IOWA SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Private Security Agency License (two-year agency license under Iowa Code ch. 80A; one of three agency license types - private investigation, private security, bail enforcement) [2]

Who needs it. Any person (individual, partnership, corporation or other business entity) operating a 'private security business' in Iowa - furnishing, for hire or reward, guards, watch, armored car or patrol personnel or others to protect persons or property - including an individual who for hire patrols, watches or guards property. Each business type needs a separate license. Out-of-state firms need the license if they conduct security at any Iowa location (661-121.4(2)(c)(3)). Exempt: a person employed by one employer in connection with that employer's affairs (proprietary/in-house), government employees on duty, and peace officers acting with their chief's consent (80A.2); a licensed agency may not have peace officers in ownership/management. [1]

Local licensing. Licensing is state-level only: Iowa Code ch. 80A and 661 IAC ch. 121 create a single statewide DPS agency license; DPS says any company providing contracted services in Iowa must be licensed 'through the State'. Local/other-agency touchpoints from primary sources: (1) a business using a trade/assumed name (other than an Iowa or authorized foreign corporation/LLC/LP) must record a verified statement with the county recorder (DPS agency page and checklist); (2) LLCs/corporations must be registered with the Iowa Secretary of State (Certificate of Existence or Foreign Registration) and file Form PD5/PD7; (3) armed guards need a professional permit to carry weapons under Iowa Code 724.6; (4) armed campus security has extra sheriff-related requirements (Iowa Code 80A.13); (5) the county sheriff or city police chief may report in writing on an applicant's moral character (661-121.5(6)(b)).

Your guards. Every employee performing regulated security work must hold a DPS employee identification card applied for by the licensed agency (Form PD2 via the licensing portal; $10 plus fingerprints, fingerprint fees assessed to the employer); the PD2 includes a temporary card valid 14 days; a card is valid only for the agency named on it. Exempt unregulated staff: clerical, dispatching, maintenance, payroll, ticket sales/taking, parking cars. Program page: https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions/administrative-services/pipsbe; portal: https://iowadps.imagetrendlicense.com/lms/public/portal#/login [1]

Role

Licensee (DPS: 'licensee representative') - the business must have at least one current valid licensee who is a director, officer, partner or person involved in the business in Iowa; DPS describes the licensee as the agency's designated representative responsible for maintaining the license. [2]

Experience

None. DPS states there are no education or experience requirements (12 hours of continuing education applies only to private investigator licenses, not private security). [8]

Age & background

Statute 80A.4(1): 18 or older; not a peace officer; never convicted of a felony or aggravated misdemeanor; not addicted to alcohol or a controlled substance; no history of repeated acts of violence; good moral character and not judged guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude; no conviction under Iowa Code 708.3, 708.4, 708.5, 708.6, 708.8 or 708.9; no conviction for illegally using, carrying or possessing a dangerous weapon; no fraud conviction; provides fingerprints; plus rule qualifications. Rule 661-121.5 adds DPS background investigation (IOWA warrants/protection orders/sex offender registry/Iowa criminal history + FBI fingerprint check) and no history of mental illness or instability; rule excepts reserve peace officers from the peace-officer bar. [1]

• Corporate applicant: the 80A.4(1) requirements apply to the president and to each officer, commissioner or employee actively involved in the Iowa business; partnership/association: each partner or member. [1]
• Rule: Form PD1 must be completed by each officer or director actively involved in Iowa for a corporation. [2]
• Iowa residency is not required. [8]
• Background investigation by DPS before licensure. [2]
• Rule standard: no history of mental illness or instability. [2]
• A licensed agency may not have peace officers in ownership or management and may not employ a peace officer for investigative or security functions. [2]
• LLC/corporation must be registered with the Iowa Secretary of State (Certificate of Existence for Iowa entities; Foreign Registration for non-Iowa entities) and file Form PD5 (LLC) or PD7 (corporation). [7]
• Prior written DPS approval of all security uniforms, badges, insignia, patches and hats; none approved containing 'police', 'officer', 'policeman', 'enforcement' or the Great Seal of Iowa (the single term 'security officer' is allowed). [2]
• Each employee must possess the same qualifications as the licensee; the licensee is responsible for ensuring employees meet the requirements. [1]
• After clean fingerprint results DPS sends a 'licensing requirements overview' that must be completed before the license issues (not an exam). [7]

Insurance

Proof of financial responsibility is required by statute (Iowa Code 80A.10A - proof acceptable to the commissioner of ability to respond in damages). Controlling rule 661-121.4(6): certificate of insurance from a licensed insurer covering general liability, completed operations AND personal injury; personal injury must cover (a) false arrest, detention, imprisonment or malicious prosecution, (b) libel, slander, defamation or violation of privacy rights, (c) wrongful entry or eviction or other invasion of private occupancy. Certificate must provide 30 days' prior notice to DPS of modification/cancellation; licensees have 30 days after an expiration date to comply or the license is automatically revoked. No minimum dollar limits are stated in the statute, rule or DPS pages. CONFLICT: the DPS 'Obtaining an Agency License' page says 'professional liability or general liability including completed operations and personal injury' (tracking the 2026 proposed rule); the DPS checklist (1/2026) repeats the current rule text. The adopted rule controls until replaced. [2]

Surety bond

Surety bond on DPS Form PD6, issued by a surety company authorized to do business in Iowa: minimum $5,000 for an agency licensed for only one business type (e.g. private security only); $10,000 if licensed for more than one type under ch. 80A. Conditioned on faithful, lawful and honest conduct of the applicant and its employees; aggregate surety liability capped at the bond amount; remains in force until the surety gives 30 days' written notice to DPS. Agency name on the bond must match the application. DPS pages agree with the statute. [1]

Branch offices

No separate branch license or fee. The original license is posted at the principal place of business; a photocopy must be posted at every other place of business, and the licensee must notify the commissioner of each location. [2]

• Agency license: $100 per two-year license (per license type). [1]
• Identification card: $10 per application (statute); DPS charges it per ID card affiliation / per license type, including the licensee's own card. [1]
• Fingerprint processing: $30 per set (DPS figure; rule 661-121.7(2) says only that a nonrefundable FBI processing fee is due, without an amount). [7]
• DPS combined fee table (license + ID card + fingerprints): 1 license type with 1/2/3 licensees = $140/$180/$220; 2 license types = $250/$300/$350; 3 license types = $360/$420/$480. [7]
• Duplicate license: $5. [1]
• Reciprocity temporary permit (max 90 days, not renewable): $100 per permit (statute caps the fee at $100 per year). [2]
• Replacement license after a governor-declared disaster: no fee. [2]
• Refunds: license fee refunded if the application is disapproved (fingerprint fees excluded), but not for abandoned applications or canceled, suspended or revoked licenses. [2]
• Payment online at application submission by credit card, debit card or ACH. [9]

1. Create an account on the DPS Licensing Portal (iowadps.imagetrendlicense.com). [7]
2. Submit the 'Start Your Own Company' application (by the individual who will act as agency licensee) so DPS can create the agency profile. [7]
3. Submit Form PD1 (full license application): liability insurance certificate, PD6 surety bond, headshot photo, company information (PD5/PD7), criminal history questions, uniform/badge descriptions; pay fees. [7]
4. Submit fingerprints: two FD-258 cards mailed/hand-delivered to the Program Services Bureau, or a DPS-approved vendor (Fieldprint per checklist) after payment. [7]
5. DPS review of the application. [7]
6. Licensing requirements overview sent to the licensee after clean criminal-history results. [7]
7. Agency license certificate and licensee ID card issued by email. [7]
8. Abandonment: an application not completed within six months of filing is deemed abandoned (current rule; the 2026 proposed rule would shorten this to three months). [2]
9. Display the license conspicuously at the principal place of business. [1]

Renewal

License expires two years from issuance (80A.3(2)). Renewal on Form PD3 with two FD-258 fingerprint cards and fees, submitted not less than 30 days before expiration; not processed unless complete. If DPS has not processed a complete renewal before lapse, the renewal is deemed temporarily granted. No renewal if the application is received after expiration - the former licensee must meet all initial-application requirements. No continuing education for private security licenses (12-hour CE applies only to private investigation). [2]

Disqualifiers & waivers

Absolute statutory bars in 80A.4(1) (felony or aggravated misdemeanor conviction ever; peace officer; alcohol/controlled-substance addiction; repeated violence; lack of good moral character or moral-turpitude crime; listed 708 convictions; illegal weapon use/carry/possession; fraud). Rule 121.5 adds mental illness/instability and good-moral-character factors (adverse references or written sheriff/police-chief report, unpaid just obligations, bad checks, unpaid wages, obstruction, protective orders, sex-offender registration, outstanding warrants). Refusal/suspension/revocation grounds: 80A.12 (fraud, violations, moral turpitude/felony/aggravated misdemeanor, divulging client information, surety insolvency, false statements, failure to render paid services) and 121.16 (incl. child-support noncompliance certificate; temporary denial while a potentially disqualifying action is pending). No waiver or rehabilitation-review process was found in the statute, rules or DPS pages. Adverse actions are appealable under 661 IAC ch. 10 (121.20). SF 2323 (2026), which would have limited the felony/aggravated-misdemeanor bar to 10 years, was not enacted. [1]

• n/aNo amendment to Iowa Code ch. 80A in the 2025 or 2026 sessions found: the Iowa Code 2026 text of ch. 80A (PDF generated 12/9/2025) shows the latest amendment as 2024 Acts ch. 1028 (CPA exemption, 80A.2(10)), and the Legislature's 2025 and 2026 'Code & Acts Sections Amended' listings show no ch. 80A rows (an absence, recorded in the saved extract). Iowa Code 2026 ch. 80A is expected to be the statute on 1/1/2027. Iowa Code 80A.2 history line [1]
• 2026-07-01SF 2280 (2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1077, signed 5/6/2026) amended Iowa Code 724.6, the professional permit to carry weapons that covers employment in an 80A-licensed private security business and security guards: the private-security basis is retained; adds legislators, judicial officers and attorneys general as eligible; new 724.6(1)(e) - any 724.6 permit holder may carry only concealed inside a courtroom. No change to ch. 80A. 2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1077 (SF 2280) §§1-6; Iowa Code 724.6 [12]
• 2026-07-01SF 2218 (2026, signed 6/2/2026) created Iowa Code 272C.15A: a ch. 272C licensing board 'established after January 1, 1978' may not issue or renew a professional license to an individual whose lawful presence cannot be verified through SAVE. APPLICABILITY TO DPS ch. 80A LICENSES IS UNCLEAR: the DPS commissioner is not listed in 272C.1(6); only the catch-all 272C.1(6)(w) ('Any professional or occupational licensing board created after January 1, 1978') could reach it, and ch. 80A dates from 1984 Acts. No DPS statement found. 2026 Iowa SF 2218 §21; Iowa Code 272C.15A, 272C.1(6)(w) [13]
• unknown - not adopted as of 2026-11-09PROPOSED ONLY - not adopted as of 2026-11-09: DPS Regulatory Analysis RA 26-276 (IAB 9/2/2026; public hearing 9/23/2026) under Executive Order 10 to rescind and re-adopt 661 IAC ch. 121. Proposed changes include: abandonment period cut from six to three months; insurance 'general liability or professional liability' (enumerated personal-injury offense list dropped); fingerprints via department-approved vendor; one color photo instead of two 1x1 photos; PD1 completed by an officer, director or designated employee; rules 121.18 and 121.24 dropped as outdated; fees unchanged. Through the 10/28/2026 IAB (latest issue published at retrieval) no Notice of Intended Action or Adopted and Filed rule for ch. 121 had appeared, so current ch. 121 is expected to control on 1/1/2027 unless adopted in the November/December 2026 IABs. IAB 9/2/2026, RA 26-276 (Public Safety Department[661], ch. 121) [3]
• unknown - pendingDetail of the pending rewrite: proposed abandonment period of three months (current rule: six months). Proposed 661-121.4 (RA 26-276) [3]
• 2028-01-01Current 661 IAC ch. 121 carries a statutory rescission (sunset) date of 1/1/2028 under Iowa Code 17A.7, so a re-adopted chapter must be in place during 2027 at the latest. Not a change effective on 1/1/2027. 661 IAC ch. 121 header; Iowa Code 17A.7 [2]
• n/a (not enacted)NOT ENACTED: SF 2323 (2026) would have amended 80A.4(1)(c) to bar only felony/aggravated-misdemeanor convictions within 10 years before application; introduced 2/12/2026, Judiciary subcommittee assigned 2/16/2026, no later action in the saved bill history (the 91st General Assembly's second session has ended). SF 2323, 91st G.A. [15]

• Iowa Code ch. 80A (Iowa Code 2026), §§80A.1-80A.18 — Private Investigative Agencies and Security Agents [1]
• 661 IAC ch. 121 (661-121.1 to 121.25; IAC 2/5/25 text, current in the 10/28/2026 IAC) — Bail Enforcement, Private Investigation, and Private Security Businesses [2]

1. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 80A - Private Investigative Agencies and Security Agents (PDF generated 12/9/2025) · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. 661 IAC Chapter 121 - Bail Enforcement, Private Investigation, and Private Security Businesses (IAC 2/5/25 text) · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. DPS Regulatory Analysis RA 26-276 - proposed rescission and re-adoption of 661 IAC ch. 121 (IAB 9/2/2026) · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. Iowa Administrative Bulletin rulemaking listings 9/2/2026-10/28/2026 - Public Safety[661] rows · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. Iowa DPS Red Tape Review Rule Report, 661 IAC Chapter 121 (8/7/2026) · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. Iowa DPS - Private Investigation, Private Security, & Bail Enforcement · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. Iowa DPS - Obtaining an Agency License · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. Iowa DPS - PI/Private Security/Bail Enforcement FAQ (PDF dated 12/30/2021) · retrieved 2026-11-09
9. Iowa DPS - Applicants for PI, Private Security and Bail Enforcement Agency Licensing checklist (PDF, 1/29/2026) · retrieved 2026-11-09
10. Iowa DPS Form PD6 - License Surety Bond · retrieved 2026-11-09
11. Iowa Legislature - Code & Acts Sections Amended, 2025 and 2026 reports (extract) · retrieved 2026-11-09
12. 2026 Iowa Senate File 2280 - Enrolled (2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1077; Iowa Code 724.6 amendments) · retrieved 2026-11-09
13. 2026 Iowa Senate File 2218 - Enrolled (new Iowa Code 272C.15A) · retrieved 2026-11-09
14. Iowa Code 2026 §272C.1 - Definitions (licensing board list) · retrieved 2026-11-09
15. 2026 Iowa Senate File 2323 - Introduced, with bill history (not enacted) · retrieved 2026-11-09

Compiled from the primary government sources above, retrieved on the dates shown. This page is a research summary, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the issuing authority before you file.