Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Bellevue, IA?

Short-term rentals are allowed in Bellevue, Iowa. Iowa state law prohibits cities from limiting the number of vacation rentals or enforcing license fees for short-term rentals. However, cities may regulate rentals for protection of public health and safety, for residential use and zoning purposes, and for the purpose of providing the city with emergency contact information. Bellevue has not adopted caps or fees; instead, it created an emergency contact list for local Airbnbs to obtain an accurate count of STRs and provide accurate information to emergency responders. Therefore, STRs are allowed, but hosts must be prepared to provide emergency contact and property information to the city (see “Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines” below). [Source: Telegrapher Herald article]

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Bellevue, IA

1. Confirm Zoning and Land Use

   • Verify that your intended use as a short-term rental (STR) is permissible under the City of Bellevue’s zoning and residential use standards. At present, Bellevue has not adopted city-specific STR licensing or caps, but general zoning and land-use rules still apply. If your property is within the Downtown Incentive Program area, note that the Upper Story Renovation grant explicitly excludes “residential units for short-term stays,” which is a program eligibility condition, not a citywide ban. Confirm with the City Administrator/Clerk whether your specific property is affected by any design/floodplain/fire requirements. [Sources: Bellevue City Council Minutes; Bellevue Downtown Incentive Program]

2. Prepare for City Emergency Contact Collection

   • Submit an emergency contact listing for your STR to the city, as the Fire Chief has requested and the City Administrator has indicated letters will be sent to Airbnb property owners. The city will use this information for emergency response coordination via county dispatch. Keep the information current. [Source: Bellevue City Council Minutes]

3. Register for and Collect State and Local Taxes

   • Register with the Iowa Department of Revenue for sales/use tax and local hotel/motel tax (also known as “lodging tax”) if not already registered.
   • For stays fewer than 31 days, charge and remit:
     • State sales tax (generally 7% for short-term rentals; verify the rate at the time of listing).
     • Local hotel/motel (lodging) tax, which applies county-wide. The rate and administering authority may vary; verify with the Jackson County Treasurer or the Iowa Department of Revenue.
   • Retain records for audit (reservations, guests, rates, taxes collected and remitted).
   • If you use a platform (Airbnb/Vrbo/Booking), the platform may collect and remit certain taxes on your behalf depending on platform arrangements. Confirm platform obligations and still file returns where required. [Source: Proper Insurance state guidance page]

4. Insurance and Risk Management

   • Replace or supplement homeowners and landlord policies with specialized short-term rental insurance. Standard policies often exclude or limit coverage for guest-caused damage, theft, amenities (e.g., pools, hot tubs, off-site activities), and liquor liability. Comprehensive STR insurance should cover:
     • Commercial business liability.
     • Property and contents at replacement cost.
     • Business revenue (lost income) due to covered claims.
     • Property entrustment (damage by guests).
     • Pet/animal liability.
     • Bed bug/flea protection and related lost revenue.
     • Squatter protection (guests refusing to leave).
     • Liquor liability.
   • Iowa STRs face unique exposures (storms, winter hazards, guest injuries). Proper Insurance specifically protects Bellevue STRs and can help structure coverage to match your property’s risk profile. [Source: Proper Insurance short-term rental insurance in Iowa]

5. Listing and Guest Management

   • Create listings on your chosen platforms with clear house rules, occupancy limits, parking instructions, and check-in procedures.
   • Maintain 24/7 contact availability and provide guests with local emergency information.

6. Ongoing Compliance

   • Keep your emergency contact info updated with the city.
   • File and remit all applicable taxes on time.
   • Monitor city council minutes for any future changes to STR policy. [Sources: Bellevue City Council Minutes; Telegraph Herald article]

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

• City of Bellevue: At this time, Bellevue does not require a city-issued permit, license, or fee for STRs. The city requests that STR owners complete and submit an emergency contact listing, which supports accurate information for emergency responders and county dispatch. The City Administrator has indicated letters will be sent to Airbnb property owners to gather this information. [Source: Bellevue City Council Minutes]
• Zoning/Land Use: Verify that STR use complies with applicable zoning and residential use standards. If your property is within designated urban renewal areas or incentive zones, ensure your planned improvements comply with design guidelines and program restrictions (e.g., grants excluding short-term stays). [Sources: Bellevue City Council Minutes; Bellevue Downtown Incentive Program]
• Insurance: STR-specific insurance (commercial liability; property; revenue; guest-caused damage; amenities off-premise; liquor liability) is strongly recommended and fills coverage gaps in standard policies. [Source: Proper Insurance]
• Taxes:
  • Sales/use tax registration with the Iowa Department of Revenue (if not already registered).
  • Local hotel/motel (lodging) tax registration/collection through the Jackson County Treasurer or the relevant local authority.
  • File returns and remit taxes for any short-term stays (generally fewer than 31 days). [Source: Proper Insurance state guidance page]
• Guest Documentation: Maintain guest logs (names, dates, contact info), reservation records, and tax remittance reports for audit purposes.

Specific Regulations: Bellevue (City), Jackson County (County), Iowa (State)

• Bellevue (City)

  • No cap on STR licenses/permits and no city-imposed license fees for STRs are permitted under Iowa law.
  • City may regulate for health and safety, residential use/zoning, and to obtain emergency contact information.
  • Bellevue has created an emergency contact list for Airbnbs to improve emergency response; letters to Airbnb property owners are planned to collect this information.
  • No citywide occupancy limits, parking restrictions, or fee schedules specific to STRs are indicated in current materials.
  • If within the Downtown Incentive Program area, note that the Upper Story Renovation grant excludes residential units for short-term stays (program-level eligibility restriction). [Sources: Telegrapher Herald article; Bellevue City Council Minutes; Bellevue Downtown Incentive Program]

• Jackson County (County)

  • County-level lodging (hotel/motel) tax likely applies to short-term stays. Contact the Jackson County Treasurer to confirm rate, collection/remittance requirements, and any local lodging permit rules. [Source: Proper Insurance state guidance page]

• Iowa (State)

  • Iowa law prohibits cities from limiting the number of vacation rentals or enforcing license fees for STRs, but cities may regulate for protection of public health and safety, residential use and zoning, and to collect emergency contact information.
  • Hosts must collect and remit state sales tax and any applicable local hotel/motel taxes for stays fewer than 31 days.
  • Occupancy, parking, and other local standards may apply generally (e.g., zoning), but there are no city-specific STR rules in Bellevue beyond the emergency contact collection noted above. [Sources: Telegrapher Herald article; Proper Insurance state guidance page]

Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

• City of Bellevue (general contact and STR-related inquiries)

  • City Administrator/Clerk: Abbey Skrivseth
  • Address: City of Bellevue, 106 North Third Street, Bellevue, IA 52031
  • Phone: Not provided in the source materials
  • Email: Not provided in the source materials
  • Notes: The City Administrator is the primary contact handling STR emergency contact collection and general city inquiries.
  • Source: Bellevue City Council Minutes

• Jackson County (lodging tax)

  • Jackson County Treasurer: Verify rate and lodging tax registration/remittance requirements
  • Address/Phone/Website: Not provided in the source materials
  • Notes: Contact the Treasurer’s office to confirm lodging tax obligations for STRs.
  • Source: Proper Insurance state guidance page (Iowa lodging tax)

• Iowa Department of Revenue (sales/use tax, lodging tax program guidance)

  • Phone/Website: Not provided in the source materials
  • Notes: Register for sales/use tax and obtain guidance on lodging tax administration.
  • Source: Proper Insurance state guidance page

Links to Source Pages

• Telegraph Herald article: “Bellevue, Galena city councils discuss short-term vacation rentals”

  • www.telegraphherald.com/news/tri-state/article_d9e0066f-edaf-5977-98c1-ee4c150b6b76.html

• City of Bellevue (June 14, 2021) City Council Minutes (AIRBNB discussion and emergency contact list)

  • bellevueia.gov/62.%20June%2014.pdf

• City of Bellevue – Downtown Incentive Program (Upper Story Renovation grant excludes short-term stays)

  • www.bellevueia.gov/cummunity/downtown_incentive_program.php

• Proper Insurance – Iowa Short-Term Rental Laws and Regulations (sales tax and lodging tax guidance; insurance overview)

  • www.proper.insure/short-term-rental-insurance/iowa/

• City of Bellevue, WA (not Bellevue, IA) – Affordable Housing Strategy (Irrelevant for Bellevue, IA; not for citation)

  • bellevuewa.gov/sites/default/files/media/pdf_document/REV3_Compiled_Appendices.pdf

Practical Notes for Investors

• Market Access: Bellevue is on the Mississippi River with recreational and visitor activity; the city has not imposed STR caps, which supports market entry.
• Risk Management: Use specialized STR insurance to address Iowa-specific risks (storms, winter conditions) and common STR exposures (guest-caused damage, amenities off-premise).
• Tax Compliance: Confirm current sales tax and lodging tax rates and filing obligations. Maintain accurate records and consider professional tax support to reduce audit risk.
• Regulatory Monitoring: Continue to monitor Bellevue City Council minutes for any future updates (e.g., formal registration forms, safety requirements). [Sources: Bellevue City Council Minutes; Telegraph Herald article; Proper Insurance]

This guide reflects current information as of the provided materials and focuses on Bellevue, IA, Jackson County, and Iowa regulations. Regulations can change; verify requirements with the City of Bellevue, Jackson County, and the Iowa Department of Revenue before listing.