In court-decided eviction outcomes for Clear Lake, IA, tenants prevail in roughly 24.9% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
40d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Clear Lake, IA until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 40 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$1.3–4.3k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Clear Lake, IA costs landlords $1,304 to $4,330 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$808
24% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Clear Lake, IA is $808 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 24% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
23.7%
of households
23.7% of occupied housing units in Clear Lake, IA are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
7.3%
2.2% unemp.
7.3% of Clear Lake, IA residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 2.2%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +11.7% (2024)
5.2
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
5.2
State political climate
Iowa legislature & governorship
2.3
Economic stress
7.3% poverty · 2.2% unemp.
4.1
Supply constraint
$808 average · 23.7% renters
4.4
Rent Control risk
23.8% of income on rent
3.9
Eviction process difficulty
40 days filing → judgment
2.1
Tenant organizing strength
23.7% renters
5.6
Housing court bias
County bench composition
4.0
Geographic context
Risk heat across Clear Lake and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Clear Lake compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Cerro Gordo County
Elevated
#5of 11 cities
#5 of 11 cities in Cerro Gordo County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Iowa
Low
#698of 1,026 cities
#698 of 1,026 cities in Iowa for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
2.3
/ 10 · VERY LOW
The verdict
A Very low-tier market.
Composite 2.3/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+0.3 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
40d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $808/mo. A contested eviction takes 40 days and costs $1,304–$4,330 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
23.7%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 7,607 residents, 23.7% rent. 24% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 7.3% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
5.2
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 5.2 and 5.2 (GOP margin +11.7% (2024)). State climate at 2.3, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
2.3
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 2.3/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 2.1, housing court bias 4, rent-control risk 3.9. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-2.9 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
4.1
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 4.1. Supply constraint: 4.4. The numbers behind those: 7.3% poverty, 2.2% unemployment, 24% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Clear Lake sits in the quick & cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Clear Lake · 40d · ~$2.8k all-in ($70/day) · score 2.3National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Clear Lake, Iowa, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 2.3/10 (VERY LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Clear Lake is a city of 7,607 residents where 23.7% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 23.8% of income on rent. At an average rent of $808/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Clear Lake eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 2.1/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Clear Lake closes 40 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Clear Lake's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 4/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Clear Lake runs $1,304 to $4,330 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 40 days of typical timeline and $808/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 5.6/10 in Clear Lake, and the city has limited rent control exposure (3.9/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Iowa, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Clear Lake: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a VERY LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Iowa's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $4,330 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Clear Lake
Trap · 4/10
For landlords, the 4.2/10 score is most actionable when combined with Cerro Gordo County's specific court behavior. Housing-court bias sub-score: 4/10. Standard documentation and prompt action typically resolve cases quickly.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
What's the biggest mistake Clear Lake landlords make during eviction?
The biggest mistake is delaying action. Waiting to issue the 3-day notice, or waiting to file in court, just prolongs the problem and increases your lost rent. Act quickly and by the book. Another common error is attempting self-help eviction, like changing locks or turning off utilities, which is illegal and can result in significant penalties.
Q2
Can I charge a late fee in Clear Lake?
Yes, you can charge late fees, but they must be reasonable and clearly stated in your lease agreement. Iowa Code § 562A.9 states that a late fee cannot exceed $12 per day or $60 per month, whichever is less. Don't try to make a profit off late fees; they are intended to cover your administrative costs for processing late payments.
Q3
Do I need a lawyer for an eviction in Clear Lake?
While you can technically represent yourself in an Iowa eviction, it's highly recommended to consult with an attorney, especially if it's your first time or if the tenant is disputing the eviction. An attorney ensures all notices are correct, court filings are accurate, and you follow proper procedure, saving you time and potential legal headaches. Visit our Iowa eviction process step-by-step guide for more details.
Q4
What if the tenant abandons the property?
If you believe the tenant has abandoned the property, Iowa Code § 562A.29A allows you to take possession. However, you must be careful. You need clear evidence of abandonment (e.g., utilities disconnected, personal belongings removed, no communication). It's best to send a notice of abandonment to the tenant's last known address and wait a reasonable period (often 7-10 days) before taking possession. If in doubt, consult an attorney to avoid claims of illegal eviction.
Q5
Are there any tenant protections I should know about in Clear Lake?
While Iowa does not have statewide rent control or source-of-income protection, you are still bound by the federal Fair Housing Act. This means you cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Be aware of Iowa tenant protections and local ordinances that may add further rules. Always treat all applicants and tenants fairly and consistently.
A 2.3/10 places Clear Lake in the 34th percentile of Iowa cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Clear Lake (2.3/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
