Iowa FSBO Disclosure Requirements for Des Moines Sellers (2026)

Iowa Code §558A requires the Disclosure Statement for Iowa Residential Property. Des Moines sellers face three dominant disclosure concerns: radon (Iowa has some of the US's highest average radon levels), flooding (Des Moines and Raccoon River flood zone properties), and lead paint (in the city's historic residential neighborhoods).

Iowa Disclosure Framework

Iowa Code §558A.2 requires sellers to complete the Disclosure Statement for Iowa Residential Property. Sellers provide it before entering into contract. Buyers have 5 days after receipt to rescind without penalty.

Iowa's form covers: physical condition, roof, foundation, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, environmental, flooding, HOA, and any other known material defects.

Radon — Iowa's #1 Environmental Disclosure Issue

Iowa has some of the highest average indoor radon levels of any state. The geology — glacial deposits over uranium-bearing bedrock — produces radon throughout most of the state, including Polk County.

Iowa Department of Public Health data:

Iowa's disclosure form asks about radon. If tested, disclose results. If a mitigation system is installed, disclose it and provide documentation (installation date, contractor, post-mitigation test results). Untested homes: consider testing before listing to get ahead of this issue.

Radon mitigation in Iowa typically costs $800–$2,000. A sub-slab depressurization system usually reduces levels to under 2 pCi/L. This is a positive selling feature.

Des Moines and Raccoon River Flood Zones

The Des Moines River and Raccoon River converge in downtown Des Moines. FEMA flood maps for Polk County show significant SFHAs along both rivers and their tributaries. Key flood-prone areas include:

• Downtown Des Moines riverfront (primarily commercial, but some residential)
• Beaverdale neighborhood areas near Beaver Creek
• East Village and areas near the Des Moines River south of downtown
• Areas near Saylorville Reservoir (north of Des Moines — the Army Corps of Engineers Saylorville Lake flood control reservoir typically prevents significant downstream flooding)

The 1993 floods were extreme — the Des Moines Water Works (supplying the city's drinking water) was knocked offline for weeks, and some metro properties flooded extensively. If your property was affected in 1993, 2008, or any other event, disclose it.

Lead Paint in Des Moines' Historic Neighborhoods

Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), Drake Neighborhood, Beaverdale, and areas of East Des Moines have substantial pre-1940 housing.

Federal Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (form + EPA pamphlet) is required for all pre-1978 homes. Des Moines has FHA buyer activity — FHA loans require remediation of deteriorating paint.

Iowa's No-Frills Closing Process

Iowa title companies handle closings (Iowa is not an attorney-state). Iowa's transfer tax is $1.60 per $1,000 of consideration. On a $265,000 sale: $424. Very modest transaction costs.

Well and Septic in Rural Polk/Dallas Counties

Rural Dallas County and western Polk County properties (particularly in the Grimes/Perry/Waukee rural areas) may use private wells and Iowa DNR-permitted septic systems. Iowa's disclosure form has sections for both. Disclose:

FHA and USDA rural loans require well water quality testing.