Gun laws in Iowa
Gun laws in Iowa regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Iowa in the United States.
Iowans may now buy and carry handguns without first getting a permit, after a new law went into effect on July 1, 2021.
Iowans no longer need to have state permits to buy or carry firearms in most public places. Gun retail stores, however, are now responsible for carrying out an FBI check on purchases of new firearms. Iowans may still opt to seek a state-issued permit completed by their local sheriff, which is valid for five years upon approval. Obtaining this permit proves useful, as the permit is valid in states with permit reciprocity.
Prior law, which was changed:
On January 1, 2011, Iowa became a "shall issue" state for a permit to carry weapons on one's person. This applies to both open carry and concealed carry.[1] Applicants must successfully complete an approved training course. The permit is valid for 5 years. On July 1, 2021, Iowa became a constitutional carry state.
Iowa will honor any valid permit issued by any other state. Persons do not have to be a resident of the state from which the permit was issued.
A Permit To Acquire (PTA), obtained from the sheriff of the county of the applicant's residence, is available to skip the background check before purchasing firearms.[2] A PTA shall be issued to qualified applicants aged 21 or older. The PTA becomes valid three days after the date of application, and is valid for five years.
Iowa has enacted state preemption of firearms laws, so local units of government may not restrict firearms.[3]
Under Iowa law, private citizens may not possess automatic firearms, any firearm "other than a shotgun or muzzle loading rifle, cannon, pistol, revolver or musket" with a bore of more than 6/10 of an inch (unless it is an antique made in or before 1898), or any explosive, incendiary or poison gas destructive device. Sound suppressors ("silencers")[citation needed], short-barreled rifles (barrels under 16 inches), and short-barreled shotguns (barrels under 18 inches) may be possessed if federally registered.
Summary table[]
| Subject/Law | Long Guns | Hand Guns | Relevant Statutes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State permit required to purchase? | No | No | 724.15 | Iowa law provides for a permit to acquire pistols or revolvers but it is not required to purchase firearms. The permit has a three-day waiting period before taking effect. |
| Firearm registration? | No | No | 724.11 | "Neither the sheriff nor the commissioner shall require an applicant for a permit to carry weapons to provide information identifying a particular weapon in the application including the make, model, or serial number of the weapon or any ammunition used in that particular weapon." |
| Assault weapon law? | No | No | ||
| Magazine capacity restriction? | No | No | ||
| Owner license required? | No | No | ||
| Permit required for concealed carry? | N/A | No | 724.5 724.7 |
Iowa is a "shall issue" state for citizens and lawful permanent residents who are 21 years or older. Permitless carry took effect on July 1, 2021. |
| Permit required for open carry? | No | No | 724.5 | May carry openly without permit. |
| Castle Doctrine? | Yes | Yes | 704 707.6 |
Civil immunity for use of "reasonable force" in self defense |
| Stand Your Ground law? | Yes | Yes | 704 707.6 |
"A person who is not engaged in illegal activity has no duty to retreat from any place where the person is lawfully present before using force..." |
| State preemption of local restrictions? | Yes | Yes | 724.28 | "A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance, motion, resolution, policy, or amendment regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, legal transfer, lawful transportation, modification, registration, or licensing of firearms, firearms attachments, or other weapons when the ownership, possession, carrying, transfer, transportation, or modification is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state." |
| NFA weapons restricted? | Yes | Yes | 724.1 | Machine guns and destructive devices illegal. Suppressors legal as of March 31, 2016.[4] Short barreled rifles and shotguns legal as of April 13, 2017.[5] |
| Shall certify? | Yes | Yes | 724.1A | Shall certify within 30 days (suppressors only). |
| Peaceable Journey laws? | No | No | ||
| Background checks required for private sales? | No | No |
Additional Iowa laws table[]
|
Subject |
Long gun |
Handgun |
Reference |
Remarks |
| Are permits issued to non-residents? | Yes | 724.11 | Yes – Normally limited to military and students attending university | |
| What is the permit cost? | 724.11 | $50 – Some counties charge additional $5–10 for the card | ||
| How long is permit processing time? | 724.11 | Within 30 Days | ||
| How many years is the permit valid? | 724.7 | 5 years | ||
| State requirement to issue permit | Yes | 724.7 | Shall-issue | |
| Required to carry permit and ID while carrying? | No | No | ||
| Duty to inform? | No | No | 724.4D | "A person carrying a dangerous weapon whose behavior creates a reasonable suspicion that the person presents a danger to the person's self or others shall cooperate with an investigating officer." |
| Does the permit cover weapons other than firearms? | Yes | Yes | 724.7 | Yes |
| Carry in restaurants that serve alcohol? | Yes | Yes | 724.4C | Yes. Carry with a BAC over .08 is not allowed. |
| Carrying on snowmobiles and ATV | No | Yes | 321G.13 321I.14 |
Rifles must be unloaded and cased. Pistols or revolvers may be carried loaded. If on own property no permit necessary. If not on own property, permit to carry necessary. May not shoot from a moving or running snowmobile or ATV. A non ambulatory person may shoot if the vehicle is not running/moving. |
| State preemption of local restrictions | Yes | Yes | 724.28 | "A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance, motion, resolution, policy, or amendment regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, legal transfer, lawful transportation, modification, registration, or licensing of firearms, firearms attachments, or other weapons when the ownership, possession, carrying, transfer, transportation, or modification is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state." NOTE: Some city and county facilities have been designated as gun free zones contrary to this rule. The Attorney General of Iowa has issued a letter stating this would be allowed under the home rule exception. It has not been tested in court. |
| Does this state recognize other state's carry permits? | Yes | 724.11A | Iowa recognizes a valid permit or license issued by another state to any nonresident of Iowa. | |
| Do private business "No Guns Allowed" signs have force of law? | 724.7 | No. All permits so issued shall be for a period of five years and shall be valid throughout the state except where the possession or carrying of a firearm is prohibited by state or federal law. | ||
| The following are places Iowa statutes prohibit carry of a firearm | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School grounds | No | No | 724.4A 724.4B |
School means public or nonpublic prekindergarten through 12th grade. Unless the person has been specifically authorized by the school to go armed with, carry or transport a firearm on school grounds |
| School buses | No | No | 281-43.38(285) | Iowa Administrative Code makes this a driver restriction – The driver shall not permit firearms to be carried in the bus. |
| Casinos | No | No | 491-5.4(6) | No patron or employee of the licensee, including the security department members, shall possess or be permitted to possess any pistol or firearm within a licensed facility without the express written approval of the administrator |
| State Fair when the fair is in progress | No | No | Rule 2.5 | This was upheld in 2016 |
| State universities and their approved venues | No | No | 681-13.14(5) | Weapons are not permitted on the campus except for purposes of law enforcement and as specifically authorized for purposes of instruction, research or service. A weapon is any instrument or device which is designed primarily for use in inflicting death or injury upon a human being or animal and which is capable of inflicting death or injury when used in the manner for which it was designed. Weapons include any pistol, revolver, shotgun, machine gun, rifle or other firearm, BB or pellet gun, taser or stun gun, bomb, grenade, mine or other explosive or incendiary device, ammunition, archery equipment, dagger, stiletto, switchblade knife, or knife having a blade exceeding five inches in length. |
| The following are places federal law prohibits carry of a firearm | ||||
| Post offices | No | No | 39 CFR 232.1(l) | This includes the parking lot and the facility |
| Any federal facility | No | No | 18 U.S.C. § 930 | This means a building or any part of one whether owned or leased by the federal government where federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties |
| IRS offices | No | No | 18 U.S.C. § 930 | See above |
| Federal courthouses | No | No | 18 U.S.C. § 930 | See above |
| Ranger stations | No | No | 18 U.S.C. § 930 | See above |
| Federal buildings in federal parks | No | No | 18 U.S.C. § 930 | See above |
| Airports behind the secure area | No | No | 18 U.S.C. § 930 724.28 AG Opinion 03-4-1 |
Iowa Attorney General Opinion and letter to Des Moines County Attorney, December 29, 2010 both opine that Iowa home rule rights allow local governments to place restrictions on the use of firearms on city/county property, including airports. Local ordinances ban firearms at airports. |
References[]
- ^ Governor Culver Signs Bill Standardizing Weapon Permit Process, April 29, 2010
- ^ "Licensing of Gun Owners & Purchasers in Iowa". Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. October 17, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
- ^ "Legal Community Against Violence – Iowa State Law Summary". Lcav.org. November 2, 2011. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
- ^ NRA-ILA. "NRA-ILA Iowa: Governor Branstad Signs the Hearing Protection Act". NRA-ILA. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
- ^ NRA-ILA. "NRA-ILA | Iowa: Governor Branstad Expands the Second Amendment Rights of Gun Owners Across Iowa". NRA-ILA. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
External links[]
- Weapon Permits at Iowa.gov
- Chapter 724 Weapons at Legis.Iowa.gov
- Iowa House HF756 at Legis.Iowa.gov
- Iowa law
- United States gun laws by state