Does Iowa require a time-of-sale inspection like Saint Paul does?

No. Iowa has no municipal time-of-sale inspection ordinances anywhere in the state, so unlike Saint Paul or Minneapolis, where Truth in Sale of Housing (TISH) programs require a city-approved evaluation before a home can be listed, an Iowa seller can put a house on the market with no inspection of any kind. That makes the buyer's own inspection more important in Iowa, not less: in Saint Paul a buyer at least sees a TISH report before writing an offer, but in Des Moines, Ankeny, or Cedar Rapids the private inspection you order during your contingency period is often the only professional look the home has ever received. Iowa does require sellers to complete a written disclosure statement, and Iowa law specifically requires disclosure of known radon test results, but disclosure only covers what a seller actually knows, and sellers rarely crawl their own attics or scope their own sewer lines. Our advice for Iowa buyers is simple: never treat the absence of a city requirement as evidence the house is fine. Book a full inspection, add radon testing given Iowa's nation-leading levels, and get a photo-documented report within 24 hours. We serve the entire state of Iowa with no travel fees, and you can book online in minutes.