Iowa Code § 237.4
License required — exceptions
Redline — January 1, 2012 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2026
As of January 1, 2012
An individual or an agency, as defined in section 237.1, shall not provide child foster care unless the individual or agency obtains a license issued by the administrator under this chapter. However, a license is not required of the following:
An individual or an agency shall not provide child foster care unless the individual or agency is a licensee. However, a license under this chapter is not required of the following:
1. An individual providing child foster care for a total of not more than twenty days in one calendar year.
1. An individual providing child foster care for a total of not more than twenty days in one calendar year.
2. A residential care facility licensed under chapter 135C which is approved for the care of children.
2. A residential care facility licensed under chapter 135C which is approved for the care of children.
3. A hospital licensed under chapter 135B.
3. A hospital licensed under chapter 135B.
4. A health care facility licensed under chapter 135C.
4. A health care facility licensed under chapter 135C.
5. A juvenile detention home or juvenile shelter care home approved under section 232.142.
5. A juvenile detention home or juvenile shelter care home approved under section 232.142.
6. An institution listed in section 218.1.
6. An institution listed in section 218.1.
7. A facility licensed under chapter 125.
7. A facility licensed under chapter 125.
8. An individual providing child care as a babysitter at the request of a parent, guardian or relative having lawful custody of the child.
8. An individual providing child care as a babysitter at the request of a parent, guardian, fictive kin, or relative having lawful custody of the child.
84 Acts, ch 1050, §1; 87 Acts, ch 44, §2
84 Acts, ch 1050, §1; 87 Acts, ch 44, §2; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §728; 2025 Acts, ch 135, §15, 16
Referred to in
Unnumbered paragraph 1 amended
Subsection 8 amended
Official source: Iowa Legislature. Reproduced from public-domain Iowa statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.