Iowa call recording law
Is Iowa a one-party consent state?
One-party consent
Yes. Iowa is a one-party consent state. A person who is a party to a call, or who has one party’s prior consent, may record it, unless the call is recorded to commit a criminal, tortious or other injurious act (Iowa Code § 808B.2).
Last checked October 13, 2026 · 15 quoted facts from official pages
Iowa at a glance
- Phone calls
- One-party consent
- In-person conversations
- The same rule (see below)
- Criminal penalty
- Interception under § 808B.2 is a class D felony: up to five years and a fine of $1,025 to $10,245.
- Lawsuits
- Actual damages but not less than $100 a day for each day of violation or $1,000, whichever is higher; punitive damages on a finding of a willful, malicious or reckless violation; a reasonable attorney fee and litigation costs; and a temporary or permanent injunction.
- Last checked
- October 13, 2026
The law
- Iowa Code § 808B.2 (unlawful acts - penalty; consent exception) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Iowa Code § 808B.8 (civil damages; injunctive relief) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Iowa Code § 727.8 (electronic and mechanical eavesdropping) (official source, opens in a new tab)
- Iowa Code §§ 902.9, 903.1 (felony and misdemeanor penalties) (official source, opens in a new tab)
Penalties
- Criminal
- Interception under § 808B.2 is a class D felony: up to five years and a fine of $1,025 to $10,245. Eavesdropping under § 727.8 is a serious misdemeanor: a fine of $430 to $2,560 and up to one year. Statutory surcharges are added to fines.
- Civil (lawsuits)
- Actual damages but not less than $100 a day for each day of violation or $1,000, whichever is higher; punitive damages on a finding of a willful, malicious or reckless violation; a reasonable attorney fee and litigation costs; and a temporary or permanent injunction.
In-person conversations
Iowa’s separate eavesdropping law (§ 727.8) does not apply to recording by the sender or recipient of a message, or by someone openly present and participating in the conversation.
What this means for a business that records calls
Callers can be in any state. The state-by-state table compares every state's rule, and the disclosure generator writes a plain notice sentence such as “This call may be recorded.” Whether a notice is enough under Iowa's law is a question for a lawyer licensed in Iowa.
Recording notices on CallFlux numbers
CallFlux plays a recording notice to callers on every tracking number that records, before the call connects.
What the official sources say
It is not unlawful for a private person to intercept a call they are party to, or with one party's prior consent (one-party consent).
“to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic communication if the person is a party to the communication or if one of the parties”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
One party's prior consent is required, and the exception does not cover criminal, tortious or injurious purposes.
“has given prior consent to the interception, unless the communication is intercepted for the purpose of committing a criminal or tortious act”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Interception for any other injurious act is also excluded.
“or for the purpose of committing any other injurious act”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Unlawful interception is a class D felony.
“Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, a person who does any of the following commits a class “D” felony”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
A class D felon may be confined up to five years and fined $1,025 to $10,245.
“shall be confined for no more than five years, and in addition shall be sentenced to a fine of at least one thousand twenty-five dollars”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
The class D felony fine maximum is $10,245.
“but not more than ten thousand two hundred forty-five dollars”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Statutory surcharges are added to felony fines and are not part of the fine maximums.
“The surcharges required by sections 911.1, 911.2A, and 911.5 shall be added to a fine imposed on a class “C” or class “D” felon”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
The eavesdropping statute § 727.8 makes unauthorized recording of a conversation a serious misdemeanor.
“by any electronic or mechanical means listens to, records, or otherwise intercepts a conversation or communication of any kind, commits a serious misdemeanor”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Show 7 more facts
Section 727.8 does not apply to recording by the sender or recipient, or by someone openly present and participating.
“The recording by a sender or recipient of a message or one who is openly present and participating in or listening to a communication”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
A serious misdemeanor carries a fine of $430 to $2,560 and up to one year.
“fine of at least four hundred thirty dollars but not to exceed two thousand five hundred sixty dollars”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Imprisonment for a serious misdemeanor may not exceed one year.
“In addition, the court may also order imprisonment not to exceed one year.”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Civil liquidated damages are at least $100 a day or $1,000, whichever is higher.
“not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of one hundred dollars a day for each day of violation, or one thousand dollars”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Punitive damages require a willful, malicious, or reckless violation.
“Punitive damages upon a finding of a willful, malicious, or reckless violation of this chapter.”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Attorney fees, litigation costs and an injunction are available.
“A reasonable attorney fee and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
An injunction may be sought.
“may seek an injunction, either temporary or permanent, against any person who violates this chapter”
Source: legis.iowa.gov (official source, opens in a new tab) · read October 13, 2026
Iowa call recording questions
Is Iowa a one-party consent state?
Yes. Iowa is a one-party consent state. A person who is a party to a call, or who has one party’s prior consent, may record it, unless the call is recorded to commit a criminal, tortious or other injurious act (Iowa Code § 808B.2).
What is the penalty for recording a call illegally in Iowa?
Interception under § 808B.2 is a class D felony: up to five years and a fine of $1,025 to $10,245. Eavesdropping under § 727.8 is a serious misdemeanor: a fine of $430 to $2,560 and up to one year. Statutory surcharges are added to fines.
What does Iowa's law say about lawsuits over recorded calls?
Actual damages but not less than $100 a day for each day of violation or $1,000, whichever is higher; punitive damages on a finding of a willful, malicious or reckless violation; a reasonable attorney fee and litigation costs; and a temporary or permanent injunction.
Does Iowa use the same rule for in-person conversations?
Iowa’s separate eavesdropping law (§ 727.8) does not apply to recording by the sender or recipient of a message, or by someone openly present and participating in the conversation.