Iowa Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

No.

Iowa is a shall issue state.

[Iowa Code § 724.7]

TASERS that shoot electrodes are illegal. In addition, Tasers and stun guns are prohibited in Denison and Crawford Counties.  A concealed carry permit is required to purchase or possess a stun gun or Taser, except on your own property. It is illegal to carry a stun gun (openly or concealed) with the intent to use the stun gun on another person, without justification. 

[Iowa Code §  702.7]

PEPPER SPRAY - Legal for self-defense purposes. Iowa imposes no restrictions on size or concentration.

TEAR GAS - legal for self-defense but subject to general misuse laws.

BEAR SPRAY - Legal for self-defense against wildlife. There are no specific state restrictions, but misuse against humans could lead to legal consequences.

BLUDGEONS AND BATONS - Expandable batons are legal to own and carry in Iowa. Batons are not classified as "dangerous weapons," so they can be carried openly or concealed without a permit.

Items such as billy clubs, slapjacks, and nightsticks are also legal unless used with criminal intent.

BRASS KNUCKLES - Legal under Iowa law. There are no explicit bans on possession, sale, or use.

You must be at least 18 years old to get a concealed carry permit in Iowa.

Professional permits are issued to individuals at least 18 years of age that are employed in a capacity that reasonably justifies that person going armed.  Non-professional permits are issued to individuals at least 18 years of age that meet permit requirements, including training.

Yes. As of July 1, 2021, Iowa is a permitless carry state for anyone at least 18 years old that may lawfully possess a handgun.

[Iowa Code § 724.5]

A person operating a hotel has the right to refuse or deny the use of a room, accommodations, facilities, or other privileges of the hotel to an individual the hotel operator reasonably believes is bringing in anything which may create an unreasonable danger or risk to other persons, including but not limited to firearms or explosives. The individual hotel should be contacted to inquire about it's concealed carry policy. See the Handguns at Hotels page for additional information.

[Iowa Hotel Sanitation Code 137C.25.C(4)]

Meskwaki Tribe and Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa

A person commits carrying or Displaying a weapon when the person:

(1) Carries a weapon into any school, child day care facility, adult care facility, senior center, medical clinic or facility, meeting of the Tribe, meeting of the Tribal Council, meeting of a tribal committee, building in which voting is taking place, or pow-wow;

(2) Carries a weapon concealed on his person unless he or she shall have a current valid permit to carry such a weapon concealed signed by the Chief of the Tribal Police under regulations promulgated by the Chief; or

(3) Carries a weapon under circumstances that either manifests an intent to intimidate other or warrants alarm for the safety of other persons. Sec. 13-51201​

Yes, without a permit for anyone at least 18 years old that may lawfully possess a handgun.

[Iowa Code § 724.5]

Yes, without a permit, but the use of that firearm is prohibited. Use includes brandishing, displaying, bartering, striking with, and, most obviously, firing or attempting to fire the weapon.

[Iowa Code § 461A.42]

No. However, the information is available for law enforcement.

No definition of brandishing was found in Iowa law. However, a person commits assault when they intentionally point a firearm toward another, or display a dangerous weapon in a threatening manner with the intention of placing another in fear of immediate physical contact.

[Iowa Code § 708.1]

Yes. There is full state preemption of all gun laws. No municipality may have any ordinance, motion, resolution, policy, or amendment regulating the ownership, possession, carry, legal transfer, lawful transportation, modification, registration, or licensing of firearms, firearms attachments, or other weapons. However, municipalities may restrict firearms in government buildings provided there is appropriate screening as well as armed security personnel present.

In addition, Iowa Code § 724.28(3) authorizes any “person adversely affected” by the regulation to file suit in court for “declaratory and injunctive relief for damages.”

[Op. Att’y Gen. No. 03-4-1 (2003)][Iowa Code § 724.28]

No. Your Iowa driver’s license is not linked to your Iowa carry permit. Therefore, a law enforcement officer (LEO) will not be notified that you are a concealed carry license holder immediately when they run your driver’s permit. However, LEOs may have access to other databases where they can obtain this information.

No. Iowa does not enforce "No Weapons Allowed" signs.

Yes.

No. As of July 1, 2021, no permit or background check is required. 

No. Handguns do not need to be registered in Iowa.

18

A parent (guardian or spouse who is 18 years of age or older) of a minor under the age of 14 years who allows that minor to possess a pistol or revolver or handgun ammunition is strictly liable to an injured party for all damages resulting from the possession of the pistol or revolver or ammunition therefor by that minor.

[Iowa Code § 724.22]

In order to purchase a handgun in Iowa, whether through a licensed firearms dealer or a private transaction (unless between family members), either a Permit to Acquire a pistol or revolver or a Permit to Carry Weapons is required. The application for a Permit to Acquire is processed at the county level and is valid for 5 years after the date it is issued. Some counties accept online applications, others accept them by mail, but most require an application to be submitted at the county sheriff’s office in person. To see if your county of residence accepts online permits, check the county sheriff’s office website directly.

In order to obtain a Permit to Acquire, you will need a valid driver’s license or state-issued ID and will have to pay a fee. A National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) background check will be processed. The processing time to obtain a Permit to Acquire will differ county by county and may take up to 10 days. The permit itself is not valid until 3 days after the date it is issued.

Moving to Iowa and interested in applying for a permit? How soon can you apply?Iowa issues permits to residents, members of the military and limited non-residents who work or go to school in Iowa. You can apply for a resident permit with the sheriff of your county once you have established your residence in that county and have an Iowa Driver's license or state-issued ID.

Moving from Iowa and have an Iowa resident permit? Does that permit transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Iowa permit remains valid?If a person with an Iowa permit to concealed carry establishes residency in another state, he or she should contact the issuing authority for a determination as to how long the permit remains valid.

5 years

Apply to the Sheriff in the county of your residence for a duplicate, replacement or renewal.

Non-resident permits are available and the application is the same as for residents. Professional permit applications for non-residents must be made to the Commissioner of Public Safety. 

An applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years of age for a professional permit;
• Be at least 18 years of age for a non-professional permit;
• Complete a firearms training course;
• Not be "addicted to the use of alcohol" per Iowa Admin. Code r. 661-91.1;
• Have no pending charges;
• Have no felony convictions;
• Have no outstanding arrest warrants;
• Not be subject to the firearm possession, receipt, transportation or control prohibitions;
• Not have been convicted within the previous 3 years in any court of a serious or aggravated misdemeanor not involving a firearm or explosives for which the court could have imprisoned him or her for more than 1 year, even if he or she received a shorter sentence, including probation;
• Not bear probable cause to use a weapon unlawfully or in such other manner as would endanger the person’s self or others based on prior actions in the last 2 years; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

If you are unsure of your eligibility, take the Carry Eligibility Quiz on the Iowa Department of Public Safety website and consult an attorney.

• Carry in bars/restaurants that serve alcohol? Yes, unless posted.
• Carry in my vehicle without a permit/license? Yes.
• Carry in roadside rest areas? Yes, without a permit.
• Carry in state/national parks, state/national forests and WMAs? Yes, without a permit.
• Carry in places of worship? There is no state statute prohibiting concealed carry in places of worship. However, since places of worship are private property, they may post signs prohibiting firearms.

Yes, with a valid concealed carry permit , although the handgun may not be used to shoot or dispatch any deer. Hunters who do not have a permit to carry may not have a handgun in their possession while hunting under an archery tag.

Yes. A person in possession of a valid permit to carry weapons may carry a handgun while hunting. However, only handguns as described in Iowa Admin. Code 571.106.7(3) may be used to hunt deer and only when a handgun is a lawful method of take, except where the possession or carrying of a firearm is prohibited by state or federal law.

Yes. Intentional interference with lawful hunting, fishing, or fur-harvesting activities is illegal. A person shall not interfere with the lawful hunting, fishing, or fur-harvesting activities of another person in an area where hunting, fishing, or fur harvesting is authorized by a custodian of public property or an owner or lessee of private property.

[IA Code 481A.125]