Gun Laws in Iowa
Gun Friendliness Score
How We Calculate Gun Friendliness Scores
The Gun Friendliness Score ranges from 0 to 100 and represents how favorable a state's laws are toward gun ownership and use. We evaluate each state across 50 key gun policies, assigning points based on how these policies affect gun owners:
- Policies that support gun rights, reduce restrictions, or expand legal protections for gun owners receive positive points
- Policies that restrict firearm ownership, limit purchase options, or add regulatory burdens receive negative points
Iowa's solid score of 74 reflects the state's shall-issue concealed carry system, constitutional carry provisions, strong state preemption laws, and reasonable self-defense protections.
Iowa Gun Laws Summary
Iowa has steadily improved its gun laws in recent years, making it increasingly favorable for gun owners. The state maintains a balance between respecting Second Amendment rights while still implementing some regulations that are stricter than the most gun-friendly states.
Iowa is a shall-issue state for concealed weapons permits, and as of July 1, 2021, became a constitutional carry state when Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF 756 into law. This means that law-abiding adults aged 21 and older may carry concealed firearms without a permit, although permits are still available and offer benefits such as reciprocity with other states.
While Iowa has embraced constitutional carry, the state still maintains a permit system administered by county sheriffs. The Permit to Carry Weapons (PCW) is available to residents who meet the legal requirements. Iowa also issues non-resident permits to qualified applicants.
Permitting, Sales and Transfers
Iowa does not require permits to purchase firearms, though it does require background checks for all handgun sales, including private transfers. No permit is required to purchase long guns, and background checks are only required when purchasing from federally licensed dealers (FFLs).
Iowa maintains a "shall-issue" policy for both the Permit to Acquire Handguns and the Permit to Carry Weapons. The state does not maintain a registry of firearms. While Iowa has some additional requirements for handgun transfers, it generally avoids imposing restrictions beyond what federal law requires for long guns.
Firearms in Public and in the Home
As a constitutional carry state, Iowa allows adults 21 and older to carry concealed firearms without a permit if they are legally allowed to possess firearms. However, obtaining a Permit to Carry Weapons provides benefits including reciprocity with other states.
Open carry is legal with a Permit to Carry Weapons, but constitutional carry provisions also apply to open carry. Certain locations are off-limits, including schools, courthouses, the state capitol complex, and businesses that post signs prohibiting firearms. Iowa has strong self-defense laws, including a Stand Your Ground provision that removes the duty to retreat before using deadly force when faced with an imminent threat in any place a person is legally allowed to be.
Firearm, Feature and Accessory Bans
Iowa has no statewide bans on semi-automatic firearms, magazine capacity, or specific firearm features. All NFA items (suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, etc.) are legal to own provided federal requirements are met, though machine guns are heavily restricted. Iowa law specifically permits the ownership of suppressors, which were legalized in the state in 2016. There are no restrictions on ammunition types beyond federal regulations.
Local Laws
Iowa has strong state preemption of firearms laws. Local governments are prohibited from enacting regulations on firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories that are more restrictive than state law. This ensures consistency in gun laws throughout the state and prevents the creation of a confusing patchwork of local regulations. However, local governments retain the right to regulate the discharge of firearms within their jurisdictions and may restrict firearms in buildings under their control.
2025 Gun Law Checklist
Iowa Gun Policy Profile: 50 Key Legislative Points
Purchasing and Sales Regulations
Background Check for Any Firearm Sale
State requires any firearm sale to go through a licensed dealer (FFL) and be subject to a background check. (Federal law requires those "engaged in the business" of buying/selling firearms to perform a background check during a sale). A private sale or transfer of any firearm between individuals (non-family members) must be also conducted through an FFL.
Background Check for Any Handgun Sale (Including Private Sales)
All handgun sales and most transfers are subject to a background check. Private sales of handguns between individuals (non-family members) must be conducted through an FFL.
Background Check Extensions
State will halt the transfer of a firearm if a background check is delayed. Some states will halt the process indefinitely, some for a set amount of time.
Failed Background Check Reported to Law Enforcement
The firearm dealer (or state agency conducting the background check) has a responsibility to notify local law enforcement of a failed background check.
Must be 21 or Older to Purchase
Most firearms–including rifles, shotguns, and handguns–cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 21. (Federal laws permit long guns to be sold to those over the age of 18.)
Permit to Purchase
State requires a permit (single-use or renewable) for all firearms or specifically for handguns. States typically charge a fee for the permit and a background check is performed during the application.
Mandatory Waiting Periods
Prior to purchasing a firearm, an individual must wait a specified period (typically between 3-14 days) between initiating the purchase and taking possession of the firearm.
State Licenses All Gun Dealers
State has a licensing system for firearms merchants above and beyond the federal (FFL) system.
Purchase Rejected for Public Safety Reasons
State officials able to block sales of firearms if the purchaser is deemed to be a threat to themselves or to public safety (according to the judgment of the official)
Approved Handgun Roster
State controls what make and model handguns are sold; according to their own criteria. Often, this involves a "roster" of approved handguns with the right "safety" features, such as a loaded chamber indicator, or even the amount of metal in the firearm (Maryland). Often, LE are exempt from these requirements.
Strict Unfinished Frames and Receivers Laws
State sets a lower threshold for unfinished frames and receivers (beyond ATF rule 2021R-05F). Includes ban on 3D-printing of these parts in some states.
Ownership and Registration Requirements
Permit to Possess
Several states require a permit just to possess: a handgun (New York); any firearms or ammunition (Illinois).
State Firearm or Handgun Registry
State keeps a record of every firearm or handgun sold. Includes states with a permit to purchase and states that keep records of purchases.
Mandatory Firearms Training
Prior to purchasing a firearm, an individual must prove they completed the state ordered training. Often, this is part of the application process for a Permit to Purchase.
Secure Storage Requirement
Gun owners must lock up firearms in the home (or anywhere else a minor or prohibited person may have access).
Magazine Capacity Limits
State limits magazine capacity for some or all firearms.
"Assault Weapons" Ban
Magazine fed, semi-automatic, centerfire rifles cannot have other "features" (pistol grip, flash hider, etc.) or they are considered "assault weapons." New guns cannot be registered as "assault weapons." Possession is prohibited with limited exceptions.
Microstamping Law
State has a law banning the sale of a new pistol unless its firing can imprint its serial number somewhere on the cartridge case during firing. This technology is make-believe at present, but these laws will effectively ban the sale of new handguns in the state if/when they become effective
Penalties for Not Reporting a Lost or Stolen Firearm
Gun owners must report the loss or theft of firearms–usually within several days of the incident or first discovering the loss–or potentially face a criminal penalty.
Carry and Location Restrictions
Mandatory Permit for Concealed Carry
State requires a permit to carry a concealed pistol. This includes all states that "may issue" a permit (where officials may deny a permit for subjective reasons).
Officials Can Deny Carry Permit
State allows the carry permit officials to deny an application based on the state's own criteria.
Open Carry Limited or Banned
State restricts open carry to rifles and shotguns or bans open carry completely unless you are LE or special permit holder.
No Carry Mandate for College Campuses
State has not passed a blanket law permitting concealed carry on college campuses.
Gun Ban on Most Public Property
State limits or bans any type of carry in and around government facilities (state, county, municipal) and/or limits carry of firearms in parades and demonstrations
Guns Banned in Bars
State prohibits carry inside bars or consumption of alcohol while carrying.
No Guns in K-12 Schools
Only LE (and in some states, specially licensed school officials) may carry on school property.
Does Not Recognize Other States' Carry Permits
State doesn't consider concealed carry permits from other states valid
Prohibited Persons and Possession Restrictions
Felons are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting felons from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this.
Fugitives are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting fugitives from justice from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this.
Involuntarily Committed are Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting those who have been involuntarily committed (to a psychiatric hospital or mental institution), or those found to be a danger to themselves or others from owning guns and ammo. Federal law already prohibits anyone found to be mentally defective or committed to a mental institution at 16 years or older.
Violent Offenders Cannot Possess
State will take away firearms, deny future possession, or at minimum deny future purchase of firearms for certain misdemeanor crimes of violence (besides domestic violence violence).
Domestic Violence Offenders Also Prohibited Persons at State Level
State has a law prohibiting those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from owning guns and ammo, even though federal law already does this
Stalkers are Prohibited Persons at the State Level
State has either made stalking a felony (instant prohibitor) or makes an individual convicted of misdemeanor stalking a prohibited person.
Intervention and Seizure Provisions
Red Flag Law
Law enforcement (and others, depending on the state) is allowed to request that firearms be taken away from others with limited due process.
Emergency Gun Seizure Before Restraining Orders
Similar to a red flag law, state will take away guns before an actual conviction. This is often during domestic disputes, before a restraining order takes effect, and in similar situations.
Guns Seized for Hate Crimes
State will take away all firearms from an individual in response to a misdemeanor hate crime conviction.
Guns Seized After Becoming Prohibited
State will quickly respond when an individual's status changes to prohibited and take away all firearms belonging to that person.
Guns Seized After Domestic Violence Conviction
State will quickly respond to take away firearms from an individual if they are convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence.
Guns Seized Amid Restraining Orders
State will take away all firearms from anyone who is subject to a restraining order, even though federal law already does this.
No Stand Your Ground Law
State imposes a "duty to retreat" before using force or requires "proportional force" when responding to an attack or dangerous situation with force.
Monitoring and Threat Assessment
Mental Health Database
State maintains records of anyone that has been committed or involuntarily committed to psychiatric hospitals. They send this information to the FBI for use by the NICS (or when conducting a state background check, if applicable).
School Officials Conduct Threat Assessments
Teams of mostly school officials are empowered by law to refer children for mental health assessments or take more drastic action if they believe the child poses a threat to themselves or others.
Mandatory Tracing of "Crime Guns"
Law enforcement must use either a state system or the federal firearm tracing system to research any firearm recovered from a crime scene or used in a crime.
Law Enforcement Oversight and Accountability
No LE Officers Bill of Rights
Some states never passed (or passed and later repealed) a set of basic protections for public safety officers. These protections vary by state. They often include the right to engage in political activity and run for public office, and the right to refuse a lie detector test, among other things.
Heavy Restrictions on LE Use of Deadly Force
State laws severely limit the discharge of firearms to apprehend criminals, including against individuals suspected of murder or fleeing a felony in many cases.
Reports for LE Deadly Force Incidents
Law enforcement agencies are required to report any officer-involved shootings that result in serious injury or death. Monthly or annual reports are compiled using this data and made available to the public.
No Qualified Immunity Defense Laws
In civil court, LE officials may not use a defense of qualified immunity if they are accused of certain civil rights violations. This includes situations in which a firearm was used.
Prevention and Support Programs
Dedicated Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Some states have passed legislation creating gun violence prevention offices that target "community gun violence." Taxpayer funds are used to support these programs, which may have little to no effect on violent crime.
Funding for Services of Victims of Gun Violence
Some states maximize the use of federal money intended for victims of violent crime by increasing pool of eligible claimants. Money is paid out to families of convicted felons in many cases.
Local Control
Counties / Cities / Towns Can Pass Stricter Gun Laws
Local governments are free to pass their own gun control laws in addition to any existing laws at the federal and state levels. Some states prohibit local governments from passing laws about specific things-including guns. This is known as preemption.
Conclusion
In this piece, we cover the basics of the firearms and ammunition laws in Iowa. We start with the ammo laws, going through the process of buying ammunition in IA and having it shipped to a residential address. From there, the piece goes through the firearms laws, detailing both the buying process and the information for carrying a firearm both openly and concealed within Iowa. Having done both of those, the piece wraps up with some resources we think will be useful for folks who want to buy, own, and carry firearms in the state.
Iowa has some of the most permissive firearms laws in the country, but that was not always the case. And even in this relatively permissive state, there is a machine gun ban in addition to the federal-level restrictions on the ownership and manufacture of such guns. This piece details the current state of Iowa’s relevant laws. Like many states, Iowa has what is called preemption: this means that the state government prevents localities such as counties or cities from making firearms and ammo laws that are more restrictive than those at the state level.
This is handy for firearms owners in the state because it means that once you have a working knowledge of one set of laws, that understanding applies to the state of Iowa as a whole.
This piece is not intended as legal advice. Instead, we hope that it serves as a base of knowledge for those interested in purchasing, owning, and carrying firearms responsibly in Iowa.
Ammo Laws/Buying Ammo in Iowa
First, we will cover the ammo laws of the state.
Iowa follows the federal guidelines for purchasing and possessing ammunition, with one exception: state law prevents giving ammunition to anyone under 18 without the permission or consent of the child’s parent or guardian.
With that exception aside, the ATF has two sets of requirements for the purchasing of ammunition. The first is an age requirement: buyers have to be eighteen years old to purchase rifle or shotgun ammunition, and twenty-one to purchase handgun ammunition. Second, buyers of ammo cannot be prohibited persons, which the ATF generally defines as felons, people who have been convicted of domestic violence, those who have been found mentally unfit in court, and people who have been involuntarily committed into a mental health facility.
So long as those requirements are met, it is legal to have ammunition shipped to a residential address in Iowa. Keep in mind, though, that parcel carriers may institute their own requirements, such as asking for an adult with a valid form of identification to be present to sign for a package containing ammunition.
Iowa does not have a magazine ban, so buyers can place the ammunition into whatever magazines they deem best once the ammo arrives on their doorstep.
Overall, the ammunition laws in Iowa are among the most permissive in the nation. The prohibition on giving ammunition to unsupervised children is a niche prohibition and does not make it harder for adults to legally purchase ammunition and have it shipped to their homes in the state.
Gun Laws/Buying Guns in Iowa
Next, we will do the same analysis for Iowa’s gun laws.
Historically, Iowa had something of a mixed record when it came to the permissiveness of its gun laws. In some regards, the state was quite permissive; for example, Iowa prohibited the government by law from creating a firearms registry within the state.
On the other hand, the state used to require a permit to purchase handguns, let alone carry them. Both of these rules have been recently changed, however, and Ioawns can now purchase and carry handguns without a permit from the state.
With the pistol permitting requirement now a thing of the past, buying a firearm in Iowa follows the federal guidelines enforced by the ATF. Assuming the buyer meets the age requirements and is not a prohibited person, they should bring a form of payment and a valid ID to the gun store. Once there, the FFL will require the buyer to fill out ATF’s Form 4473 for a background check. After both the background check and payment are cleared, the buyer is welcome to leave with their firearm on the same day of purchase.
Iowa does not, at this time, have bans on assault weapons as usually defined. Private parties are not required to do a background check if they are selling a firearm to another private party, but the seller should be reasonably sure that the buyer is not a prohibited person.
Iowa allows for both open and concealed carry of firearms without a permit. With that said, Iowa follows the lead of many other states with permitless carry and continues to offer its concealed carry permits. The permitting process is handled at the county level and is a fairly straightforward form that begins a background check. Once completed and approved, this permit allows carriers not only to carry in Iowa but also in the states that accept Iowa’s permit. Being able to carry legally in other states is the primary reason that Iowans might still apply for a concealed carry permit even though the state does not require a permit for concealed carry.
As is common among even the most permissive states, Iowa has a list of places where it is generally prohibited to carry a firearm. In Iowa, those locations include:
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K-12 Schools
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University Campuses
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Casinos
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State Fairgrounds
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While Bowhunting
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While Drinking, over the Legal Limit to Drive
Iowa is not especially restrictive in this regard: every state has limits on where people can carry a firearm legally. One thing to note for all states is that it is generally forbidden to carry a firearm on Federal property, which includes the local Post Office.
All things considered, Iowa has permissive firearms and ammo laws. There is, however, one exception to this: the state generally bans machine guns for civilian ownership. Ammunition sales are not restricted at the state level, and neither are firearms purchases. The recent addition of permitless carry makes the state even more permissive, especially considering that this also did away with a previously necessary license to purchase a handgun.
Since Iowa is gun-friendly, it is home to one of the largest companies in the industry: Brownells, which is both a retailer and occasional manufacturer (for example, they offered a line of retro-inspired AR-15s a few years ago) and has their headquarters in the state. The current machine gun ban and recent history of handgun permits give Iowa a bit of a mixed record on gun rights, but it appears as though the state is trending towards being more permissive over time. Overall, it is not difficult for the average person to legally purchase and carry a firearm in Iowa.
Sales Tax on Guns/Ammo in Iowa
The general sales tax rate in Iowa is 6%. With that said, localities can and do impose their own takes, sometimes up to a total of 7%.
The state of Iowa does not impose any further, additional taxes on firearms and ammunition.
More Resources:
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The ATF maintains and publishes a list of all of the FFLs in the country, including those located in Iowa. The list is kept up to date: generally, gun stores are Type One or Type Two FFLs.
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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources maintains a number of ranges that are open to the public.
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There are a number of well-rated gun stores in the larger cities in Iowa.
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AR-15.com has an active Iowa section where people discuss local events, share knowledge, and keep each other up to date on the gun laws in the state.