Polk County, Iowa: Small Claims for a Security Deposit
Limits: $6,500 (district court sitting in small claims (Iowa Code ch. 631; actions on or after July 1, 2018) only). E-filing: Yes. Court: Iowa District Court for Polk County - Small Claims. Statewide filing fee: $95 filing fee (Iowa Code §631.6; confirm current amount with the clerk), plus service costs.
Filing facts
| State small claims limits | $6,500 (district court sitting in small claims (Iowa Code ch. 631; actions on or after July 1, 2018) only) |
|---|---|
| Statewide filing fee | $95 filing fee (Iowa Code §631.6; confirm current amount with the clerk), plus service costs. |
| E-filing | Yes |
| Time limit to sue in Iowa | 10 years. |
| State deposit return deadline |
|
| Penalty formula | failure to provide written statement within 30 days after termination and receipt of address = forfeit all rights to withhold any portion; bad-faith retention additionally subjects landlord to punitive damages not to exceed twice the monthly rental payment plus actual damages; court may award reasonable attorney fees to prevailing party in action on a rental agreement (deposit-dispute context per Iowa Supreme Court construction). Bad faith required: Yes. |
| Deposit statute | Iowa Code § 562A.12 |
Where to file
Iowa District Court for Polk County - Small Claims
Courthouse city: Des Moines
Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.
Court page check not recorded
See how to file in Iowa for the state filing procedure.
Rent and deposits in Polk County
County median gross rent: $1,113 per month.
| Bedrooms | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $915 |
| 1 bedroom | $937 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,132 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,439 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,503 |
Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $1,132; two months is $2,264. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $1,132.
State legal maximum deposit in Iowa: Not more than two months' rent ($2,264 at the example rent).
Total households in Polk County: 202,404.
Renter households: 66,647 (32.9% of all households).
Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 4.1%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.
County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed .
Will my deposit claim fit the limit?
Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Polk County, $1,132 per month.
The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.
- Compared with $6,500 (district court sitting in small claims (Iowa Code ch. 631; actions on or after July 1, 2018) only), the whole deposit range fits.
A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.
Towns this court serves
A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.
- Alleman
- Altoona
- Ankeny
- Bondurant
- Carlisle
- Clive
- Des Moines
- Elkhart
- Granger
- Grimes
- Johnston
- Mitchellville
- Norwalk
- Pleasant Hill
- Polk City
- Runnells
- Sheldahl
- Urbandale
- West Des Moines
- Windsor Heights
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.
Statewide help
- Iowa Legal Aid
free civil legal help for low-income Iowans on housing stability, including eviction, housing assistance, rentals in need of repair, and housing discrimination
Phone: (800) 532-1275
- HOME, Inc.
free HUD-certified rental counseling for tenants, including lease terms, maintenance and repair, evictions, and fair housing issues
Phone: (515) 243-1277
- Horizons, A Family Service Alliance
HUD-approved rental housing counseling and rental housing workshops
Phone: (319) 398-3943
These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.
From letter to filing
- Send an Iowa security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
- Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 30 days after your letter.
- Time limit to sue in Iowa: 10 years.
- Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.
This template uses Iowa law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.
Free Iowa template, built from verified state data
I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Iowa law (Iowa Code § 562A.12), a landlord must return the deposit or send a written, itemized list of deductions within 30 calendar days from the date of termination of the tenancy and receipt of the tenant's mailing address or delivery instructions.
FAQ
How much does it cost to file in Polk County?
Statewide filing fee: $95 filing fee (Iowa Code §631.6; confirm current amount with the clerk), plus service costs.
How long do I have to sue?
Time limit to sue in Iowa: 10 years.
Where do I file?
Iowa District Court for Polk County - Small Claims. Courthouse city: Des Moines. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.