House File 2367 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2367 BY ZABNER A BILL FOR An Act relating to unit owners associations and native 1 vegetation. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5386YH (3) 91 lh/jh

H.F. 2367 Section 1. Section 499C.1, Code 2026, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 6A. “Native vegetation” means plant species 3 that are indigenous to Iowa and were present in the state prior 4 to European settlement, including but not limited to native 5 grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees. 6 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 499C.3 Native vegetation. 7 1. A unit owners association shall not prohibit any unit 8 owner from planting or growing native vegetation on the unit 9 owner’s lawn so long as the area is maintained predominately 10 free of weeds, invasive species, and trash, and the native 11 vegetation does not extend over or onto neighboring properties, 12 public or common sidewalks, pathways, streets or other public 13 or common areas or elements, and does not interfere with 14 traffic or utilities. 15 2. A unit owners association may adopt reasonable rules and 16 regulations governing a planned, intentional, and maintained 17 landscape of native vegetation that do not impair the native 18 vegetation’s proper maintenance and care or impose height 19 restrictions. 20 3. This section shall not apply to common areas or elements 21 or to other property owned by the unit owners association in 22 which the unit owner does not have authority to landscape or 23 plant. 24 EXPLANATION 25 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 26 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 27 This bill relates to unit owners associations and native 28 vegetation restrictions. 29 The bill limits the authority of a unit owners association 30 to restrict native vegetation on unit owners’ lawns, as long 31 as the native vegetation is properly maintained. The unit 32 owner’s lawn must be kept generally free of weeds, invasive 33 species, and trash, and the native vegetation may not interfere 34 with sidewalks, pathways, roads, utilities, or neighboring 35 -1- LSB 5386YH (3) 91 lh/jh 1/ 2

H.F. 2367 properties, and must not obstruct visibility and traffic. 1 Unit owners associations may still adopt reasonable rules 2 for planned and maintained native vegetation, but the rules 3 cannot impair the proper maintenance of native vegetation, 4 including plant height restrictions. 5 The bill does not apply to common areas, shared elements, 6 or any property owned by the unit owner association where unit 7 owners do not have landscaping authority. 8 -2- LSB 5386YH (3) 91 lh/jh 2/ 2