Notice by posting shall not have legal effect except where expressly authorized by statute.
Rule 1.1804.Effect of notice by posting
Division XVIII: Rules of a General Nature · Last amended February 15, 2002 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1.1804 states that notice given by posting has no legal effect unless a statute expressly authorizes that method of notice.
Full Text of Rule 1.1804
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1.1804 is a short but firm limit on an old notice method. Posting a notice — putting it up in a public place rather than delivering or mailing it to the person concerned — carries no legal effect under this rule unless a statute expressly authorizes posting for that particular purpose.
This default matters because posting is a weaker way of reaching someone than personal service, mailing, or publication in a newspaper — it depends on the person seeing the posted notice, which is far from guaranteed. Rule 1.1804 keeps posting from becoming a shortcut around more reliable notice methods unless the legislature has specifically decided posting is adequate for a given situation.
In practice, this means a party relying on posted notice needs to identify the specific statute that authorizes it for the purpose at hand. Absent that express statutory authorization, a posted notice will not satisfy whatever notice requirement applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is posting a notice in a public place a valid way to give legal notice in Iowa?
Only if a statute expressly authorizes posting for that purpose. Rule 1.1804 states that notice by posting otherwise has no legal effect.
Why does Iowa treat posted notice differently from mailed or published notice?
The rule's text does not explain the reasoning, but posting depends on the recipient happening to see the notice, which makes it a less reliable method than personal service, mailing, or publication absent express statutory approval.
What do I need to check before relying on posted notice in a case?
You need to find the specific statute that expressly authorizes posting as a method of notice for your particular situation, since Rule 1.1804 gives posting no effect without that authorization.
Does Rule 1.1804 apply to notice methods generally, or only to posting?
It addresses posting specifically. Other notice methods, like personal service or service by publication, are governed by their own rules elsewhere in the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure.
If no statute authorizes posting for my situation, can I still use it as a backup?
No. Without express statutory authorization, Rule 1.1804 gives posted notice no legal effect, so it cannot serve as a backup method for notice that otherwise required something more.
Source & verification. Rule text and the Comment are
reproduced verbatim from the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Iowa Supreme Court. Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
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