City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Dubuque, IA
How Dubuque 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.
- City levies a 7% hotel and motel tax reaching STR stays (City Code 3-3-2; state lodging definition includes residential property)
- Iowa Code 414.1(1)(e) bars city STR-specific rules, including conditional use permits and STR license fees, and classifies STRs as residential land use; safety, nuisance and emergency-contact rules are allowed only if applied as to other properties
- No enforceable STR-specific permit, registration, cap or residency rule; only the general citywide rental license (City Code 14-1J-3) applies to any dwelling let for rent
- City zoning staff confirmed on the record that state law prevents regulating short-term rentals (ZBA, 2023-11-16)
Based on: Dubuque City Code 3-3-1 — 7% hotel and motel tax reaching STR stays; Iowa Code 414.1(1)(e) limits city STR regulation
Summary of the rule
A tax is hereby imposed upon the gross receipts from the renting of any and all rooms, apartments or sleeping quarters in any hotel or motel at the rate of seven percent (7%) of such gross receipts derived from the renting of a room, apartment or sleeping quarters while rented by the same person for a period of not more than thirty one (31) consecutive days.
Last reviewed Nov 3, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Dubuque · system last checked Nov 9, 2026
Owners in Dubuque
Following Dubuque adds it to the Followed cities list on your ASTRO dashboard, linked to its city page.
Add a home to the ASTRO registry and confirm ownership of it.
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.