Membership Campgrounds
Membership Campgrounds
Iowa’s Membership Campground Law affects campground operators that offer or sell certain long-term rights to use a campground. Operators selling in Iowa must comply with Iowa law even if the campground is not physically located in Iowa.
Who is affected by Iowa’s Membership Campground Law?
Iowa’s Membership Campground Law applies to campground operators that offer or sell the right to use a campground for more than 30 days during the term of the contract, when the purchaser pays a fee or periodic payment.
Long-term campground use
The law applies when a contract gives the purchaser the right to use a campground for more than 30 days during the contract term.
Fee or periodic payment
The law applies when the purchaser pays a fee or periodic payment for that campground-use right.
Selling in Iowa
A membership campground operator that sells in Iowa must comply with Iowa Code Chapter 557B even if the campground is not physically located in Iowa.
Registration, disclosures, and purchaser protections
Every campground operator selling membership campground contracts in Iowa must annually register with the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office and pay an annual registration fee.
Annual registration
Membership campground operators selling membership campground contracts in Iowa must register annually with the Consumer Protection Division and pay the annual registration fee.
Required disclosures
Operators must deliver specific disclosures and documents to purchasers at the time of sale and provide certain rights and protections throughout the contract period.
Compliance matters: Failure to fully comply with these requirements gives the purchaser the right to cancel the contract and receive a full refund of all money paid.
Initial registration and renewal applications
Membership campground operators currently submit registration materials using printable forms. Online filing is not currently available.
Initial Registration Application
Use the Application for Registration to Offer or Sell Membership Camping Contracts for first-time registration before offering or selling covered membership camping contracts in Iowa.
- For first-time registration filings
- Required before offering or selling covered contracts in Iowa
- Submit the completed initial registration application
- Include required disclosures and supporting documents
- Include the applicable initial registration fee
Fee: Add the current initial registration fee here.
Renewal Application
Use the Application for Renewal of Campground Registration to renew an existing membership campground registration with the Office of the Attorney General.
- For annual renewal filings
- Maintains active registration status
- Submit the completed renewal application
- Include updated operator, contact, contract, or disclosure information, if applicable
- Include the applicable annual renewal fee
Fee: Add the current annual renewal fee here.
Note: Membership campground operators selling membership campground contracts in Iowa must annually register with the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
Failure to comply may create substantial liability
A membership campground operator’s failure to comply may expose the operator to substantial liabilities and penalties under both Iowa’s Membership Campground Law and Iowa’s Consumer Fraud law.
Purchaser cancellation rights
Noncompliance may give the purchaser the right to cancel the contract.
Full refund rights
Noncompliance may give the purchaser the right to receive a full refund of all money paid.
Consumer fraud exposure
Operators may also face liability under Iowa Code section 714.16.
When Iowa Code Chapter 557B does not apply
The requirements of Iowa Code Chapter 557B do not apply to the following:
- The operator of a manufactured home community or mobile home park as defined in Iowa Code Chapter 435 or Iowa Code Chapter 562B.
- An offer, sale, or transfer by any one person of not more than one membership camping contract in a twelve-month period.
- An offer or sale by a government, government agency, or subdivision of government.
- A bona fide pledge of a membership camping contract.
- Any transaction subject to regulation pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 557A, relating to time shares.
Iowa Code references
These links provide statutory reference points for membership campground registration, exclusions, purchaser rights, and consumer fraud provisions.
