Iowa Code
Iowa Code § 704.4 (2026)
Defense of property
✓ current as of July 2026
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A person is justified in the use of reasonable force to prevent or terminate criminal interference with the person’s possession or other right in property. Nothing in this section authorizes the use of any spring gun or trap which is left unattended and unsupervised and\n\nTue Dec 09 21:56:47 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 704 (23, 0) 3 FORCE — REASONABLE OR DEADLY — DEFENSES, §704.10\n\nwhich is placed for the purpose of preventing or terminating criminal interference with the possession of or other right in property. [C51, §2774; R60, §4443; C73, §4113; C97, §5103; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §12922; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §691.2(2); C79, 81, §704.4] Referred to in §704.13 Spring guns and traps, see §708.9
\nNotes of Decisions
Cited in 15
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1983–2025 · leading case: State v. Ceaser, 585 N.W.2d 192 (Iowa 1998).
State v. Ceaser, 585 N.W.2d 192 (Iowa 1998). “Iowa Code section 704.4 allows the use of "reasonable force to prevent or terminate criminal interference with the person's possession or other right in property.”
State v. Nelson, 329 N.W.2d 643 (Iowa 1983). “The defense of justification of use of force in defense of property is codified in Iowa Code section 704.4, which in pertinent part states: “[a] person is justified in the use of reasonable force to prevent or terminate criminal interference with his or her possession or other…”
State v. Miller, 622 N.W.2d 782 (Iowa Ct. App. 2000). “See Iowa Code § 704.4 ; Nelson, 329 N.W.2d at 646 .”
State v. Peck, 539 N.W.2d 170 (Iowa 1995). “In Iowa, the justification defense is codified in section 704.4, which provides in part: A person is justified in the use of reasonable force to prevent or terminate criminal interference with the person’s possession or other right in property.”
State of Iowa v. Patricia Pranschke (Iowa Ct. App. 2017). “Iowa Code section 704.4 allows a person to use “reasonable force to prevent or terminate criminal interference with the person’s 5 Nevertheless, we do not sanction unlawful entry into the homes of private citizens by law enforcement officials, particularly where—as in this…”
State of Iowa v. Lamar Cheyeene Wilson (Iowa 2020). “13 provides, A person who is justified in using reasonable force against an aggressor in defense of oneself, another person, or property pursuant to section 704.4 is immune from criminal or civil liability for all damages incurred by the aggressor pursuant to the application of…”
State of Iowa v. Scott A. Thompson (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). “13 provides that “[a] person who is justified in using reasonable force against an aggressor in defense of oneself, another person, or property pursuant to section 704.4 is immune from criminal or civil liability for all damages incurred by the aggressor pursuant to the…”
State of Iowa v. Shane Michael Teslik (Iowa Ct. App. 2025). “See Iowa Code § 704.4 ; see State v. Johnson, 7 N.”
State of Iowa v. Joshua Daniel Gillette (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). “2d 643, 646 (Iowa 1983) (interpreting Iowa Code section 704.4 which codifies justification defense).”
Anita Babe v. Iowa Bd. of Educ. Examiners (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). “(4) For the protection of property as provided for in Iowa Code section 704.4 or 704.5. (5) To remove a disruptive pupil from class, or any area of school premises or from school-sponsored activities off school premises.”
Joshua Allen Taft v. Iowa Dist. Court For Monroe Cnty. (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). “Background Facts & Proceedings On October 13, 2008, Taft pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the third degree, in violation of section 704.4(2)(c)(4), a class “C” felony.”
State of Iowa v. Luke Van Hemert (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). “13, Iowa’s recently enacted stand-your-ground law, which provides: A person who is justified in using reasonable force against an aggressor in defense of oneself, another person, or property pursuant to section 704.4 is immune from criminal or civil liability for all damages…”
— Iowa Code § 704.4(2)(c)(4) — 1 case
Joshua Allen Taft v. Iowa Dist. Court For Monroe Cnty. (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). “Background Facts & Proceedings On October 13, 2008, Taft pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the third degree, in violation of section 704.4(2)(c)(4), a class “C” felony.”
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