SENATE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT BILL BY CHAIRPERSON DANIELSON)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the authority of cities to regulate and restrict the occupancy of residential rental property.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 414.1, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.
  a.  For the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals, or the general welfare of the community or for the purpose of preserving historically significant areas of the community, any city is hereby empowered to regulate and restrict the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards, courts, and other open spaces, the density of population,
 
the occupancy of residential rental property on the basis of square footage, and the location and use of buildings, structures, and land for trade, industry, residence, or other purposes.
   b.  A city shall not adopt or enforce any regulation or restriction related to the occupancy of residential rental property that is based upon the existence of familial or nonfamilial relationships between the occupants of such rental property.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to the authority of cities to regulate and restrict the occupancy of residential rental property.
   The bill provides that a city may regulate and restrict the occupancy of residential rental property on the basis of square footage. The bill also provides that a city shall not adopt or enforce any regulation or restriction related to the occupancy of residential rental property based upon the familial or nonfamilial relationships of occupants.