Iowa Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No | No* |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | No* |
* The law requiring a "permit to acquire" for handguns and a permit to carry has been amended effective July 1, 2021, to remove permits to acquire and to allow permitless carrying by qualified persons. The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. RECIPROCITY NOTES: Nebraska will only honor the Iowa NON-PROFESSIONAL permit (not the Iowa Professional permit); Colorado, Florida, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania recognize an Iowa RESIDENT permit ONLY. Iowa does not publish a list of states that recognize their permit, so it is up to the individual permit holder to verify what states offer reciprocity for an Iowa permit. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | No Law |
No-Net Loss | No Legislation |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | No Permit Required |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Outright Recognition |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | No Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Antiques and Replicas
An antique firearm is any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898 or a replica of an antique firearm if the replica is not designed or redesigned to use conventional rimfire or centerfire ammunition, or if the replica uses only rimfire or centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade. Iowa Code § 724.25(2) (see also § 724.1(2)(a)). MORE |
Possession
No state permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. MORE |
Purchase
No state permit is required to purchase a rifle or shotgun. A “permit to acquire” is needed to purchase a handgun, but this state law is repealed and replaced with a new Iowa Code § 724.15 effective July 1, 2021. MORE |
Carrying
Iowa’s law on carrying was amended by HF 756 (2021) to allow for permitless carry. MORE |
Machine Guns, Magazines, Ammunition, etc.
State law defines “machine guns” as “offensive weapons.” (A "machine gun" is a firearm which shoots or is designed to shoot more than one shot, without reloading, by a single function of the trigger, and includes any part or combination of parts either designed or intended to be used to assemble or convert any device into a machine gun, except magazines or other parts, ammunition, or ammunition components used in common with lawful sporting firearms or parts including but not limited to barrels suitable for refitting to sporting firearms.) Iowa Code § 724.1(1)(a), (e). MORE |
Miscellaneous
Effective July 1, 2021, HF 756 added new Iowa Code §§ 562A.11 and 562B.11, on tenant protections and prohibited clauses in certain residential rental agreements. MORE |
Restoration of Rights
Iowa has a restoration of rights procedure for persons under a mental health-based firearm disability. Gun rights lost due to a criminal conviction may be restored by pardon or “Special Restoration of Citizenship Rights (Firearms).” MORE |
Preemption
A political subdivision of the state – a city, county, or township – is prohibited from enacting an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise lawful under state law. Iowa Code § 724.28. MORE |
Range Protection
A person who acquires title to or who owns real property adversely affected by the use of property with a permanently located and improved range shall not maintain a nuisance action against the person who owns the range... MORE |
SOURCES: Iowa Code Sections 483A.35, 483A.36, 724.1 through 724.30 and 902.7 and Chapter 571-51(481A) and 571-61.5(461A) of the Iowa Administrative Code. Internet sources: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/asd/weapon_permits.shtml |
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
State constitutions are an essential part of federalism in that they define and limit the powers of state ...
Friday, January 26, 2018
The Iowa legislature is considering House Joint Resolution 13 to add a right to keep and bear arms to the ...
Friday, January 26, 2018
Yesterday, January 25th, a House Judiciary Subcommittee passed House Joint Resolution 13 to propose an amendment to the state constitution ...
Monday, January 22, 2018
On Thursday, January 25th, a House Judiciary Subcommittee will be hearing House Joint Resolution 13 to propose an ...
Thursday, January 18, 2018
County officials in western Iowa have asked a judge to allow guns in some areas of the courthouse ...
Thursday, December 21, 2017
The Iowa Supreme Court has said it will allow guns to be carried into county courthouses under certain ...
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
A majority of Iowans believe increased controls on gun purchases won't reduce mass shootings, according to a new ...
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Ryan is a Des Moines native who majored in political science at Drake University, and also served in ...
Thursday, October 26, 2017
A man allegedly breaking into a Sac City apartment was shot twice by a resident inside
Monday, October 23, 2017
Democratic attorneys general from 17 states are calling on Congress to abandon legislation backed by the National Rifle ...