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Iowa · 120 communities

Private Investigators in Iowa by City

Choose your community to see which courts hear local cases, how Iowa licenses investigators and how to request a match with a vetted, licensed investigator within our network who works that county.

Request a Private Investigator (629) 310-8667

Licensing

How Iowa Licenses Private Investigators

Iowa regulates investigators under Iowa Code chapter 80A, administered by the Department of Public Safety through its Program Services Bureau. Section 80A.3 requires anyone who operates a private investigation business in Iowa to hold a license, which runs for two years. Section 80A.7 then requires each employee who does investigative work for a licensed agency to carry a department identification card, issued after fingerprint-based background checks.

Iowa's system centers on the agency. A client should confirm the business through the DPS Search for a Licensed Agency tool and then ask the individual investigator for the ID card, which must be in the employee's possession while working. The card ties the person to a specific licensed agency, so the names on the card and the contract should match.

Courts

How Iowa Courts Are Organized

Iowa has one general jurisdiction trial court, the district court, with a court in each of its 99 counties. The counties are grouped into eight judicial districts, each led by a chief judge. The district court hears civil, criminal, juvenile and probate cases, along with divorce, custody and small claims. District associate judges and magistrates handle many smaller matters, such as simple misdemeanors and small claims, within the same court.

Communities

Iowa Communities With a Private Investigator Page

Every Iowa community over 3,000 residents, by population (U.S. Census Bureau, April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2024 estimates (Vintage 2024)).

CommunityCountyPopulation (2024 est.)
Des MoinesPolk County / Warren County213,096
Cedar RapidsLinn County137,904
DavenportScott County100,938
Sioux CityWoodbury County / Plymouth County86,875
AnkenyPolk County76,727
Iowa CityJohnson County76,710
West Des MoinesPolk County / Dallas County / Warren County / Madison County73,664
AmesStory County69,026
WaterlooBlack Hawk County67,477
Council BluffsPottawattamie County62,665
DubuqueDubuque County58,987
UrbandalePolk County / Dallas County47,759
MarionLinn County42,542
Cedar FallsBlack Hawk County41,417
BettendorfScott County40,281
WaukeeDallas County34,420
MarshalltownMarshall County27,886
Mason CityCerro Gordo County26,948
OttumwaWapello County25,648
JohnstonPolk County25,022
Fort DodgeWebster County24,886
ClintonClinton County24,118
CoralvilleJohnson County23,959
BurlingtonDes Moines County23,637
MuscatineMuscatine County23,298
AltoonaPolk County22,598
North LibertyJohnson County21,904
ClivePolk County / Dallas County19,508
GrimesPolk County / Dallas County17,266
IndianolaWarren County16,297
NewtonJasper County15,709
NorwalkWarren County / Polk County15,396
BooneBoone County12,461
Pleasant HillPolk County11,942
Storm LakeBuena Vista County11,627
OskaloosaMahaska County11,575
SpencerClay County11,418
PellaMarion County / Mahaska County10,965
Le MarsPlymouth County10,674
WaverlyBremer County10,576
CarrollCarroll County10,125
Fort MadisonLee County9,983
BondurantPolk County9,511
FairfieldJefferson County9,511
GrinnellPoweshiek County9,495
KeokukLee County9,462
Sioux CenterSioux County8,675
Mount PleasantHenry County8,509
DenisonCrawford County8,302
PerryDallas County8,046
Webster CityHamilton County7,763
Clear LakeCerro Gordo County7,602
DecorahWinneshiek County7,454
KnoxvilleMarion County7,440
CrestonUnion County7,421
HiawathaLinn County7,347
WashingtonWashington County7,281
NevadaStory County7,082
Charles CityFloyd County7,081
EldridgeScott County6,967
AdelDallas County6,763
AtlanticCass County6,717
TiffinJohnson County6,695
Orange CitySioux County6,547
Polk CityPolk County6,430
IndependenceBuchanan County6,266
MaquoketaJackson County / Clinton County6,064
AsburyDubuque County6,051
AnamosaJones County5,845
EsthervilleEmmet County5,796
OelweinFayette County5,788
DeWittClinton County5,620
OsceolaClarke County5,585
SheldonO'Brien County / Sioux County5,584
Spirit LakeDickinson County5,548
WintersetMadison County5,421
Red OakMontgomery County5,420
CentervilleAppanoose County5,345
AlgonaKossuth County5,341
Sergeant BluffWoodbury County5,335
ClarindaPage County5,334
ManchesterDelaware County5,283
GlenwoodMills County5,250
CherokeeCherokee County5,186
Windsor HeightsPolk County5,106
Iowa FallsHardin County4,993
VintonBenton County4,962
HarlanShelby County4,898
ShenandoahPage County / Fremont County4,878
Le ClaireScott County4,776
HumboldtHumboldt County4,774
HuxleyStory County4,737
DyersvilleDubuque County / Delaware County4,559
CamancheClinton County4,536
Mount VernonLinn County4,518
EvansdaleBlack Hawk County4,515
CarlisleWarren County / Polk County4,381
HamptonFranklin County4,340
CharitonLucas County4,278
Forest CityWinnebago County / Hancock County4,199
JeffersonGreene County4,148
MonticelloJones County4,095
Rock ValleySioux County4,024
CrescoHoward County3,890
WaukonAllamakee County3,799
Carter LakePottawattamie County3,752
West LibertyMuscatine County3,724
EmmetsburgPalo Alto County3,632
Eagle GroveWright County3,615
AlbiaMonroe County3,579
OsageMitchell County3,559
Story CityStory County3,439
New HamptonChickasaw County3,433
WilliamsburgIowa County3,380
RobinsLinn County3,362
SolonJohnson County3,284
MilfordDickinson County3,258
West BurlingtonDes Moines County3,249
TiptonCedar County3,059
GarnerHancock County3,049

Read the full Iowa investigator guide

Neighboring states: Illinois · Minnesota · Missouri · Nebraska · South Dakota · Wisconsin

How this service works

Investigator Consulting in Iowa

Delator Group is a private investigation firm licensed in Tennessee and headquartered in Nashville. In Iowa, Delator Group is not licensed as a private investigator or private investigative agency and does not perform, supervise or direct investigations. We review requests and refer them to independent investigators who hold the license Iowa requires. Those investigators contract with clients directly, set their own fees and are responsible for the work. Delator Group may receive compensation from participating investigators for referrals.

FAQ

Questions About Finding an Investigator in Iowa

Which Iowa communities have their own page?

Every incorporated Iowa city, town or village with more than 3,000 residents, plus every township or town government of that size, has its own page here, 120 in all. Smaller places are covered by the nearest page and the statewide guide.

Is Delator Group licensed in Iowa?

No. In Iowa, Delator Group provides investigator consulting and referral only. Investigations are performed by independently licensed Iowa investigators who contract with you directly.

Who licenses private investigators in Iowa?

The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Program Services Bureau (Private Investigation, Private Security and Bail Enforcement licensing), under Iowa Code chapter 80A. Every private investigation business needs a DPS license, and each employee who performs investigative work must carry a state identification card issued through the licensed agency.

How do I check an investigator's Iowa license?

Search the agency with the Search for a Licensed Agency tool in the DPS licensing portal and ask the investigator to show the state-issued ID card.

Is Iowa a one-party or two-party consent state?

Iowa is generally treated as a one-party consent state. Iowa Code section 727.8 does not apply to a sender or recipient who records a message, or to someone openly present and taking part in a conversation. Recording a conversation no participant agreed to can be a crime, so ask an attorney if the facts are unusual.