military service until ninety days after the deployment ends, if the utility is told.
6 months
The same breach recurring after a repair
- From
- The tenant's notice of the first breach
- Whose
- The tenant
If substantially the same breach recurs within six months, the tenant may end the agreement on at least seven days' written notice.
1 year before
A complaint that makes a landlord's act presumed retaliation
- From
- The landlord's act, counted back
- Whose
- The tenant
Evidence of a good faith complaint within one year before the landlord raised rent, cut services or moved to evict creates a presumption of retaliation.
1 year
Giving the landlord a mailing address for the deposit
- From
- The termination of the tenancy
- Whose
- The tenant
A tenant who gives no mailing address or delivery instructions within one year from the end of the tenancy forfeits the deposit to the landlord.
Carrying a firearm2
90 days
A carry permit that expires during a deployment
- From
- The end of the service member's deployment
- Whose
- The deployed service member
A permit that would otherwise expire during a deployment for military service stays valid for ninety days after the deployment ends.
5 years
How long a permit to carry lasts
- From
- The issue of the permit
- Whose
- The permit holder
A nonprofessional permit to carry weapons is issued for five years and is valid throughout the state, except where state or federal law prohibits a firearm.
Charges and penalties4
72 hours
Returning leased or borrowed property
- From
- The time set in the written lease or agreement
- Whose
- The person holding the property
Not returning leased or borrowed property within 72 hours after the time in a written agreement is evidence of misappropriation for theft.
15 days at most
The contempt hearing for breaking a protective order
- From
- The rule to show cause
- Whose
- The court
A contempt hearing on a violation of a no contact or protective order is held not less than five and not more than 15 days after the rule to show cause.
180 days
Expunging a dismissed or acquitted case
- From
- The acquittal or the order dismissing every charge
- Whose
- The person charged
A case in which every charge ended in an acquittal or dismissal is expunged once at least 180 days have passed and the costs are paid, unless the court waives the wait.
8 years
Expunging a misdemeanor conviction
- From
- The date of the conviction
- Whose
- The person convicted
The court expunges a misdemeanor conviction on application once more than eight years have passed, the other conditions are met, and the section does not exclude the offense.
MyRightz is legal education, not legal advice. Nothing here creates an attorney client relationship. Applying the law to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Iowa attorney.