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Concealed Carry Map

State profile · IA

Iowa Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity

An Iowa resident permit (Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons) is honored in 33 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 1 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, Iowa recognizes valid carry permits from every US state. Iowa allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Open the interactive map for an Iowa permit →

Iowa concealed carry reciprocity map

Where an Iowa resident permit is valid. Each state links to the rules for that trip.

Alabama: recognized — and permitless carry appliesALAlaska: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAKArizona: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAZArkansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesARCalifornia: not recognizedCAColorado: recognized — carry with your permitCOConnecticut: not recognizedCTDelaware: not recognizedDEDistrict of Columbia: not recognizedDCFlorida: recognized — and permitless carry appliesFLGeorgia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesGAHawaii: not recognizedHIIdaho: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIDIllinois: not recognizedILIndiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesINIowa (home state)IAKansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKSKentucky: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKYLouisiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesLAMaine: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMEMaryland: not recognizedMDMassachusetts: not recognizedMAMichigan: recognized — carry with your permitMIMinnesota: not recognizedMNMississippi: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMSMissouri: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMOMontana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMTNebraska: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNENevada: not recognizedNVNew Hampshire: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNHNew Jersey: not recognizedNJNew Mexico: not recognizedNMNew York: not recognizedNYNorth Carolina: recognized — carry with your permitNCNorth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNDOhio: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOHOklahoma: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOKOregon: not recognizedORPennsylvania: recognized — carry with your permitPARhode Island: not recognizedRISouth Carolina: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesSCSouth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesSDTennessee: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTNTexas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTXUtah: recognized — and permitless carry appliesUTVermont: recognized — and permitless carry appliesVTVirginia: recognized — carry with your permitVAWashington: not recognizedWAWest Virginia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWVWisconsin: recognized — carry with your permitWIWyoming: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWY
  • Permit honored
  • Honored + permitless carry
  • Permitless carry only
  • Not honored
  • Confirm case-by-case
  • Iowa

Which states honor an Iowa carry permit? (33)

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Where an Iowa permit is not honored (17)

Permitless carry still applies (1): South Carolina

No lawful carry on this permit (16): California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington

Where an Iowa permit is honored, state by state

Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.

DestinationResident permitNon-resident permit
AlabamaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
AlaskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArizonaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArkansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
CaliforniaNot recognizedNot recognized
ColoradoRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
ConnecticutNot recognizedNot recognized
DelawareNot recognizedNot recognized
District of ColumbiaNot recognizedNot recognized
FloridaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
GeorgiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
HawaiiNot recognizedNot recognized
IdahoRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IllinoisNot recognizedNot recognized
IndianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KentuckyRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
LouisianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MaineRecognized — and permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
MarylandNot recognizedNot recognized
MassachusettsNot recognizedNot recognized
MichiganRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
MinnesotaNot recognizedNot recognized
MississippiRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MissouriRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MontanaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
NebraskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
NevadaNot recognizedNot recognized
New HampshireRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
New JerseyNot recognizedNot recognized
New MexicoNot recognizedNot recognized
New YorkNot recognizedNot recognized
North CarolinaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
North DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OregonNot recognizedNot recognized
PennsylvaniaRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
Rhode IslandNot recognizedNot recognized
South CarolinaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
South DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TennesseeRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TexasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
UtahRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VermontRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VirginiaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WashingtonNot recognizedNot recognized
West VirginiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
WisconsinRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WyomingRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies

* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.

Whose permits Iowa honors

Iowa recognizes valid concealed-carry permits from every US state and DC.

Iowa Code 724.11A: a valid permit or license issued by another state to any nonresident of Iowa is treated as a valid Iowa permit to carry (it cannot be used by Iowa residents and does not satisfy the permit-to-acquire requirement of 724.15).

Iowa at a glance

Permit
Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons · Professional Permit to Carry Weapons
Issued by
County sheriff (residents); Iowa Department of Public Safety (professional permits for non-residents)
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
18
Non-resident permits
Issued
Permitless carry
Yes (18+)
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
None

Can you carry in Iowa without a permit?

Iowa allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Permitless carry since July 1, 2021 (2021 Acts ch. 35) for anyone not otherwise prohibited. Iowa's under-21 handgun possession ban (Iowa Code 724.22) was narrowed to under-18 by 2025 Acts ch. 27, so the effective permitless minimum age is now 18.

Is Iowa an open carry state?

Yes. Iowa allows open carry of a handgun without a permit from age 18 for people who may legally possess one.

Since July 1, 2021 no permit is needed to carry a handgun openly or concealed in Iowa if you are not otherwise barred from having one. Since 2025 the age floor for handguns is 18.

How to get an Iowa concealed carry permit

Apply to
Sheriff of your county of residence (Iowa residents only)
Minimum age
18
Fee
$50 (new) · $25 renewal
Training
A handgun safety course (NRA or other approved instructor, online allowed), military small-arms training, law enforcement training, or a hunter education course that includes handgun safety.
Valid for
5 years
Issue policy
Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)

The sheriff must approve or deny within 30 days, and no answer in that time counts as approval.

Does Iowa issue non-resident permits?

Yes. Iowa issues carry permits to non-residents, and an Iowa non-resident permit is honored in 28 other states. Only the employment-related Professional Permit is issued to non-residents ('needed for employment related reasons' - Iowa DPS FAQ); the standard Nonprofessional Permit is Iowa-resident-only.

Compare every state's non-resident permit →

Do you have to tell police you are carrying in Iowa?

No proactive duty-to-inform provision in Iowa Code ch. 724; the former duty to carry and show the permit on demand (724.5) was repealed by the 2021 permitless-carry law.

Carrying in a vehicle in Iowa

Since July 1, 2021 a non-prohibited adult may carry a loaded handgun, open or concealed, in a vehicle without any permit.

Where you can't carry in Iowa

Editor's verification notes

Surprise vs. pre-2025 law: 2025 Acts ch. 27 lowered both the permit age (724.8) and the handgun possession age (724.22) from 21 to 18. Iowa DPS FAQ confirms 18 for the Nonprofessional Permit.

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor an Iowa carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does Iowa recognize out-of-state carry permits?
Iowa Code 724.11A: a valid permit or license issued by another state to any nonresident of Iowa is treated as a valid Iowa permit to carry (it cannot be used by Iowa residents and does not satisfy the permit-to-acquire requirement of 724.15).

Official sources