Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Urbandale, IA

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are allowed in Urbandale, IA, but operators must obtain a permit before listing. Short-term rentals are classified as residential land use and must comply with the City's Housing Code and the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code. Requirements include obtaining a Housing Certificate, passing city inspections for health and safety, and paying associated fees. Multi-family units additionally require Fire Marshal approval. "Airbnb" is a brand name; the rules on this page apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.). See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals are classified as residential land use and must comply with the City's Housing Code and the 2012 International Property Maintenance Code. Requirements include obtaining a Housing Certificate, passing city inspections for health and safety, and paying associated fees. Multi-family units additionally require Fire Marshal approval.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Urbandale. 1. Register and apply for a Housing Certificate via the CitizenServe online portal. 2. Schedule and pass a safety inspection conducted by City Staff (and Fire Marshal for multi-family). 3. Pay the required fees and download the approved Housing Certificate (valid for 2 years for single-family/duplex, 1 year for multi-family).

1. Register and apply for a Housing Certificate via the CitizenServe online portal. 2. Schedule and pass a safety inspection conducted by City Staff (and Fire Marshal for multi-family). 3. Pay the required fees and download the approved Housing Certificate (valid for 2 years for single-family/duplex, 1 year for multi-family).

Yes. Vrbo operates under the same short-term rental rules as Airbnb in Urbandale, IA, since regulations apply to the rental activity rather than the booking platform. A permit is required before you list on Vrbo or any other platform. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Urbandale are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Urbandale. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.