How long you have in Iowa
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
| Kind of claim | Agreement | Window | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a) |
| Unpaid Loan | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a) |
| Contractor Dispute | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a) |
| Auto Repair | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a) |
| Security Deposit | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a) |
| Other | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a) |
| Unpaid Invoice | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(4) |
| Unpaid Loan | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(4) |
| Contractor Dispute | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(4) |
| Auto Repair | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(4) |
| Security Deposit | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(4) |
| Other | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(4) |
| Property Damage | Either | 5 years | the day the damage happened | Iowa Code §614.1(4) |
| Sale of Goods | In writing | 10 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a); §554.2725 |
| Sale of Goods | Spoken or by conduct | 5 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Iowa Code §614.1(4); §554.2725 |
Worked example
If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 10 years runs out on 2036-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.
More about Iowa
Common questions
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Iowa?
- The shortest window is 5 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under Iowa Code §614.1(4). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
- How long do you have on a property damage claim in Iowa?
- 5 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Iowa Code §614.1(4).
- How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in Iowa?
- 5 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under Iowa Code §614.1(4); §554.2725.
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Iowa?
- An individual can claim up to $6,500. A business can claim up to $6,500. A public agency can claim up to $6,500. That comes from Iowa Code §631.1(1)(b).
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Iowa's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2021-07-01.
- Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a) · effective 2021-07-01 · A claim based on a written agreement must be filed within ten years of when it was broken. A claim for unpaid rent has five years.
- Iowa Code §614.1(4) · effective 2021-07-01 · A claim based on a spoken agreement must be filed within five years of when it was broken.
- Iowa Code §614.1(4) · effective 2021-07-01 · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within five years of the damage.
- Iowa Code §614.1(5)(a); §554.2725 · effective 2021-07-01 · Iowa's sale-of-goods section does not set its own deadline, so the general window applies. A claim on a written sale agreement must be filed within ten years of the breach.
- Iowa Code §614.1(4); §554.2725 · effective 2021-07-01 · Iowa's sale-of-goods section does not set its own deadline, so the general window applies. A claim on a spoken sale agreement must be filed within five years of the breach.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.