Is Iowa a one-party consent state?
Yes. Iowa is a one-party consent state for recording calls, under Iowa Code §§ 808B.2, 727.8.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change and we can get things wrong, so check with a lawyer before relying on any of this. Citations checked October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Recording calls in Iowa
Iowa lets a call be recorded when one person on it agrees. The business is a party to every call its agent answers, so its own consent is generally enough under the statute.
§ 808B.2(1) makes willfully intercepting a wire, oral or electronic communication a class D felony. § 808B.2(2)(c) allows it when the person is a party to the call or one party has given prior consent, unless the purpose is a criminal, tortious or other injurious act. Iowa's eavesdropping law also exempts a sender or recipient who records the call (§ 727.8(3)(a)).
Reporters Committee summary for IowaIowa is a one-party consent state, so the penalty applies to recording a call you are not a party to when no party has consented, or recording to commit a criminal, tortious or injurious act (§ 808B.2(2)(c)). That interception is a class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $1,025 to $10,245 (§§ 808B.2(1), 902.9(1)(e)). Eavesdropping under § 727.8 is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a fine of $430 to $2,560 (§ 903.1). The person recorded can sue for actual damages of at least $100 a day or $1,000, whichever is higher, punitive damages for a willful, malicious or reckless violation, and attorney fees (§ 808B.8).
General information, not legal advice. Citations checked October 2026. Ask a Iowa lawyer about your own calls.
Using an AI agent to answer your Iowa line
Iowa only needs one party's consent, but a caller from California or Florida brings their state's stricter rule onto the call. So the agent opens every call by saying it is recorded.
“Thanks for calling. This is an AI assistant, and this call is recorded. How can I help?”
A Cartesia voice agent answers your business line, says this on every call, then takes messages or transfers the caller to your team.
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If the agent also calls out from Iowa
An answering service mostly takes calls. Callbacks and reminders are outbound, and outbound calls follow the federal rules.
Outbound calls that use an AI voice need the called party's prior express consent, unless the call is for an emergency or fits an FCC exemption. AI-voice calls that include telemarketing need prior express written consent. The FCC ruled in February 2024 (FCC 24-17) that an AI-generated voice is an artificial voice under the TCPA, so these calls must also identify the caller and, for telemarketing, offer a way to opt out.
47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(B)47 C.F.R. § 64.1200(a)(2) and (a)(3)FCC ruling on AI voices, February 2024Federal rules allow telemarketing calls from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the called party's local time. Some states set a shorter window, listed below when they do.
16 C.F.R. § 310.4(c)Where Iowa callers are
Time zone: Central. You set your business hours in your own time zone, and the agent takes messages outside them.
319
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City
515
Des Moines
563
Davenport and Dubuque
641
Mason City and Ottumwa
712
Sioux City and Council Bluffs
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HIPAA compliant
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Iowa call recording law FAQs
Is Iowa a one-party or all-party consent state for recording calls?
Iowa is a one-party consent state for recording calls, under Iowa Code §§ 808B.2, 727.8. This is general information, not legal advice. Ask a lawyer about your own calls.
Do I have to tell callers an AI agent is recording in Iowa?
Iowa needs one party's consent, and the business is a party. Most businesses announce recording anyway, because a caller in an all-party state such as California or Florida can bring that state's rule into the call. The sample agent opens with "Thanks for calling. This is an AI assistant, and this call is recorded. How can I help?" This is general information, not legal advice.
What if the caller is in a different state than my Iowa business?
The stricter state's rule can apply. In Kearney v. Salomon Smith Barney (2006), the California Supreme Court held that California's all-party rule governs, going forward, calls a Georgia office records with clients in California. A business that takes calls from other states usually announces recording on every call.
How much does a Cartesia agent cost to answer calls in Iowa?
Managed Agents cost $0.03/min, plus telephony and LLM usage. See pricing.
Which time zone and area codes cover Iowa?
Time zone: Central. Main area codes: 319, 515, 563, 641, 712. The agent answers calls from any number, and you set your business hours in your own time zone.
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