Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as of July 1st, 2017, you can transfer your carry permit between counties. Your permit is still valid throughout the state until it expires. However, if you attempt to purchase, you may encounter difficulty with the seller if your ID and permit information do not match.

• Bring your current permit from the county
• Must have Driver's License or state issued ID with current Keokuk County address
• Complete the Permit to Carry Application form - marked "duplicate"
• Must pass a new background check
• Fee: $25.00 for remainder of permit term

No. But you can search the internet for classes being held, check with sporting goods stores or take a class online. Any method will work as long as the course is approved by NRA or ILEA.

Additionally:

• A person must be:
  • 21 years of age to obtain a Permit to Acquire
  • As of July, 1st, 2025 - 18 years of age to obtain a Non-professional Permit to Carry Weapons - and will now be eligible to acquire/purchase weapons only through a PRIVATE party within the state. Transfers and sales by Federal Firearm Licenses (FFL) is still restricted for those under 21 years of age.
  • 18 years of age to obtain a Professional Permit to Carry Weapons

Please consider the following suggestions:

• Permit holders are encouraged to safely conceal their weapons versus carrying in the open or plain view.
• At the onset of any contact with law enforcement, we request that you IMMEDIATELY notify the deputy/officer(s) that you have a permit to carry and you are armed.
• Prior to traveling across state lines, familiarize yourself with the laws of the state you intend to pass through and enter. Iowa recognizes and honors weapon permits from other states, but in many other states, there is no such reciprocity.
• Weapon possession/use is prohibited while a person is impaired by alcohol and/or drugs by State Code of Iowa 724.4C.
• Contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for specific inquiries regarding hunting.
• Private establishments may post signs prohibiting weapons on their premises.
• Permit holders may not carry on school grounds.
• Permit holders are encouraged to gain proficiency with the weapon they carry (to include shooting accuracy, weapon safety, and justification in the use of deadly force.)

Once the permit is approved, we will submit it to the state for printing. We no longer print the permits at our office. The permit will be mailed to your home, so you will only need to make 1 visit to our office. On average, we advise it will be 2-4 weeks before you receive your permit in the mail. This time frame can fluctuate depending on the number of applications we receive each day.

*By Code, the Sheriff has up to 30 days to approve/deny permit applications.

There is no way to transfer another state’s permit for an Iowa permit. So anyone relocating to Iowa will simply need to apply for a new Iowa Permit to Carry at the Sheriff’s Office of the person’s new county of residence.

However, it is possible that the training completed for the permit from another state might satisfy the training requirement for the Iowa Permit to Carry. Under Iowa law, a person must complete any handgun safety training course utilizing an NRA certified instructor or a state law enforcement certified instructor. Additionally, a person can use military small arms training to satisfy the training requirement if the person had an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions (DD-214). If a person has documentation of training and the instructor was NRA or law enforcement certified, or if a person has military small arms training, then that training should satisfy the requirement for Iowa.

This would be handled as a duplicate permit. See the criteria below: 

• Lost or damaged permit, address change or name change request
• Must have Driver’s License or State issued ID with current Keokuk address
• Complete a new application form: marked duplicate
• Must pass new background check
• $25.00 for remainder of permit term

Your permit is still valid throughout the state until it expires. However, if you attempt to purchase, you may encounter difficulty from the seller if your ID and Permit information do not match.

It would be handled as a duplicate permit. See the criteria below:

• Lost or damaged permit, address change or name change request
• Must have Driver’s License or State issued ID with current Keokuk address
• Complete a new application form: marked duplicate
• Must pass new background check
• $25.00 for remainder of permit term

Your permit is still valid throughout the state until it expires. However, if you attempt to purchase, you may encounter difficulty from the seller if your ID and Permit information do not match.

It would be handled as a duplicate permit. See the criteria below:

• Lost or damaged permit, address change or name change request
• Must have Driver’s License or State issued ID with current Keokuk address
• Complete a new application form: marked duplicate
• Must pass new background check
• $25.00 for remainder of permit term

• Lost or damaged permit, address change or name change request
• Must have Driver's License or State issued ID with current Keokuk County address
• Complete a new application form  - marked "duplicate"
• Must pass a new background check
• Fee: $25.00 for remainder of permit term

• Must have a certification class within the past 24 months, from one of the following:
  • NRA Certificate Instructor
  • ILEA (Iowa Law Enforcement Academy) "state law enforcement certified instructor"
  • DNR approved hunter education course with handgun safety training (New since July 1, 2017)
  • Or a Military DD214 with Honorable discharge (no date restriction)
• Must have a current photo ID or proof of current Keokuk County residency (You must live in the county in which you get your permit)
• Complete Permit to Carry application form - marked "new"
• Must pass a background check
• Fee: $50 for 5-year Permit to Carry

Please fill out the Permit to Acquire Application form. This type of permit is to only purchase or acquire a weapon.

Fee: $25.00 for a 5-year permit.

• 60-day window- Apply 30 DAYS PRIOR to expiration date to 30 DAYS AFTER expiration date to qualify for renewal price.
• Anything outside the 60-day renewal window will be considered a NEW Permit to Carry.
  • Note: The date printed on the permit is the date it EXPIRES, there is NO GRACE PERIOD.
• No new certification is required IF the previous permit was issued ON or AFTER 1/1/2021.
• Must have Driver's License or State issued ID with current Keokuk County address.
• Complete Permit to Carry Application Form - marked "Renewal"
• Must pass background check.
• Fee: $25.00 for 5-year Permit to Carry.

The state is now printing all permits. See fees below: 

Permit to Acquire:

• Permit to Acquire: $25.00 for 5 years
• Duplicate (to replace lost physical permit, update address or name change): $25.00 for remainder of permit

Permit to Carry:

• Permit to Carry: $50.00 for 5 years
• Renewal Permit: $25.00 for 5 years
• Duplicate (to replace lost physical permit, update address or name change): $25.00 for remainder of permit
• Transfer (requiring a Duplicate permit): $25.00 for remainder of permit

We accept cash or check only.

The permits are now printed by the state in order to create a uniform look throughout. They are a quality laminated plastic, about the size of a credit card.

Weapon permit applications are accepted 7 days a week between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

We have plenty of applications at the Sheriff’s Office or you can print one from the list below, complete it and bring it to us with your Driver’s License or State issued ID with your current KEOKUK COUNTY address and your training certification*. (*If you have previously held a permit (to carry) on or after 1/1/2011, you do not need to take a new certification class.)

• Permit to Carry Weapon
• Permit to Acquire

Fill in applications completely. 

Include all aliases such as nicknames, maiden or prior married names.