Governor Reynolds signed HF756 into law on April 2, 2021. The law removes the requirement for a permit to acquire or a permit to carry in order to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public places subject to certain limitations. Iowans may still obtain a Permit to Acquire Pistols and Revolvers or a Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons by applying through the sheriff’s office in their county of residence.
Beginning July 1, 2021, a person in Iowa attempting to purchase a handgun through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) without presenting a permit to acquire or a permit to carry will be required to undergo a check through the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for each purchase.
Weapon permit law changes that took effect July 1, 2021 remove the requirement for a permit to acquire or a permit to carry in order to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public places subject to certain limitations. Iowans may still obtain a Permit to Acquire Pistols and Revolvers or a Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons by applying through the sheriff’s office in their county of residence.
Reasons why Iowans should still consider obtaining an Iowa permit to carry:
No. Effective July 1, 2021, a permit will no longer be required to purchase handguns in the State of Iowa. It is possible that a FFL may choose to require a permit in order to complete the sale, but it will not be a state requirement.
No. Effective July 1, 2021, a permit to carry will not be required in order to carry handguns in the State of Iowa as long as the individual is not otherwise prohibited by state or federal law from carrying or possessing a firearm and abides by all other provisions in the new law. You may still consider a carry permit in order to prevent legal issues associated with a person coming within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a public, parochial, or private school without a state issued permit in violation of the Gun Free School Zones Act, 18 USC § 921(a)(25), and 18 USC § 922(q)(2).
A person who is unsure if they are eligible to possess a firearm should seek legal advice from an attorney. They may also choose to complete the application process for a permit to acquire or a permit to carry through their local sheriff’s office. The issuance of either one of these permits would indicate a person can lawfully possess or carry a firearm in the State of Iowa.
No. After July 1, 2021, a person will not be required to see a permit when selling a firearm to another private person. However, a person commits a Class D Felony if they transfer a firearm to someone they know or reasonably should know is prohibited from possessing a firearm. If you are unsure of a person’s eligibility to possess a firearm, you may choose to require the recipient to produce a state-issued permit prior to any transfer.
Each state has its own laws regarding the ability to carry weapons in their state. We encourage people to contact the state(s) where they will be traveling and become familiar with that state’s respective weapon laws. An Iowa permit to carry may suffice in states that currently allow permit reciprocity.
A person needs to be at least 21 years old in order to acquire a handgun or obtain a Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons in Iowa. There are certain exemptions for a person who is 18, 19, or 20 years old and in possession of a Professional Permit to Carry Weapons while working in an occupation that requires the carrying of a firearm.
Under Iowa law, the Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons is issued to residents of Iowa by the Sheriff of the applicant’s county of residence. Several Iowa Sheriff’s Office are using an online version of the application form. An applicant should check with the Sheriff’s Office of the applicant’s county of residence to obtain details about the application procedure, including hours of operation, office location, and forms of payment accepted.
For many years, the minimum age for supervised possession of a handgun by a minor had been 14. More recent law eliminates the minimum age provision, and explicitly states that the required supervision must be direct supervision, and the person who is supervising possession of a handgun by a minor must not be intoxicated or impaired by alcohol or drugs. Please note that ranges may have age requirements for use of their respective facilities.
Iowa code does not place any type of clothing restrictions on a permit holder in a public place. Please keep in mind that Iowa cannot speak for surrounding states, nor do we retain data associated with this.
Yes. A person who wishes to obtain a duplicate permit can do so by contacting the Sheriff’s Office in their county of residence and paying a fee set by law at $25.
Iowa DPS recommends that a permit holder notify the Sheriff’s Office in their new county of residence by applying for a duplicate permit when moving between counties. While there is no statutory requirement to obtain a “duplicate” permit when you change counties, you may want to note that when attempting to purchase a firearm, there are federal firearms licensed dealers that may not accept the permit unless it matches the county listed on your Driver’s License or State I.D.
No. Iowa nonprofessional permits to carry weapons will only be issued to qualified Iowa residents. Nonresidents will still be able to apply for professional permits to carry weapons if needed for employment related reasons.
In the State of Iowa, a valid permit to carry weapons may be used to acquire a pistol or revolver without the need to also obtain a Permit to Acquire Pistols and Revolvers.
Effective July 1, 2017, there is a 60 day renewal window. A person wishing to renew a Permit to Carry Weapons must apply within 30 days before the permit expires, or within 30 days after the permit expires. Any permits falling outside of the previously mentioned window must be charged the higher “new” permit fee. Please note that while a permit can be renewed within 30 days after it expires, a person whose permit has expired should not go armed in a fashion that requires a permit until a person has renewed their permit.
Iowa allows for training courses to be taken online. Iowa Code 724.9 regulates the requirements for “training.” Prior to paying and taking the course, the Iowa DPS would suggest ensuring that the course you are taking, provides you with a certificate that fits the requirements under the 724.9. The Iowa Department of Public Safety does not have the ability to suggest one course over another, nor do we have the authority to maintain a list of qualified instructors.
No. A person who holds (or held) a permit issued on or after January 1, 2011, is not required to complete another training course to renew or obtain a new permit to carry weapons. Please note that even though re‐training is not required, completing another training course or taking other steps to learn about law changes could be highly beneficial to a person who intends to go armed.
A permit to acquire is not required IF, the person transferring the pistol or revolver and the person acquiring the pistol or revolver are related to one another within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, UNLESS the person transferring the pistol or revolver knows that the person acquiring the pistol or revolver would be disqualified from obtaining a permit.
Iowa has by statute (724.11A), “Universal Recognition” for people who are not residents of the State of Iowa, but have a valid permit issued to them through a different state. A person that benefits from this code section would be treated as though they have a valid permit issued by the State of Iowa (For carry purposes)
Iowa does not maintain a list of states that honor Iowa’s permit. A permit holder would have to reach out directly to the State that they are traveling through to establish whether or not the said state would honor a valid permit issued by the State of Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety acts a secure gateway for the printing of uniform weapons permits for the 99 Sheriff’s Office in the State of Iowa. At present, once the permit is uploaded securely to the print contractor, the permit is printed and mailed that day, or the following business day. If you have further questions associated to the status of your weapons permit application you will need to direct your inquiry to the agency where you applied.
Application for Annual Permit to Acquire Pistol/Revolvers - Form WP3 (Iowa Residents Only) - For use on or after September 1, 2017. Applications must be filed with the sheriff of the county of residence.
Application for Permit to Carry Weapons - Form WP5 - For use on or after June 1, 2024. Applications must be filed with the sheriff of the county of residence (except applications for a Nonresident Professional Permit and applications for a Professional Permit for a state employee whose need to go armed is employment based, which are filed with the Iowa Department of Public Safety).
**Permit to Acquire Pistols and Revolvers or Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons applications must be filed with the sheriff of the county of residence.**
Only Nonresident Professional Permit applications and Professional Permit applications for a state employee whose need to be armed is employment based, should be filed with the Iowa Department of Public Safety. All other permit applications should be filed with the sheriff’s office in the applicant's county of residence.
Chapter 724 of the Iowa Code and Administrative Rules, 661, Chapter 91 define Iowa’s weapon laws and the issuance of weapon permits in Iowa.
Iowa Code - Chapter 724 of the Iowa Code contains information on Iowa’s weapon laws and the issuance of weapon permits in Iowa.
Administrative Rules - Administrative Rules, 661, Chapter 91 contains information on Iowa’s weapon laws and the issuance of weapon permits in Iowa.
An applicant for an initial permit to carry weapons shall demonstrate knowledge of firearm safety by any of the following means:
The Iowa Department of Public Safety has approved has approved the organizations listed below under section 724.9A.
*Approval to certify instructors provided pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 724.9 and exempt from the Iowa Department of Public Safety training organization approval process.
Certified Handgun Safety Training Application
Firearm training organizations seeking approval by the Iowa Department of Public Safety to certify individuals as handgun safety training instructors eligible to offer handgun safety training must meet the criteria outlined in Administrative Rule 661-91.
Firearms training organizations seeking more information should contact wpinfo@dps.state.ia.us or call 515.725.6230.
Apply for approval to certify handgun safety training instructors below.
