Does Iowa have its own Do Not Call list?

Yes. Iowa maintains its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Iowa Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division administers it. Telemarketers calling into Iowa must scrub against both the state list and the federal registry.

Is the Iowa Do Not Call registry free?

Consumer registration is free in every state. Telemarketers may pay a fee to access the list for compliance scrubbing. You never pay to add your number.

Does the Iowa DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. The Iowa state list also covers mobile numbers. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Telemarketing text messages are restricted under the TCPA whether or not your number is on the DNC list. Registration on the DNC list adds an additional layer of liability for any telemarketer who texts you.

What is the penalty for calling a registered Iowa number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. Iowa state penalty: $40,000 per call (state attorney general enforces).

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). Forward complaints to the Iowa attorney general's consumer protection office.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line. Iowa state registration is also permanent.

Home / States / Iowa

Iowa Telecom Compliance Guide

Q: How do I register my phone number on the Iowa Do Not Call list?

Register at https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/national-do-not-call-registry. Registration is administered by Iowa Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division and is permanent. You should also register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov for full protection.

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2023

Mini-TCPA State — High Risk

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$40,000

Registration

Not Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

Iowa Do Not Call Registry

How to register, what it covers, and how to enforce — 2026

Iowa runs its own DNC registry

Iowa maintains its own Do Not Call list separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Consumers should register on both lists for full protection.

Telemarketers calling into Iowa must scrub their lists against the state registry AND the federal registry before each campaign. Scrubbing only the federal list is not enough.

How to register your number

Iowa State Registry

Iowa Do Not Call List

Administered by Iowa Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Division

https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/national-do-not-call-registry →

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Restricted under TCPA

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

Iowa state list — details

Scrub frequencyMust scrub against the federal NDNC Registry at least every 31 days. Telemarketers must also register with the Iowa AG and purchase the Iowa DNC list.

Consumer registrationPermanent

Governing statuteIowa Code § 476.103

Iowa maintains its own Do Not Call list administered by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Telemarketers must register with the Iowa AG's office and purchase a copy of the Iowa list. Consumer registration is free and does not expire. Permitted calling hours: 8am-9pm local time. Penalties: up to $40,000 per violation; intentional/repeated violations may result in criminal penalties including fines up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 2 years. Consumers may file private lawsuits for damages up to $500 per call (max $3,000). Political and charitable solicitations are exempt. There is conflicting information about whether Iowa requires a separate $50/year telemarketer registration fee through the Secretary of State. Contact the Iowa AG for current requirements.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
File a complaint with the Iowa attorney general. Iowa state penalties are $40,000 per violation, enforced by the AG. Federal TCPA also gives you a private right of action for $500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent Iowa DNC enforcement actions

Heartland Insurance Marketing

insurance

Apr 2024

$185,000 penalty

IA AG settled with insurance marketer for robocall DNC violations.

Calling a registered Iowa number costs telemarketers: $40,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and Iowa residents. If you operate outbound calls into Iowa, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

Iowa DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in CaliforniaCA DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in GeorgiaGA DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK

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This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →