Wholesale Laws for Iowa
Last Updated: Oct. 20, 2025
Summary
Effective July 1, 2023, the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) is a part of Iowa’s Department of Revenue. Prior to July 1, 2024, ABC was under the Department of Commerce. Iowa holds control of spirits at the wholesale level.
State law prohibits dry localities.
Definition: “Wine” means any beverage containing more than 6.25% alcohol by volume, but not more than 21.25% of alcohol by volume obtained by the fermentation of the natural sugar content of fruits or other agricultural products by excluding any product containing alcohol derived from malt or by the distillation process from grain cereal, molasses, or cactus. (SF 618, effective July 1, 2019, amends Iowa Code §123.3 Definitions.)
Laws & Rules:
- Alcohol Statutes (Ch. 123)
- Administrative Code – Chapter 185 – The Department rescinded all existing agency procedure rules under the Lottery Authority, Alcoholic Beverages Division, and IDR and replaced them with a new set of rules under agency number 701, effective May 7, 2025.
- Revenue Department [701] Rules effective on May 7, 2025
Supplier Licensing
Required: Yes
Name: Vintner’s Certificate of Compliance (CV) – Vintners, manufacturers, importers of wine
Fee: $200
Expiration: 1 year from issue date
A Vintner’s Certificate of Compliance (CV) allows a manufacturer, vintner, bottler, importer or vendor to ship wine into Iowa for resale by licensed wine wholesalers. Applicants must sign into the new in 2021 Electronic Licensing and Permitting System (eLAPS).
Legislation (SF 2324) enacted in 2022 increases the annual fee from $100 to $200. In addition, the new law simplifies the renewal process by allowing for automatic renewal of the license upon payment of the $200 fee.
Resources:
Product Registration
Required: No
Price Posting: Not Required
The administrative rule requiring wine labels of products sold in Iowa to be submitted to the Division has been rescinded (see ARC 8730C, rescinding 185–Chapter 14). This change became effective on May 7, 2025.
Resources:
Franchise "Monopoly Protection" Law
Franchise Law: No
Exclusive Territories: Not Required
Iowa does not have a franchise law for wine.
Supplier Reporting Requirements
Required: Yes
Name: Report Of Shipments Of Wine
Due Date: Monthly, by the 15th
Suppliers must file monthly shipment reports through the eLAPS portal on the ABD website. A report must be filed even if no shipments were made during the reporting period.
Effective Nov. 3, 2025, Vintners Certificate of Compliance holders are no longer required to submit monthly reports to DOR.
Resources:
Sales Representative Licensing
Available: No
The holder of a vintner’s certificate of compliance is not required to register or obtain permits for employees in Iowa. Only Class “A” permit holders (wholesalers) are required to register sales representatives with the division.
Resources:
Self-Distribution
License: Not Allowed
Interstate self-distribution is not permitted.
Alcohol & Tax Operations Division,
Iowa Department of Revenue
1918 SE Hulsizer Road
Ankeny, IA 50021
Phone: 515-281-7400
Fax: 515-281-7385
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