Storage lien laws · State guide
Iowa storage lien laws
Iowa Code, Chapter 578A — Self-Service Storage Facilities (§§ 578A.1–578A.11) →Verified 2026-06-11
Iowa grants storage operators a lien on all personal property at the facility — including vehicles, watercraft, and trailers — for unpaid rent, late fees, labor, and other charges, attaching the moment property arrives (§ 578A.5). Enforcement unlocks at 30 days of default: send one notice of default by hand delivery, verified mail, or email (if both parties agreed to email in the rental agreement) giving the occupant at least 14 days to pay. If uncured, advertise the sale at least 7 days out in a commercially reasonable manner and sell by public or private proceedings. Vehicles, watercraft, and trailers may be towed instead of sold at 30 days of default. Surplus proceeds are held 90 days; unclaimed balances go to the county treasurer and become county property after 2 years. A late fee equal to the greater of $20 or 20% of monthly rent is expressly reasonable. Chapter 578A was enacted in 2019 and is current through Iowa Code 2026.
At a glance
IA · verified 2026-06-11- Statute
- Iowa Code, Chapter 578A — Self-Service Storage Facilities (§§ 578A.1–578A.11)
- Notice delivery
- Hand delivery to the occupant — deemed delivered when the occupant signs an acknowledgment of delivery (Iowa Code § 578A.7(7)) · Verified mail (any USPS or private-carrier method that provides evidence of mailing) to the occupant's last-known postal address — deemed delivered when deposited with postage prepaid (Iowa Code § 578A.7(7); § 578A.2(13)) · Electronic mail to the occupant's last-known email address — permitted only if both parties have agreed in the rental agreement to use electronic mail for ALL notices under the chapter, and the rental agreement contains a section outlining each party's rights and duties regarding electronic mail (§ 578A.5(5)); deemed delivered when sent; if an automated undeliverable message is received, the operator must re-send by hand delivery or verified mail (Iowa Code § 578A.5(5); § 578A.7(7))
- Sale method
- Sale may be public or private (§ 578A.7(1)) and must be commercially reasonable — conducted at the facility, at the nearest suitable place to the stored property, or on a publicly accessible internet auction site (§ 578A.2(1)). Property may be sold as a unit or in parcels at any time or place. The operator may buy at any public sale. A good-faith purchaser takes the property free of all prior rights even if the operator did not fully comply with the chapter (§ 578A.7(6)). After compliance, operator liability to the occupant is capped at net proceeds less amounts paid to recorded lienholders; liability to lienholders is capped at net proceeds on their collateral (§ 578A.7(8)).
- Late fees
- The rental agreement may provide for a reasonable late fee (Iowa Code § 578A.5(4)). A monthly late fee of $20 or 20% of monthly rent — whichever is greater — is expressly deemed reasonable and not a penalty. On a $100/month unit that is $20; on a $120/month unit it is $24 (20%). The statute sets no minimum days-past-due trigger — your rental agreement controls that. "Late fee" excludes interest on a debt, reasonable collection expenses, and costs of enforcing other remedies; those may be charged separately (Iowa Code § 578A.2(5)). Fees above the safe-harbor amount are not automatically prohibited but operators bear the risk of a court finding them unreasonable.
- Vehicles & boats
- For vehicles sold at a lien sale under § 578A.7(1), the purchaser must apply for a new title through the county treasurer under Iowa Code § 321.47 (transfers by operation of law), presenting satisfactory proof of ownership and right of possession and paying a $30 fee. The purchaser must also obtain initial registration before operating the vehicle on Iowa highways. For watercraft sold at a lien sale, § 578A.7(6) states the purchaser must follow the applicable procedures for transfer of title by operation of law (Iowa Code chapter 462A governs watercraft registration and titling). For vehicles or watercraft removed via the towing alternative under § 578A.7(3), title disposition becomes the towing company's responsibility under the applicable motor vehicle or watercraft chapter — the storage operator has no further title obligations once the tower takes possession.
The lien clock
Each station below is a statutory checkpoint. Miss one and the sale can be challenged — this is the timeline LotWarden tracks automatically.
- 01
Day 0 — the moment personal property is brought to the self-service storage facility
Lien attaches — property moves in
Iowa's lien attaches automatically on the day property first arrives at the facility — not on the date of default. No court filing or external registration is required. The lien covers delinquent rent, late fees, labor, other charges under the rental agreement, and expenses for preservation, sale, or disposition of the property. It has priority over all other liens and security interests except those already perfected before the property arrived.
Iowa Code § 578A.5(1)–(2)
- 02
Day 1 of default — occupant fails to perform any obligation under the rental agreement (e.g., rent goes unpaid)
Default begins; access may be denied
Default is any failure by the occupant to perform on time any obligation or duty in the rental agreement or chapter 578A. The operator may immediately deny the defaulting occupant access to the leased space if the rental agreement reserves that right. Until a lien sale is completed, the occupant retains exclusive care, custody, and control of the stored property unless the rental agreement says otherwise.
Iowa Code §§ 578A.2(2), 578A.6, 578A.8
- 03
Day 30 of default — the earliest point the operator may begin the enforcement process
Minimum 30-day default threshold — enforcement unlocks
The operator cannot start the lien enforcement process — sending notice, advertising, or towing — until the occupant has been in default for at least 30 days. This is a hard minimum; acting before day 30 risks invalidating the sale. Track the default date precisely. Note: for vehicles, watercraft, and trailers, this same 30-day threshold triggers the towing option as an alternative to a lien sale.
Iowa Code § 578A.7(1), (3)
- 04
On or after day 30 of default — the operator sends a single notice of default
Send notice of default
Iowa requires one notice of default (not a two-notice system). Send it by hand delivery, verified mail, or electronic mail (if the rental agreement contains an email-consent section). The notice must state: the amount owed and when it became due; a description of the stored property; a payment demand with a deadline of at least 14 days from the notice date; a warning that the property will be sold or disposed of if unpaid; and the operator's contact name, street address, and phone number. If you send by email and receive an automated bounce notice, you must re-send by hand delivery or verified mail.
Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(a), (7)
- 05
Days 1–14 (minimum) after the notice date — occupant may pay in full to stop the process
Occupant's 14-day cure window
At any time before the sale is conducted — or before a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer is towed — the occupant may pay the full amount necessary to satisfy the lien and redeem the property. The notice must give at least 14 days to cure. Plan the advertised sale date so it falls after this 14-day window has elapsed.
Iowa Code § 578A.7(4)
- 06
At least 7 days before the sale date — notice to lienholders and public advertisement must both be completed
Advertise the sale
Before the sale, the operator must: (1) notify all persons who claim a security interest in the property of whom the operator has actual knowledge; (2) search for security interests if the property is registered under Iowa Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles) or chapter 462A (watercraft); and (3) advertise the time, place, and terms of the sale in a commercially reasonable manner at least 7 days before the sale. Advertising is deemed commercially reasonable if it is likely to attract at least 3 independent bidders to attend or view the sale in person or online at the advertised time and place. Online auction platforms are consistent with this standard. The operator may bid and purchase at any public sale.
Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(b)
- 07
After the 30-day default period, after the 14-day cure window, and at least 7 days after advertising
Conduct sale; apply proceeds
The sale may be public or private and must be commercially reasonable — conducted at the facility, at the nearest suitable place to where the property is held or stored, or on a publicly accessible internet site. Property may be sold as a unit or in parcels, by one or more contracts, at any time or place. Property with no commercial value (receives no bid or offer) may be disposed of by any means. Apply sale proceeds to satisfy the lien, then hold any surplus for 90 days. A good-faith purchaser takes the property free and clear of all prior rights despite any noncompliance by the operator.
Iowa Code §§ 578A.7(1), 578A.2(1), 578A.2(10), 578A.7(5)–(6)
- 08
After the sale — 90-day window for occupant to claim surplus
Surplus proceeds — 90-day hold, then county treasurer
After satisfying the lien, hold any remaining proceeds for 90 days. If the occupant claims the surplus within that window, deliver it to them. If unclaimed after 90 days, pay the balance to the county treasurer of the county where the facility is located. The county holds the funds for 2 years; if no claim is made, the funds become county property. Once the operator has complied and distributed proceeds as required, no further claims can be made against the operator for the sale.
Iowa Code § 578A.7(5)
Notice requirements
Permitted delivery
- Hand delivery to the occupant — deemed delivered when the occupant signs an acknowledgment of delivery (Iowa Code § 578A.7(7))
- Verified mail (any USPS or private-carrier method that provides evidence of mailing) to the occupant's last-known postal address — deemed delivered when deposited with postage prepaid (Iowa Code § 578A.7(7); § 578A.2(13))
- Electronic mail to the occupant's last-known email address — permitted only if both parties have agreed in the rental agreement to use electronic mail for ALL notices under the chapter, and the rental agreement contains a section outlining each party's rights and duties regarding electronic mail (§ 578A.5(5)); deemed delivered when sent; if an automated undeliverable message is received, the operator must re-send by hand delivery or verified mail (Iowa Code § 578A.5(5); § 578A.7(7))
The notice must include
- A statement of the operator's claim showing the amount due at the time of the notice and the date when the amount became due (Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(a)(1))
- A brief and general description of the personal property subject to the lien, reasonably adequate to let the occupant identify the property; locked, sealed, or tied containers need only be described as such — their contents may be omitted (Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(a)(2))
- A demand for payment of charges due within a specified time, which must not be less than 14 days after the date of the notice (Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(a)(3))
- A statement that unless the claim is paid within the stated time, the contents of the occupant's leased space will be sold or otherwise disposed of after a specified time (Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(a)(4))
- The name, street address, and telephone number of the operator or a designated agent whom the occupant may contact to respond to the notice (Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(a)(5))
Iowa Code §§ 578A.7(2)(a), 578A.7(7), 578A.5(5), 578A.2(13)
The part most guides skip
Vehicles, boats & RVs
Iowa Code § 578A.7(3) expressly covers vehicles, watercraft, and trailers as a separate track from the general lien sale. If personal property subject to the operator's lien is a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer and rent or other charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days, the operator may have it towed from the facility instead of — or in addition to — holding a lien sale. Once the towing company takes possession, the operator bears no liability for any damage to the vehicle, watercraft, or trailer. Crucially, the tow does not release the operator's lien — the remaining balance owed is still enforceable. The towing company becomes responsible for the title and notice processes under Iowa Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles) or chapter 462A (watercraft) as applicable. The 30-day towing threshold is the same as the general enforcement threshold, so operators do not need to wait longer to use the towing path. The towing alternative is available for all three property types — vehicle, watercraft, and trailer — which aligns with Iowa's definition of "personal property" in § 578A.2(9) (expressly including motor vehicles and watercraft). Iowa does not provide a separate operator-run title-transfer mechanism for sold vehicles beyond directing the purchaser to follow § 321.47.
Titled property path
For vehicles sold at a lien sale under § 578A.7(1), the purchaser must apply for a new title through the county treasurer under Iowa Code § 321.47 (transfers by operation of law), presenting satisfactory proof of ownership and right of possession and paying a $30 fee. The purchaser must also obtain initial registration before operating the vehicle on Iowa highways. For watercraft sold at a lien sale, § 578A.7(6) states the purchaser must follow the applicable procedures for transfer of title by operation of law (Iowa Code chapter 462A governs watercraft registration and titling). For vehicles or watercraft removed via the towing alternative under § 578A.7(3), title disposition becomes the towing company's responsibility under the applicable motor vehicle or watercraft chapter — the storage operator has no further title obligations once the tower takes possession.
Iowa Code §§ 578A.7(3), 578A.7(6), 578A.2(9), 321.47
Sale rules
- Method
- Sale may be public or private (§ 578A.7(1)) and must be commercially reasonable — conducted at the facility, at the nearest suitable place to the stored property, or on a publicly accessible internet auction site (§ 578A.2(1)). Property may be sold as a unit or in parcels at any time or place. The operator may buy at any public sale. A good-faith purchaser takes the property free of all prior rights even if the operator did not fully comply with the chapter (§ 578A.7(6)). After compliance, operator liability to the occupant is capped at net proceeds less amounts paid to recorded lienholders; liability to lienholders is capped at net proceeds on their collateral (§ 578A.7(8)).
- Advertising
- Advertise the time, place, and terms at least 7 days before the sale (Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(b)). Advertising must be commercially reasonable — likely to attract at least 3 independent bidders in person or online at the advertised time and place. No newspaper publication is required; online storage-auction platforms satisfy the standard if they generate 3 or more bidders. Before advertising, notify all known security interest holders and search for registered interests under Iowa Code chapters 321 (motor vehicles) and 462A (watercraft). Document the advertisement and retain evidence of bidder participation.
- Proceeds & surplus
- After the sale, satisfy the lien from proceeds and hold any surplus for 90 days for delivery to the occupant on demand (Iowa Code § 578A.7(5)). If unclaimed after 90 days, pay the balance to the county treasurer where the facility is located. The county holds the funds for 2 years; if still unclaimed, the funds become county property. Once the operator has complied and distributed proceeds as the statute requires, no further claims can be made against the operator for the sale.
Iowa Code §§ 578A.7(1), 578A.7(2)(b), 578A.7(5)–(6), 578A.7(8), 578A.2(1)
Late fees
The rental agreement may provide for a reasonable late fee (Iowa Code § 578A.5(4)). A monthly late fee of $20 or 20% of monthly rent — whichever is greater — is expressly deemed reasonable and not a penalty. On a $100/month unit that is $20; on a $120/month unit it is $24 (20%). The statute sets no minimum days-past-due trigger — your rental agreement controls that. "Late fee" excludes interest on a debt, reasonable collection expenses, and costs of enforcing other remedies; those may be charged separately (Iowa Code § 578A.2(5)). Fees above the safe-harbor amount are not automatically prohibited but operators bear the risk of a court finding them unreasonable.
Iowa Code §§ 578A.5(4), 578A.2(5)
Operator questions
When can I start the lien enforcement process in Iowa?
Not before day 30 of default. Iowa Code § 578A.7(1) requires the occupant to be in default for at least 30 days before you may enforce the lien by sale. The same 30-day threshold applies if you want to have a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer towed instead (§ 578A.7(3)). Track the default date carefully — acting early risks invalidating the entire enforcement.
Does Iowa require two notices before a lien sale, like some other states?
No. Iowa requires only one notice of default (Iowa Code § 578A.7(2)(a)). That single notice must give the occupant at least 14 days to pay before the property is sold or disposed of. You may send it by hand delivery, verified mail, or email — but email only works if your rental agreement contains a section where both parties agreed in writing to use email for all chapter notices (§ 578A.5(5)).
Can I use an online auction platform instead of advertising in a newspaper?
Yes. Iowa's statute requires advertising in a "commercially reasonable manner" at least 7 days before the sale (§ 578A.7(2)(b)). An advertisement is commercially reasonable if it is likely to attract at least 3 independent bidders to attend or view the sale in person or online. Online self-storage auction platforms routinely satisfy this standard. There is no newspaper publication requirement — keep documentation of the advertisement and evidence that 3 or more independent bidders participated.
A tenant's trailer has been in default for 30 days. Can I have it towed?
Yes. Iowa Code § 578A.7(3) allows you to tow a vehicle, watercraft, or trailer from the facility once rent or charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days. You bear no liability for damages once the towing company takes possession. The tow does not extinguish your lien — the remaining balance is still owed — but the towing company handles the vehicle's title process going forward under Iowa Code chapter 321 or 462A.
What happens to money left over after the sale covers what the tenant owes?
Hold the surplus for 90 days and pay it to the occupant on demand (Iowa Code § 578A.7(5)). If the occupant never claims it, send the balance to the county treasurer of the county where your facility is located. The county holds the funds for 2 years; if still unclaimed, the money becomes county property. Once you've properly completed the sale and distributed proceeds, no further legal claims can be made against you for the sale.
How much of a late fee can I legally charge in Iowa, and when?
The statute provides a safe-harbor: a monthly late fee equal to the greater of $20 or 20% of the monthly rent is deemed reasonable and not a penalty (Iowa Code § 578A.5(4)). For a $150/month unit, that's $30 (20%); for an $80/month unit, it's $20 (the floor). The statute doesn't specify a minimum days-late trigger — that's set by your rental agreement. Keep the late-fee amount and conditions written into the agreement before you try to collect.
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