# Iowa Code § 162.10A: Commercial establishments standard of care > Iowa · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.10A ## Section - **Citation:** Iowa Code § 162.10A - **Heading:** Commercial establishments standard of care - **Jurisdiction:** Iowa - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** IA Code / Title V / Chapter 162 / Section 162.10A ## Text (1) (a) A commercial establishment shall provide for a standard of care that ensures that an animal in its possession or under its control is not lacking any of the following: (1) (a) Adequate feed, adequate water, housing facilities, sanitary control, or grooming practices, if such lack causes adverse health or suffering. (1) (a) Veterinary care. (1) (b) A commercial establishment, other than a research facility or pet shop, shall provide for the standard of care for dogs and cats in its possession or under its control, and a research facility or pet shop shall provide for the standard of care for vertebrate animals in its possession or under its control. (2) (a) Except as provided in paragraph “b”, a commercial establishment shall comply with rules that the department adopts to implement subsection 1. A commercial establishment shall be regulated under this paragraph “a” unless the person is a permittee as provided in paragraph “b”. (2) (b) A permittee is not required to comply with rules that the department adopts to implement a standard of care as provided in subsection 1 for state licensees and registrants. The department may adopt rules regulating a standard of care for a permittee, so long as the rules are not more restrictive than required for a permittee under the Animal Welfare Act. However, the department may adopt prescriptive rules relating to the standard of care. Regardless of whether the department adopts such rules, a permittee meets the standard of care required in subsection 1 if it voluntarily complies with rules applicable to state licensees or registrants. A finding by the United States department of agriculture that a permittee complies with the Animal Welfare Act is not conclusive when determining that the permittee provides a standard of care required in subsection 1. (3) A commercial establishment fails to provide for a standard of care as provided in subsection 1 if the commercial establishment commits abuse as described in section 717B.2, neglect as described in section 717B.3, or torture as provided in section 717B.3A. 2010 Acts, ch 1030, §15, 29; 2024 Acts, ch 1177, §19 ## Nearby sections - [Iowa Code § 162.1 Purpose and scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.1.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.2 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.2.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.2A Application, issuance, and renewal of authorizations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.2A.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.2B Fees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.2B.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.2C Commercial establishment fund.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.2C.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.3 Operation of a pound certificate of registration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.3.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.4 Operation of an animal shelter certificate of registration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.4.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.4A Operation of a research facility certificate of registration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.4A.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.5 Operation of a pet shop state license.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.5.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.5A Operation of a boarding kennel state license.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.5A.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.6 Operation of a commercial kennel state license.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.6.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.7 Operation of a dealer state license or permit.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.7.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.8 Operation of a commercial breeder state license or permit.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.8.md) - [Iowa Code § 162.9 Boarding kennel operator’s license.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.9.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_IA_TV_C162_S162.10A. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.