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Bellevue, IA

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STR Regulations for Bellevue, Iowa

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]

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Bellevue?

Bellevue hosts earn a median $25,133/year with $200 ADR and 42% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $34,945+ per year.

See the full Bellevue market breakdown

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

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.

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Bellevue

Market Saturation Score

036912
Mild Saturation
4/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
2–4 declining months: early saturation pressure - watch for trend persistence.
View Full Bellevue Market Analysis

Photos of Bellevue

Overview of Bellevue

Bellevue is a small city in Jackson County, Iowa, perched along the Mississippi River in the northeastern corner of the state. With a population of approximately 2,000 residents, it carries the unhurried character of a classic Upper Mississippi river town, with a compact historic downtown, 19th-century architecture, and a strong sense of place tied to the waterway at its doorstep. The community is best known as a gateway to Iowa's portion of the Driftless Area—the unglaciated region of steep bluffs, deep valleys, and spring-fed streams that gives this stretch of the river much of its scenery—and sits along the Great River Road, the scenic byway that follows the Mississippi from Minnesota to the Gulf. It lies about 25 miles south of Dubuque, the nearest sizable Iowa city, and roughly 150 miles west of Chicago.

A short drive from the center of town, Bellevue State Park occupies a bluff-top setting above the Mississippi and offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and broad views of the river valley. The park is also home to a pioneer cemetery that speaks to the area's early European settlement and gives visitors a sense of the historical layers of the region.

Just downriver, Lock and Dam No. 12 is part of the Upper Mississippi River navigation system and provides a chance to watch towboats and barges move through the locks, while adjacent observation areas give a close-up view of the infrastructure that keeps the river a working commercial waterway. It is within a few minutes of downtown and pairs naturally with a walk through the city's riverfront.

Bellevue's downtown itself rewards a slow stroll, with brick storefronts, locally owned shops, and a handful of small eateries. The surrounding Jackson County countryside is quintessential Driftless Area terrain—wooded bluffs, winding creeks, and quiet back roads that draw cyclists, birders, and leaf-peepers in autumn. From Bellevue, day trips extend easily to Dubuque, to the broader Driftless Area that spills into neighboring Wisconsin and Illinois, and to the small river towns that line the Great River Road in both directions.

As a base for short-term rentals, Bellevue offers travelers an appealing combination of small-town quiet, river scenery, and outdoor recreation. Guests who stay here can balance unhurried mornings on a historic Main Street with active days on the bluffs and water, all within easy reach of the larger amenities of Dubuque while feeling comfortably set apart from them.

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