Iowa criminal charge
Persons under eighteen in Iowa
Persons under eighteen is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 724.22. Its classification is not fixed: Iowa assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Iowa Code § 724.22.
What is the penalty for persons under eighteen in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Sale/loan/gift of rifle or shotgun or ammunition to minor — first offense — A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a rifle or shotgun or ammunition for a rifle or shotgun to a minor, for a first offense.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Sale/loan/gift of rifle or shotgun or ammunition to minor — first offense — A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a rifle or shotgun or ammunition for a rifle or shotgun to a minor, for a first offense.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Sale/loan/gift of rifle or shotgun or ammunition to minor — subsequent offense — A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a rifle or shotgun or ammunition for a rifle or shotgun to a minor, for a second or subsequent offense.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Sale/loan/gift of rifle or shotgun or ammunition to minor — subsequent offense — A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a rifle or shotgun or ammunition for a rifle or shotgun to a minor, for a second or subsequent offense.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Sale/loan/gift of pistol or revolver or ammunition to person under 18 — first offense — A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a pistol or revolver or ammunition for a pistol or revolver to a person below the age of eighteen, for a first offense.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Sale/loan/gift of pistol or revolver or ammunition to person under 18 — first offense — A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a pistol or revolver or ammunition for a pistol or revolver to a person below the age of eighteen, for a first offense.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Sale/loan/gift of pistol or revolver or ammunition to person under 18 — subsequent offense — A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a pistol or revolver or ammunition for a pistol or revolver to a person below the age of eighteen, for a second or subsequent offense.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Sale/loan/gift of pistol or revolver or ammunition to person under 18 — subsequent offense — A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a pistol or revolver or ammunition for a pistol or revolver to a person below the age of eighteen, for a second or subsequent offense.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Improper storage of loaded firearm accessible to minor under fourteen — A person stores or leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm knowing or having reason to believe a minor under fourteen is likely to gain access without parental consent, and the minor gains access and exhibits the firearm unlawfully in public or uses it to cause injury or death.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Improper storage of loaded firearm accessible to minor under fourteen — A person stores or leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm knowing or having reason to believe a minor under fourteen is likely to gain access without parental consent, and the minor gains access and exhibits the firearm unlawfully in public or uses it to cause injury or death.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
Applies to current (2026 Iowa Code; fine levels per 2020 Acts ch 1074).
How is persons under eighteen classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sale/loan/gift of rifle or shotgun or ammunition to minor — first offense | Serious Misdemeanor | A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a rifle or shotgun or ammunition for a rifle or shotgun to a minor, for a first offense. | Iowa Code § 724.22(1) |
| Sale/loan/gift of rifle or shotgun or ammunition to minor — subsequent offense | Class “D” Felony | A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a rifle or shotgun or ammunition for a rifle or shotgun to a minor, for a second or subsequent offense. | Iowa Code § 724.22(1) |
| Sale/loan/gift of pistol or revolver or ammunition to person under 18 — first offense | Serious Misdemeanor | A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a pistol or revolver or ammunition for a pistol or revolver to a person below the age of eighteen, for a first offense. | Iowa Code § 724.22(2) |
| Sale/loan/gift of pistol or revolver or ammunition to person under 18 — subsequent offense | Class “D” Felony | A person sells, loans, gives, or makes available a pistol or revolver or ammunition for a pistol or revolver to a person below the age of eighteen, for a second or subsequent offense. | Iowa Code § 724.22(2) |
| Improper storage of loaded firearm accessible to minor under fourteen | Serious Misdemeanor | A person stores or leaves a loaded, unsecured firearm knowing or having reason to believe a minor under fourteen is likely to gain access without parental consent, and the minor gains access and exhibits the firearm unlawfully in public or uses it to cause injury or death. | Iowa Code § 724.22(6) |
Common questions about persons under eighteen in Iowa
Is persons under eighteen a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: persons under eighteen ranges from a Serious Misdemeanor to a Class “D” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 724.22.
Sale/loan/gift of rifle or shotgun or ammunition to minor — first offense: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 724.22(1)) · Sale/loan/gift of rifle or shotgun or ammunition to minor — subsequent offense: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 724.22(1)) · Sale/loan/gift of pistol or revolver or ammunition to person under 18 — first offense: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 724.22(2)) · Sale/loan/gift of pistol or revolver or ammunition to person under 18 — subsequent offense: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 724.22(2)) · Improper storage of loaded firearm accessible to minor under fourteen: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 724.22(6))
What are the penalties for persons under eighteen in Iowa?
Which Iowa statute covers persons under eighteen?
Persons under eighteen is governed by Iowa Code § 724.22 (Persons under eighteen — sale, loan, gift, making available — possession).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.