Iowa salon inspections
Iowa salon inspection checklist
The Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences inspects Iowa salons against the state's sanitation rules. Below are the 19 rules an inspector checks, from the state's own rules and inspection pages, each beside the rule's own words. Tick them off as you get ready, filter by the services you offer, and print the list.
- Inspected by
- Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
- Before opening
- Not stated
- Rules on this list
- 19
- Official form
- Published
- Foot spa log
- Required, keep two years
- MMA nail liquid
- Banned
Read from the official sources on October 19, 2026.The full rules Iowa salon license
How it works
How Iowa inspects salons
Inspections are done by the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.
Inspectors may perform a sanitary inspection of each salon every two years and before a license is issued.
“The department may perform a sanitary inspection of each establishment biennially and may perform a sanitary inspection of an establishment prior to the issuance of a license.”
The checklist
What Iowa inspectors check
Every rule below is from the state's own rules, beside its own words. An inspector can check anything in the rules, so read them in full once before you open.
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Iowa salon inspection checklist
salonai.studio/salon-inspection-checklist/iowa
Licenses on display
The first thing an inspector looks for: the salon's license and every working license, current and where clients can see them.
1.Display license renewal cards in the front entrance area at eye level, and never display an expired or invalid license.
Other required postings
Some states also want their rules, a consumer notice or the last inspection report on the wall.
2.Have the most recent inspection report available for staff, students and the general public.
The disinfectant
What the disinfectant must be, how it is mixed and how often it is changed.
3.Use only an EPA-registered disinfectant that is effective against HIV-1 and human hepatitis B virus.
4.Mix disinfectant solutions according to the manufacturer's label instructions.
Cleaning tools between clients
How combs, shears, nippers and other reusable tools are cleaned and disinfected after each client.
5.After each use, clean immersible nonporous tools, then fully immerse them in disinfectant.
Storing clean and used tools
Clean tools kept covered and apart from used ones, so nothing dirty touches the next client.
6.Store disinfected tools in a dry, covered container isolated from contaminants, and disinfect that container at least once each week and whenever it is visibly dirty.
7.Keep used items separate from items that are disinfected and ready for use.
Single-use items
What must be thrown away after one client because it cannot be disinfected.
8.Throw away single-use items in a waste receptacle immediately after use.
9.Use gloves on only one client and throw them away after that client's service.
Towels, capes and linens
Clean towels stored closed, used ones in a covered container until laundered.
10.Wash cloth towels, robes and similar items in a washing machine with laundry detergent, following the detergent's directions.
Water, sinks and restroom
Hot and cold running water, sinks and a restroom with a place to wash hands.
11.Wash hands before serving each client and after using the restroom; hand sanitizer or gloves do not replace hand washing.
Pedicure equipment
How foot spas and pedicure basins are cleaned after each client and at the end of the day, and the log some states require.
12.Keep a record of the date and time of each daily foot spa cleaning and disinfecting, for every tub, bowl or basin.Pedicures
13.At the end of each day, remove filters, screens, drains and jets from circulating foot spas and clean and disinfect them.Pedicures
Banned products and tools
Products, tools and practices the state's rules forbid outright.
14.Do not keep products containing liquid methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA) or methylene chloride.
15.Do not use or keep razor-edged, grating or rasp microplaner pedicure tools.Pedicures
The premises
Floors, walls, light, air, waste bins and keeping living space and food out of the work area.
16.Keep walls, floors and fixtures clean and in good repair at all times.
17.Keep exhaust fans or air filtration in the service area strong enough to remove chemical fumes from the air.
First aid and safety
A first aid kit, what to do after a cut or blood exposure, and other safety rules.
18.Keep a complete first-aid kit in a readily accessible location, with at least adhesive dressings, gauze, antiseptic, tape, triple antibiotics, eyewash and gloves.
19.Keep a biohazard sharps container for used needles, razor blades and other sharp instruments.
Questions
Iowa salon inspections, answered
What do salon inspectors check in Iowa?
How are salons inspected in Iowa?
Does Iowa have an official salon inspection checklist?
Do Iowa nail salons need a foot spa cleaning log?
Is MMA banned in Iowa nail salons?
Plan the rest
Get the rest of the salon ready
- Every step to opening a salon, as a checklist for your state
- The salon license, fees and who must be licensed
- Which services and products the state taxes, and the sales tax permit
- What it costs to open a salon, line by line
- A client intake and consultation form
- A cancellation and no-show policy
Salon inspection checklists for other states
Ready when you are
Pass the inspection, then fill the chairs
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