The total cost of an eviction in Iowa for all filing, court, and service fees varies heavily by the amount of the eviction claim. For cases filed in Small Claims District Court (for claims under $6,500), the average cost is $155. For cases filed in District Court (for claims over $6,500), the average cost is $255.
| Fee | Small Claims | District |
| Initial Court Filing | $95+ | $195+ |
| Petition Service | $30+ | $30+ |
| Writ of Execution Service | $30 | $30 |
| Notice of Appeal (Optional) | $195 | $150 |
| Document Copies (Optional) | $0.50/ea | $0.50/ea |
These filing, court, and service fees do not include outside costs such as legal fees or post-eviction fees (i.e., locksmith fees, storage costs for a tenant’s abandoned property, cleaning service fees, repair costs, or advertising costs for a vacant dwelling unit).
1. Initial Court Filing Fee
In Iowa, if the eviction notice expires and the tenant remains on the property without correcting the issue, the landlord may file an eviction lawsuit (“Forcible Entry and Detainer”) with the court the following business day.
Landlords must file electronically via the Iowa Judicial Branch e-file; however, landlords can ask for an exception from the e-filing by completing a request form at the courthouse.
Landlords can file the eviction lawsuit online (or in person if they are exempt) in Small Claims District Court if the claim is $6,500 or less. The filing fee is $95.[ttip number=’1′ icon=’popover-balance’]
If the claim is more than $6,500, landlords may file the eviction lawsuit online (or in person in District Court, if they are exempt) and the filing fee is $195.[ttip number=’2′ icon=’popover-balance’] Additionally, if the county has a population of over 98,000 there is an additional $5 publication fee that may be charged by the court.
2. Petition Service Fee
Once the Notice is filed, the court will issue a Petition. The Petition is the tenant’s official notice of an eviction lawsuit and contains important information (i.e., when and where to appear in court). The landlord must arrange for a process server to deliver the Notice and Petition to the tenant.
The Notice and Petition shall be served to the tenant by a sheriff or constable. A sheriff’s service fee is $30, [ttip number=’3′ icon=’popover-balance’] plus $20 for each additional tenant in the household.
4. Writ of Execution Service Fee
In Iowa, if the court rules in favor of the landlord, the court shall issue a Writ of Execution. The writ is the tenant’s final notice to vacate the premises.
A sheriff or deputy must serve the writ to the tenant. They may charge a service fee of $30.[ttip number=’4′ icon=’popover-balance’]
5. Notice of Appeal Filing Fee
If either party chooses to file an Appeal in Iowa, they may do so as long as the Notice of Appeal is filed within 20 calendar days of the judgment. If either party is filing an Appeal in Small Claims Court, the filing fee is $195 and $150 in District Court.
6. Copy Fee
In Iowa, if either party wants to make copies of any document, the fee is $0.50 per page. Note, the copy fee is applicable to all counties in Iowa.
Sources
- 1 IA Code § 631.6 (2022)
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1. The clerk of the district court shall collect the following fees and costs in small claims actions, which shall be paid in advance and assessed as costs in the action:
a. Fees for filing and docketing shall be ninety-five dollars.
- 2 IA Code § 602.8105 (2022)
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1. The clerk of the district court shall collect the following fees:
a. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for filing and docketing a petition, one hundred ninety-five dollars. In counties having a population of ninety-eight thousand or over, an additional five dollars shall be charged and collected to be known as the journal publication fee and used for the purposes provided for in section 618.13.
- 3 IA Code § 331.655 (2022)
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1. The sheriff shall collect the following fees:
a. For serving a notice and returning it, for the first person served, thirty dollars, and for each additional person, thirty dollars, except that the fee for serving additional persons in the same household shall be twenty dollars for each additional service, or if the service of notice cannot be made or several attempts are necessary, the repayment of all necessary expenses actually incurred by the sheriff while attempting in good faith to serve the notice.
- 4 IA Code § 331.655 (2022)
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f. For serving an execution, attachment, order for the delivery of personal property, injunction, or any order of court, and returning it, thirty dollars.
- 5 IA Code § 602.8105 (2022)
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g. For an appeal from a judgment in small claims or for filing and docketing a writ of error, one hundred ninety-five dollars.
- 6 Iowa R. App. P. 6.703 (2022)
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a.Appeal from final order or judgment. The fee for filing a notice of appeal from a final order or judgment is $150. The appellant shall pay the fee to the clerk of the supreme court within seven days after filing the notice of appeal. If the court determines the appeal is not from a final order or judgment, the clerk shall not refund any part of the filing fee.