City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Decorah, IA
How Decorah regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here are subject to registration, a lodging tax, or a small number of operating rules.
- Iowa Code §414.1 bars city STR-specific permits, permit fees and conditional-use requirements
- Only a general rental-housing safety permit applies, as it does to all rentals (Code Ch. 5.28)
- No cap, zoning exclusion or residency requirement
Based on: Decorah Municipal Code Ch. 5.28 Rental Housing Permits, Ord. No. 1245 adopted 5-18-2020 (codified through Ord. 1356
Summary of the rule
A city shall not adopt or enforce any regulation, restriction, or other ordinance, including a conditional use permit requirement, relating to short-term rental properties within the city. ... A city shall not require a license or permit fee for a short-term rental property in the city.
Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Decorah · system last checked Nov 10, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.