Brief Overview Of Iowa State Laws Concerning Air Guns
Iowa does not have any state laws regulating air guns.
How old do you need to be to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun in Iowa?
In Iowa you must be 18 Years Old to purchase a BB gun, airgun, air rifle or pellet gun.
Iowa Air Gun Hunting Regulations
Iowa allows air gun hunting for certain species. These species include:
• Coyote
• Fox
• Rabbit
• Squirrel
Local Jurisdictions
Below are a the laws and ordinances for local jurisdictions in the state of Iowa concerning airguns, BB guns, pellet guns and airsoft guns:
CEDAR FALLS, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL – Cedar Falls, Iowa – Code of Ordinances
Sec. 19-15. – Discharge of firearms.
(d) No person shall discharge or carry on or about his/her person or in a vehicle any air rifles, pellet guns or similar devices capable of discharging any leaden or other dangerous missile or substance within the city, except peace officers in the line of duty. However, it shall be lawful to carry one or more unloaded air rifles, pellet guns or similar devices if the unloaded weapon is carried in a gun case or closed container which is too large to be effectively concealed on the person or within the clothing of an individual.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 63 OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY Cedar Rapids, Iowa Code of Ordinances
63.10A FIREARMS.
(a) No person shall carry upon his person or have in his possession any loaded or uncased cannon, gun, fowling piece, air gun, gas or air operated pellet gun, other firearm or gun of any nature or type, except with the written permission of the Chief of Police or his/her designee and upon the filing of a certificate of liability insurance satisfactory to the City.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person under eighteen years of age to carry or have in his possession an air gun, gas or air operated pellet gun, or firearm or gun of any nature or type when not under the supervision of a parent, guardian or other person over the age of eighteen having the care and custody of said under aged person.
(c) No person, except a duly authorized peace officer, shall discharge any cannon, gun, fowling piece, air gun, gas or air operated pellet gun, other firearm or gun of any nature or type, except with the written permission of the City Council and upon the filing of a certificate of liability insurance satisfactory to the City Council.
CENTERVILLE, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 8.04 Minor Offenses – Centerville, Iowa – Code of Ordinances
8.04.110 – Discharging of weapons.
(a) No person shall discharge any cannon, shotgun, rifle, pistol, air gun, or shoot a bow (cross bow) or any other firearm or dangerous instrument within the city. However, this prohibition shall not apply to law enforcement Officers using firearms, organized functions, e.g. Veterans Services, or bow hunters (cross bows) bow (cross bow) hunters must complete a bow hunter shooting proficiency test and comply with all Iowa DNR Rules covering Bow hunting of deer and possess a valid State of Iowa hunting license and a City of Centerville deer hunting permit issued by the city administrator or designee.
8.04.120 – Penalty for violation.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than three hundred dollars and court costs, or may be imprisoned in the city or county jail for a term not to exceed thirty days. Each day’s violation shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense.
(Ord. 929 § 1, 1970; 1942 Rev. Ords. § 842)
(Ord. No. 1298, § 2, 9-6-2011).
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 8.74 DISCHARGING FIREARMS IN CITY LIMITS – Council Bluffs, Iowa – Code of Ordinances
8.74.010 – Discharge of firearms in city limits.
No person or members of a corporation, firm or organization shall discharge any firearm or any apparatus capable of propelling a missile, including but not limited to any air rifle or gun, CO2 rifle or gun, slingshot or bow and arrow, within the corporate limits of the city, or on city-owned property outside the corporate limits of the city, except upon the following conditions:
(1) A firearm may be discharged in an enclosed structure upon a firing range approved as safe by the city, and then only after obtaining a permit from the city clerk;
(2) Apparatus capable of firing a missile, exclusive of firearms, may be operated on one’s own property and upon the property of another, with the consent of the owner; provided, that said apparatus is not being utilized for the purpose of hunting and that the projectile discharged at no time crosses the boundary of the property;
(3) Apparatus capable of firing a missile, exclusive of firearms, may be operated on one’s own property and upon the property of another, with the consent of the owner for the purpose of hunting; provided, that the property is zoned either A-1 or A-2, and the projectiles so discharged at no time cross the boundary of the property;
(4) Firearms may be discharged on outdoor ranges in A-1, A-2, and G-M zoning districts if the location and safety of the range has been approved by the city, and then only after obtaining a permit from the city clerk;
(5) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit any federal, state or city law enforcement officer from discharging a firearm while in the lawful performance of such officer’s duties.
(Ord. 5215 § 1, 1995).
8.74.020 – Penalty for violation.
Any person found guilty of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalty provisions of Section 8.02.020 of this code. Each day that a violation is allowed to continue shall constitute a separate and distinct violation. At the discretion of the city attorney, any violation of the provisions of this chapter may be pursued as a municipal infraction according to the terms of Chapter 1.95 in lieu of criminal prosecution.
(Ord. 5626 § 1, 2001).
DES MOINES, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
No person shall shoot, fire, or discharge any air gun or BB gun, except pursuant to sections 70-82 and 70-84 of this article and section 22-101 of this code, within the city or within a city-owned park without written permission of the chief of police. Such permission shall limit the time and place of shooting and may be revoked by the chief of police.
Sec. 70-82. Use of air guns and BB guns.
(b) No person shall shoot, fire or discharge any air gun or BB gun under authority of this section in such fashion that the discharged pellet, projectile or BB travels beyond the building in which such air gun or BB gun is fired or, for outdoor shooting, beyond the boundaries of the designated shooting area in which the person is shooting.
Sec. 70-84. Hunting.
(a) No person shall pursue, hunt, kill, snare, net, search for, shoot at, stalk, or lie in wait for any game, animal, or bird with an air gun, BB gun, firearm, bow and arrow, or any other thrown or propelled device within the city limits except as provided in subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this section, and sections 70-81(d) and 22-101 of this code.
(b) Licensed bow hunters meeting the requirements established by the state department of natural resources (DNR) may hunt antlerless deer within the areas designated as the “Des Moines Special Deer Management Zones” on public or private property, under all the following conditions:
(1) Hunting may occur only on dates designated by the DNR as bow hunting season in the Des Moines Special Deer Management Zone (zone) by persons who are at least 18 years of age and licensed for such hunting, and this license must be carried on his or her person;
(2) Hunters must have written permission from the property owner and must carry that written permission form on his or her person and the portion of the special deer management zone map which verifies that the property is within the zone;
(3) Hunters cannot carry an uncased bow within 100 feet of any residence or within 75 feet of any trail, road or building;
(4) Hunters must have a permit issued by the director of the park and recreation department and comply with the terms and conditions of such permit.
(5) Upon application of the property owner, the director of the park and recreation department may issue a permit which waives the 100 feet residency requirement as provided in subsection (b)(3) of this section and provide for a lesser distance. Such waiver permit may be issued only after an on-site inspection by the park and recreation department and a determination by the director that the hunt may be safely performed. Such waiver permit may include special hunt restrictions to ensure the safety of the hunt and must adhere to the distance requirements provided in subsection (b)(3) of this section from adjoining properties;
(6) Hunters must take all shots from an elevated stand and shoot no further than 25 yards;
(7) Hunters must comply with all rules of the state department of natural resources for hunting in such zone; and
(8) Hunters must take all deer meat to be processed or given to charity.
(c) Bow hunting for deer may occur in Des Moines Water Works Park according to the requirements of this Code if permitted by resolution of the city water works board of trustees, which resolution may impose greater restrictions than are provided in this Code. No hunting may occur in any other park owned by the city and operated by the park and recreation department except bow hunting for deer during the dates designated by the DNR as bow hunting season within the areas designated as the “Des Moines Special Deer Management Zones” with written permit issued by the park and recreation director, which permit may limit the dates, time of day and area that hunting is allowed. No hunting may occur within 75 feet of any city-owned recreational trail or on any other property owned or leased by the city, other than the water works park, except as provided in section 22-101 of this code.
(d) Licensed bow hunters meeting the requirements established by the state department of natural resources (DNR) may hunt antlered deer within the areas designated as the special deer management zones on public or private property, under all the following conditions:
(1) All conditions listed in subsection (b) above must be met.
(2) A limited number of antlered deer may be taken according to an incentive program that may be adopted by the county deer task force and approved by the state department of natural resources (DNR).
(e) Hunting, including but not limited to hunting for deer and waterfowl, may occur on private property subject to compliance with each of the following limitations:
1. All such hunting activities must be conducted in compliance with all rules and regulations imposed by the code of Iowa and the Iowa department of natural resources, including, but not limited to, all licensing provisions of the Iowa department of natural resources.
2. No firearm may be used for any such hunting activity except a shotgun, muzzle loading rifle, or BB gun rifle. Pistols shall not be used for hunting.
3. The property must be a minimum of twenty (20) contiguous acres or more in size, located within the A-1 agricultural district, and assessed as agricultural property for property tax purposes.
4. The hunters must either be under the direct supervision of a record titleholder of the property, or have in their possession written permission from a record titleholder of the property to hunt on such property.
5. No person shall hunt with a bow or BB gun rifle within 100 feet of a public park or public street, highway or recreational trail; and no person shall hunt with a firearm within 200 yards of a public park or public street, highway or recreational trail.
6. A person shall not hunt with a bow or BB gun rifle within 100 feet of a building inhabited by people or domestic livestock or within 100 feet of a feedlot as defined in I.C. §481A.123, and no person shall hunt with a firearm within 200 yards of a building inhabited by people or domestic livestock or within 200 yards of a feedlot, unless the owner or tenant of such building or feedlot has given consent.
7. A person shall not shoot any firearm, BB gun or arrow on or over any public waters, highways, streets, alleys or recreational trail, or any railroad right-of-way.
8. No person shall hunt with a shotgun using slugs or with a muzzle loading rifle except for deer hunting from an elevated stand or platform at least 10 feet above the ground, and without the aid of other persons used to drive or concentrate the deer in the vicinity of the hunter.
(f) Any violation of this section is punishable as provided in section 1-15 of this Code.
Sec. 70-86. Discharging firearms.
(a) No person shall fire or discharge any cannon, gun, pistol or other firearm within the city, except as provided in this section or for hunting as permitted by section 70-84.
Sec. 70-87. Use of bows and arrows generally.
Except as provided in section 70-84 of this article, no person shall shoot a bow and arrow within the city, except pursuant to sections 70-88, 70-89, and 70-90 of this article, without permission from the chief of police, which permission shall limit the time and place of shooting and may be revoked by the chief of police. In this section and in sections 70-88, 70-89 and 70-90 of this article, the term “shoot a bow and arrow” means to place the nock of the arrow in the string of a bow or of any other object and to release the arrow in such fashion that, when the string is pulled and released, the arrow thrusts forward.
Sec. 70-88. Restrictions on use of bows and arrows.
No person shall shoot a bow and arrow within the city limits except as follows:
(1) Any person may participate in a supervised program of physical education or competitive sports in a public or private school.
(2) Any person may shoot a bow and arrow at a public or private lane or range that has been certified by the Archery Range and Retailers Organization or the National Field Archery Association.
(3) Any participant may shoot a bow and arrow in a tournament which either has been approved by the city manager or his or her designee at least one week prior to the time of the tournament and for which tournament rules have been submitted to the city manager or his or her designee or which is conducted at a licensed lane or range.
(4) Any person may shoot a bow and arrow on private or school property, provided the requirements of section 70-89 of this article are met.
(5) A properly licensed qualified person may shoot a bow and arrow for hunting as provided in section 70-84 of this article.
Sec. 70-89. Use of bows and arrows on private or school property.
No person shall shoot a bow and arrow in such fashion that it travels beyond the boundaries of the private or school property on which the person is shooting. Except as provided in section 70-84 of this article, any person shooting a bow and arrow on private or school property shall direct the arrow toward a backdrop composed of a substance which will not allow the arrow to pass through, and such backdrop must extend at least five feet beyond the target on the top and both sides and must extend from the bottom of the target to the ground. The target shall be constructed and installed so that the target face cannot move more than two inches in any direction.
Sec. 70-90. Use of bows and arrows for hunts.
No person shall shoot a bow and arrow within the city limits at any living being such as an animal, bird, fish, or fowl, except as provided in section 70-84 of this article.
ARTICLE III. OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SAFETY Des Moines, Iowa Code of Ordinances
Sec. 70-81. Air-guns and BB guns.
(a) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Air gun means any gun, including handguns, capable of propelling a pellet or other projectile from the barrel of such gun by non-explosive means, such as compressed air, CO2 or other gas.
BB gun means any air gun capable of propelling a BB or other projectile from the barrel by means of a spring mechanism or air.
Shoot, fire, or discharge means the act of triggering the mechanism of an air gun or BB gun so that it propels a pellet, BB or other projectile from the barrel of such gun.
(b) No person shall shoot, fire, or discharge any air gun or BB gun, except pursuant to sections 70-82 and 70-84 of this article and section 22-59 of this Code, within the city or within a city-owned park without written permission of the chief of police. Such permission shall limit the time and place of shooting and may be revoked by the chief of police.
(c) No person under the age of 18 shall shoot, fire or discharge any air gun or BB gun unless under the direct supervision of an adult.
(d) No person shall shoot, fire or discharge any air gun or BB gun at any live animal or bird unless express written permission to do so has been granted by the chief of police, except as provided in section 22-59 of this Code.
(C75, § 17-35.02; O.9036; C79, C91, § 17-35.02; O.13,999, 14,903)
Sec. 70-82. Use of air guns and BB guns.
(a) Air-guns and BB guns may be fired or discharged within the city by persons for target shooting purposes without written permission of the chief of police in the following situations:
(1) In connection with educational programs of a public or private school under the supervision of school personnel.
(2) At enclosed shooting ranges or firing ranges, either in target competition or in practice, under the continuing supervision of the owner or his or her designee.
(3) In any park areas specifically designed for such and designated by the city park and recreation board, under such rules as that board may enact to ensure the safety of participants and others.
(4) In enclosed private buildings.
(b) No person shall shoot, fire or discharge any air gun or BB gun under authority of this section in such fashion that the discharged pellet, projectile or BB travels beyond the building in which such air gun or BB gun is fired or, for outdoor shooting, beyond the boundaries of the designated shooting area in which the person is shooting.
(C75, § 17-35.03; O.9036; C79, C91, § 17-35.03, 14,903)
KEOKUK, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 8.06 WEAPONS* – Keokuk, Iowa – Code of Ordinances
8.06.010 – Discharging firearms
(d) No person shall discharge or carry on or about his person, or in a vehicle, any air rifles, pellet guns, sling shots or similar devices capable of discharging any leaden or other dangerous missile or substance within the city, except peace officers in the line of duty. However, it is lawful to carry one or more unloaded air rifles, pellet guns or similar devices if the unloaded weapons are carried in gun cases or closing containers which are too large to be effectively concealed on the person or within the clothing of an individual.
(Ord. No. 1905, § 1, 5-19-11)
MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE V. OTHER OFFENSES Mount Pleasant, Iowa Code of Ordinances
Sec. 14-66. Air guns, bows, sticks and similar projectiles.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge any bow, air gun, pellet gun, slingshot, wrist rocket or similar device.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to throw any stone or stick with the intent of damaging or defacing any private or public property or with the intent to cause injury to any person or animal.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parks and recreation director, with prior approval of the city council, may establish locations within the city where the use of the above devices may be permitted. The parks and recreation director shall promulgate appropriate rules and regulations governing the use of these facilities, which rules and regulations shall receive prior approval of the city council.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to utilize any such facility established by the city contrary to the rules and regulations as posted at the facility site or as available from the parks and recreation department.
(Code 1969, §§ 7.08.130, 7.08.140; Ord. No. 781, § 1, 6-27-90)
OSKALOOSA, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Chapter 9.28 WEAPONS Oskaloosa, Iowa Code of Ordinances
9.28.010 Discharge prohibited.
It is unlawful for a person to discharge rifles, shotguns, revolvers, pistols, guns or firearms of any kind within the city limits except by authorization of the police chief.
(Prior code §2.1-1.0416)
9.28.020 Throwing or shooting missiles.
It is unlawful for a person to throw stones, bricks, wood or other substances or missiles of any kind whereby any person may be hit or injured or any windows broken or other property injured, or to shoot arrows, rubber guns, slingshots, air rifles or other dangerous instruments or toys on or into any street, alley, highway, sidewalk, public way, public ground, or public building, without written consent of the city manager.
Nothing herein shall prohibit the hunting of deer with bow and arrow by persons issued permits by the City of Oskaloosa pursuant to the rules adopted by the city, in those areas designated by the city, during those periods designated annually by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for such hunting by persons issued licenses by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
(Prior code §2.1-1.0417)
(Ord. No. 1280, § 1, 12-21-2009)
OTTUMWA, IOWA – AIR GUN LAWS AND REGULATIONS
No listed air-gun ordinances.
Disclaimer
These rules and regulations were compiled to the best of my ability. The information on this article should not constitute as legal advice. Always check with your local jurisdiction for the final ruling.