Iowa Concealed Carry Reciprocity Overview

3.18M

STATE

POPULATION

YES

CONSTITUTIONAL

CARRY

400K

LICENSES

ISSUED

33

RECIPROCATING

STATES

50

STATES

HONORED

21

MINIMUM

AGE TO CC

5

YEARS LICENSE

VALID

YES

STAND YOUR
GROUND

12.58%

LICENSE

PERCENTAGE

3.18M

STATE POPULATION

YES

CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY

400K

LICENSES ISSUED

33

RECIPROCATING STATES

50

STATES HONORED

21

MINIMUM AGE TO CC

5

YEARS LICENSE VALID

YES

STAND YOUR GROUND

12.58%

LICENSE PERCENTAGE

3.18M

STATE POPULATION

33

RECIPROCATING STATES

5

YEARS LICENSE VALID

YES

CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY

50

STATES HONORED

YES

STAND YOUR GROUND

400K

LICENSES ISSUED

21

MINIMUM AGE TO CC

12.58%

LICENSE PERCENTAGE


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Concealed Carry Weapons Permit 
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Concealed Carry Weapons Permit 
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Overview of Iowa Gun Laws

Iowa operates as a “Shall Issue” state with 2 types of permits available. Residents can apply at the county level for a Non-Professional license. You must be 21 and must apply at the sheriff’s office in your county of residence. Non-residents must apply at the state level for a Professional permit. 

You must be 18 and apply at the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Non-residents must also demonstrate a need for a permit like frequent travel, owning a business, or having property in Iowa.

Iowa Gun Laws Quick Facts

Constitutional Carry?

✅ Yes - Iowa is a constitutional carry state, after passing the law HR 724.5.

Open Carry Permitted?

✅ Yes - Iowa permits open carry for individuals at least 21 years old who are legally allowed to own and posses handguns after the July 1st, 2021 change of law. However, you cannot go into state owned grounds like their capital building with a firearm.

Carry In Vehicle?

✅ Yes - Iowa allows for individuals to conceal and open carry a firearm in their vehicle so long as they're 21 years old and are legally allowed to own and possess a firearm.

Carry In State Park?

✅ Yes - Technically Iowa allows for individuals to carry firearms in state parks. However, there's specific language against using firearms. For example, you cannot brandish or fire your firearm within state park grounds.

Carry In Restaurants?

✅ Yes - We were not able to find any code making it explicitly illegal to conceal carry in a restaurant or establishment that sells alcohol within Iowa.

No Weapon Sign Enforced?

❌ No - We were not able to find language which states that no weapons signs are enforced.

Must Notify Officer?

❌ No - We were not able to find language requiring residents to inform officers upon initial content (also known as duty to inform) however, as a CCW permit holder you must always carry your permit along with your valid ID.

Iowa CCW Reciprocity List

States Honoring CCW

* Restricted reciprocity with Iowa

States NOT Honoring CCW

Honors These States CCW Permits

How Reciprocity Works In Iowa

Reciprocity Agreements In Iowa

Iowa: Where Is CCW Allowed?

Places Allowed

  • State parks
  • State and national forests
  • Road side rest areas
  • Vehicle
  • All areas of the state – except those listed below

Places Not Allowed

  • Weapons Free Zones
  • Public or private schools, colleges
  • School bus
  • Public parks
  • Casino
  • Iowa state fairgrounds
  • Campus of the three state universities
  • State buildings on the capitol complex
  • Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by Federal Law.

Iowa: Conceal Carry Laws

Open Carry

Yes, on July 1st, 2021, Iowa passed the code HR 724.5 which allows for permit-less open carry for individuals 21 years and older who are legally allowed to own and posses a firearm.

Carry In Vehicle

Yes, with the passing of HR 724.5, concealed or openly carrying a handgun in your vehicle is legal in Iowa.

Carry In State Parks

Yes, concealed carry of firearms is permitted in state parks. However, the use of your firearms is not prohibited. For example, you cannot brandish, display, or fire your firearm within state park grounds.

Carry In Restaurants

Yes, after researching through the code, we could not find specific language preventing the carrying of firearms in a restaurant, including establishments that sell alcohol.

Constitutional Carry

Yes, July 1st, 2021 marked the date when Iowa's passing of HR 724.5 was fully enacted into law. This allows for the state to recognize permits from any other state, even if they're not residents.

No Weapon Signs Enforced

No, “No Weapons” signs are not mentioned in Iowa gun laws. We could not find any specific legal penalties for entering a private property or business (with consent of the owner) and carrying a firearm that has posted these signs.

Must Notify Officer

No, we could not find any mention of "duty to inform" that states you must inform a law enforcement officer you have a firearm when approached on official business. You are legally required to carry the permit at all times during which the permittee is in actual possession of a concealed handgun.

Additional Resources

Iowa Concealed Carry Laws
Iowa Open Carry Laws
Iowa Gun Permit Laws


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