Lodging

Summary

Hotel- means any building equipped, used or advertised to the public as a place where sleeping accommodations are rented to temporary or transient guests.  Food service operations in a Hotel require a Food Service Establishment license.

Bed and Breakfast Inn- means a hotel which has nine or fewer guest rooms.  Food service operations in a Bed and Breakfast Inn require a Food Service Establishment license.

Bed and breakfast home- means a private residence which provides lodging and meals for guests, in which the host or hostess resides, and in which no more than four guest families are lodged at the same time. The facility may advertise as a bed and breakfast home but not as a hotel, motel or restaurant. The facility is exempt from licensing and inspection as a hotel or as a food establishment. A bed and breakfast home may serve food only to overnight guests, unless a food establishment license is secured.

 

Click on the Gray Tabs above for additional information on:

Laws and Regulations
• Iowa Code and Inspection Standards

Basic Requirements
• Information on the basic requirements of operating a Hotel or Bed and Breakfast Inn in the State of Iowa

Licensing
• Hotel license application

Basic Requirements

“Hotel” means any building equipped, used or advertised to the public as a place where sleeping accommodations are rented to temporary or transient guests.

“Bed and Breakfast Inn” means a hotel which has nine or fewer guest rooms.

“Bed and Breakfast Home” means a private residence which provides lodging and meals for guests, in which the host or hostess resides, and in which no more than four guest families are lodged at the same time. The facility may advertise as a bed and breakfast home but not as a hotel, motel or restaurant. The facility is exempt from licensing and inspection as a hotel or as a food establishment. A bed and breakfast home may serve food only to overnight guests, unless a food establishment license is secured.

 

*A Hotel or a Bed and Breakfast Inn may require an additional Food Service Establishment license if food (including a continental breakfast) is served to guests or the public.

 

Licensing

  • Completed license applications and documents must be submitted To the appropriate Regulatory Authority at least 30 days prior to the anticipated opening date. 

  • Once the application, other required documents and fees are received and processed, the Department will review the documents.  Once the application is processed the applicant will be mailed or e-mailed the assigned inspector’s contact information.

  • The applicant is responsible for contacting the inspector to schedule a pre-operational inspection.

  • A license is non-transferable between locations or ownership.

  • Hotels and Bed and Breakfast Inns who provide a Continentel Breakfast or other food service to their guests, or the public, must also apply for a Food Service Establishment License.

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Please check the Regulatory Authorities map to determine the appropriate food inspection and licensing agency for your area. 

Only individuals who will be operating a food establishment under the jurisdiction of the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) should submit their license application and corresponding fee(s) to DIA at the address below.  All other applicants should mail their license application and fees to their local regulatory authority.

 

Refunds

For information on License Application Fee Refunds click here:  IAC 481.30.3(2)

 

If your food establishment is licensed and inspected by the DIA's Food and Consumer Safety Bureau, send your application and fee(s) to the address below:

Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals

Food & Consumer Safety Bureau

Lucas State Office Building

321 East 12th Street

Des Moines, IA 50319-0083