Open Carry in Iowa

Iowa permits the open carry of a handgun by any qualifying adult, under the same statutory authority that governs concealed carry. Iowa Code Chapter 724 does not distinguish between open and concealed carry: if a person is lawfully entitled to carry a handgun under Iowa Code Section 724.4C (permitless carry) or under an Iowa Permit to Carry Weapons (Iowa Code Section 724.6 or Section 724.7), they may carry openly or concealed at their option.

Statutory Authority

• Iowa Code Section 724.4 - The general weapons-carrying offense and its exceptions
• Iowa Code Section 724.4C - Permitless carry by qualifying persons
• Iowa Code Section 724.6 - Professional Permit to Carry Weapons
• Iowa Code Section 724.7 - Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons

Who May Open Carry

Open carry of a handgun is lawful for:

• Any person at least 18 years of age (effective July 1, 2025 under HF 924; previously 21) who is not prohibited from possessing firearms under federal or Iowa law and who is not intoxicated under Iowa Code Section 724.4D
• Any holder of a valid Iowa Nonprofessional or Professional Permit to Carry Weapons
• Any holder of a valid out-of-state permit recognized under Iowa Code Section 724.11A

Open Carry of Long Guns

Iowa Code Section 724.4 historically focused on handguns; long guns (rifles and shotguns) carried openly in non-prohibited public places generally do not implicate the carrying-weapons offense. SF 106 (2025) repealed Iowa Code Section 483A.36, which had previously required long guns transported in or on a vehicle on a public highway to be cased or unloaded. Open carry of a long gun in a public place may still result in police inquiry and is restricted in the same prohibited places that apply to handguns (schools, courthouses, federal buildings, etc.).

Prohibited Places Apply Equally

Open carry, like concealed carry, is forbidden in:

• School grounds and buildings (Iowa Code Section 724.4B)
• Courthouses and posted state and local government buildings
• Federal buildings (18 U.S.C. Section 930)
• Secure (post-screening) areas of airports (49 U.S.C. Section 46505)
• Other locations addressed in PROHIBITED_PLACES

A private property owner may also prohibit open carry on their premises.

Open Carry on School Grounds Carve-Out

Iowa Code Section 724.4B(2) makes unauthorized possession of a firearm on school grounds a serious offense regardless of whether the firearm is openly or concealed. Limited exceptions exist for law enforcement, school resource officers, and supervised, school-authorized programs (such as collegiate or club shooting sports operating under school authorization).

Use While Intoxicated

Open carry of a loaded firearm while intoxicated or under the influence is prohibited by Iowa Code Section 724.4D. The intoxication standard mirrors the operating-while-intoxicated (OWI) thresholds: a person with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher, who is under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or another drug, or who has a controlled-substance metabolite in their system, may not carry. See UNDER_INFLUENCE.

Practical Considerations

Although open carry is lawful, Iowans who choose to open carry should:

• Carry the PCW card on their person and produce it if asked
• Be aware that some private businesses will refuse service or ask the carrier to leave
• Avoid open carry in places where the practice is uncommon to reduce the likelihood of unnecessary law-enforcement encounters
• Use a retention holster

Local Restrictions

Iowa's preemption statute, Iowa Code Section 724.28, prohibits Iowa political subdivisions from enacting any ordinance, rule, or regulation more restrictive than state law regarding the lawful ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms. Local open-carry bans in public areas are preempted. See PREEMPTION.