Iowa

Registering as a visitor

When it's required

Required, but the law doesn't state a clear number of days.

Deadline

Registration is by in-person appearance at a county sheriff's office; the specific deadline is in Iowa Code §692A.104, which was not read and remains unverified.

Where

County sheriff's office in the county of residence, employment, or school

Also required if

• Employment in Iowa, including contract work and unpaid volunteering
• Attending school in person in Iowa
• Residing, sleeping, or habitually living at an Iowa location on an intermittent basis
• Temporary lodging information, including dates, is reportable registry information

Public registry

The law doesn't clearly say whether visitors appear on the public registry.

Iowa Code §692A.118 and §692A.121 govern the registry and availability of records, but neither was read; whether visitors appear publicly or are removed after leaving is unverified.

Places registrants can't go

• Public or nonpublic elementary/secondary school real propertyMay not be present without written permission of the school administrator or designee, unless enrolled as a student; may not loiter within 300 feet of the boundaryApplies to: Registrants convicted of a sex offense against a minor, including out-of-state registrants whose offense involved a minor
• School vehicle in use transporting studentsMay not be present without written administrator permission, unless enrolled, or unless the vehicle is simultaneously public transportationApplies to: Registrants with minor-victim offenses, including out-of-state registrants
• Child care facilityMay not be present without written permission of the facility administrator; may not loiter within 300 feetApplies to: Registrants with minor-victim offenses, including out-of-state registrants
• Public libraryMay not be present without written permission of the library administrator; may not loiter within 300 feetApplies to: Registrants with minor-victim offenses, including out-of-state registrants
• Places intended primarily for minors (public playgrounds, children's play areas, sport areas, pools, beaches when in use by a minor)May not loiter on the property or within 300 feetApplies to: Registrants with minor-victim offenses, including out-of-state registrants
• Fairs, carnivals, children's arcades, schools, child care facilities, libraries, minor-oriented places, ice cream trucksMay not operate, manage, be employed by, contract with, or volunteer at these when minors are present (per §692A.113(3))Applies to: Persons convicted of a sex offense against a minor

Laws cited

• Iowa Code ch. 692A (2026), §§692A.101, 692A.103, 692A.113 · Iowa Legislature
• Iowa Code §692A.103 · Iowa Legislature
• Iowa Code §692A.113 · Iowa Legislature

Last checked September 19, 2026 · full review September 19, 2026