REVISED

Gun Permit and License Fees
By: Carl Skaats, Legislative Fellow Ashley Daley, Legislative Fellow
March 30, 2017	|	2017-R-0066

Issue

This report shows gun permit or license fees in 36 states, the District of Columbia (D.C.), and New York City. It updates and replaces OLR Report 2013-R-0048.

Summary

This report shows gun permit fees (or license or certification fees, as applicable) in 36 states, D.C., and New York City that require individuals to have a permit or license to carry handguns and, in some cases, acquire and possess handguns. All of the states have exemptions from the permit requirements, typically for law enforcement personnel.

What is allowed under the permit or license varies (e.g., open or concealed carrying). Permit and license fees also vary widely, as do the periods for which the credentials are valid. In several states, counties are allowed to charge local fees, which are in addition to the state fee. Also, in most states an applicant must pay an additional fee for fingerprinting and criminal history record checks.

Fourteen states (Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming) do not require permits or licenses generally but some of them issue them, for special purposes, such as reciprocity (e.g. Idaho and Missouri), and some require people age 18 to 21 for example to have a permit (e.g., West Virginia). They are not included in this report.

Table 1 lists the credentials required to purchase, possess, or carry handguns as applicable, as well as the associated fees to get and renew the credential, in 36 states, D.C., and New York City. The following list provides a description of the information contained in each column in the table.

1. Jurisdiction and Link Website: This includes the name of the state, district, or city, as applicable. New York City is included separately because its permit scheme differs from the rest of the state. This column also provides a link to the jurisdiction’s official website that displays information on gun permit fees.
2. Permit Type: This column shows the type of credential, including permits, licenses or certificates.
3. Initial Permit/License/Registration Fee: This shows the initial fees for the license, permit, or certificate.
4. Renewal Fee/Credential Duration: Shows the renewal fees and how long the credential is valid.
5. Additional Fees and Information: Details any additional fees, requirements, or procedures.
6. Citations: Provides citations to relevant statutes or regulations.

Table 1: State Gun Permit (License or Registration) Fees

Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit Type^1,2,3	Initial Permit/License/Registration Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
Alabama	Concealed handgun carry license	Varies by county	Varies by county / varies from 1-5 years		Ala. Code § 13A-11-75
Arkansas	Concealed handgun carry license (not required in resident’s county)	$100 ($50 if applicant is age 65 or older)	$35 / 5 years	$37 criminal history record check fee; total renewal cost is $60 for all ages	Ark. Code §§ 5-73-302, 311 & 313
California	Firearm  safety certificate (required to purchase firearm)	$25	$25 / 5 years		Cal. Penal Code §§ 26840, 27540, 31615, 31650; Cal. Dept. Justice Firearm Safety Certificate Program
	Concealed carry weapons license	$44	$44 / 2 years	Up to $100 processing fee to local authority; fingerprinting and criminal history record check fee; up to $25 renewal application processing fee; California offers other types of concealed carry permits not included here	Cal. Penal Code § 26190, 11 C.C.R. § 4006
Colorado	Concealed handgun permit	$52.50 (Co. Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sets base application fee up to $100; actual fee varies by county)	$50 max / 5 years (actual fee varies by county)	Processing, fingerprint, and criminal history record check fee, which vary by county	C.R.S. §§ 18-12- 203, -205, -211; C.R.S. 24-72-306; see also CBI website

Table 1 (continued)
Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit/License Type	Initial Permit/License Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
Connecticut	Eligibility certificate for the purchase of handguns	$35	$35 / 5 years	$62 fee for fingerprints, photos, and criminal history record check; see State Police application instructions	CGS § 29-36f to -36h
	Permit to carry handguns	$140 ($70 for temporary permit and $70 for 5-year state permit)	$70 / 5 years	$62 for fingerprints, photos, and criminal history record check when applying for temporary local permit; see State Police application instructions	CGS §§ 29-30
Delaware	Concealed deadly weapon carry license (handgun)	$65	$52 / 3 years for initial permit; 5 years for subsequent renewals	$65 fingerprint and criminal history record check fee	Del. Code tit. 11, § 1441; see also State Bureau of Investigation website
District of Columbia	Concealed firearm permit	$13	Fee not specified in statutes / 3 years	$35 fingerprint and criminal history record check fee	D.C. Code §§ 7-2502.01 to -2502.07a
Florida	Concealed firearm license	Up to $60	Up to $50 / 7 years	$42 fingerprint processing and processing fee; a tax collector may collect and retain a convenience fee of $22 for new application and $12 for renewal application	Fla. Stat. § 790.06,  790.0625

Table 1 (continued)
Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit Type	Initial Permit/License Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
Georgia	Weapons carry license	Actual amount varies by county	$30 / 5 years	$5 fingerprinting fee	Ga. Code § 16-11-129
Hawaii	Permit to acquire a firearm	$42 county fee, $42 state fee / for initial permit	No renewal fees / 10 days (handguns); 1 year (long guns)	$42 fee only charged when individuals apply for initial permit, which covers FBI fingerprint and criminal history record check	Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-2
	Permit to carry (handguns)	$10	$10 / 1 year	May carry firearm only in county where permit issued	Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-9
Illinois	Firearm owners’ identification card (required to purchase or possess firearms and ammunition)	$10 (Armed forces members and reservists are exempt from fee)	Fee not specified in statutes / 10 years	Criminal history record check fee	430 ILCS 65/5 and 65/7
	Concealed carry permit	$150 for Illinois residents; $300 for nonresidents	Fee not specified in statutes / 5 to 6 years		430 ILCS 65/6 and 66/35
Indiana	Permit to carry handguns (4-year personal protection)	$10	Fee not specified in statutes / 4 years	Local fees may apply (Indiana also offers permits for hunting and target practice purposes only)	Ind. Code § 35-47-2-3 to 4
	Permit to carry handguns (lifetime personal protection)	$50 ($40 for applicants who possess a valid Indiana handgun license )	NA	Local fees may apply	Ind. Code § 35-47-2-3 to 4

Table 1 (continued)
Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit Type	Initial Permit/License Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
Iowa	Permit to acquire weapons	Varies by county (generally $5-$11)	Fee not specified in statutes / 1 year		Iowa Code §§ 724.17 to 724.18, 724.20
	Permit to carry weapons	$50	$25 / 5 years	County sheriffs may charge additional $5 fee for card production	Iowa Code § 724.11; Iowa Admin. Code r. 661- 91.4(724)
Kentucky	Concealed carry deadly weapon permit	$60	$60 / 5 years	$40 of $60 fee goes to State Police, $20 goes to county sheriff	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 237.110
Louisiana	Concealed carry handgun permit	$125 ($62.50 for anyone age 65 or older, $50 fee for first-time applicants who have not lived in Louisiana during previous 15 years pay additional)	$125 / 5 years	Individuals may request shorter-duration permit for proportionally reduced fee	La. Rev. Stat. § 40:1379.3(H)(2)
	Lifetime concealed carry handgun permit	$500 ($250 for anyone age 65 or older)	Lifetime		La. Rev. Stat. § 40:1379.3(V)
Maryland	Permit to carry firearms	$75	$50 / 3 years	$20 fingerprint fee; $18 to $30 criminal history record check fee	Md. Code, Public Safety, §§ 5-306, -309

Table 1 (continued)
Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit Type	Initial Permit/License Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
Massachusetts	Class A license to carry (purchase, possess, and carry firearms, including large-capacity guns)	$100	Fee not specified in statutes / 5 to 6 years	Class A license is only license in Massachusetts that allows concealed carrying of handguns for all purposes	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131
	Class B license to carry (purchase, possess, and carry small-capacity guns)	$100	Fee not specified in statutes / 5 to 6 years	Does not allow permittee to possess loaded concealed firearm in public places	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 131
	Firearms identification card (purchase, possess, and carry non-large capacity rifles and shotguns only)	$100 (age 18+), $25 (minors)	Fee not specified in statutes / 5 to 6 years		Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, § 129B

Table 1 (continued)
Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit Type	Initial Permit/License Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
Michigan	License to purchase handguns	No state fee (but applicant may be charged notary fee and $1 by sheriff providing copy of information)	Fee not specified in statutes / 30 days	Not required for holder of valid Michigan concealed pistol license	Mich. Comp. Laws § 28.422a
	Concealed pistol license	$100	$115 / Valid until applicant's birthday that falls between 4 and 5 years after license issued		Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 28.425b and 28.425l
Minnesota	Permit to purchase or transfer handguns or assault weapons	No fee	No fee for renewal / 1 year	Dealer may charge purchaser criminal history record check fee	Minn. Stat. § 624.7131
	Permit to carry handguns	Up to $100 (actual amount varies by county)	Up to $75 / 5 years		Minn. Stat. § 624.714

Table 1 (continued)
Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit Type	Initial Permit/License Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
Montana	Concealed weapon permit (Not required outside city limits)	$50	$25 / 4 years	County sheriff may charge applicant additional $5 fingerprinting fee	Mont. Code §§ 45-8-322
Nebraska	Concealed carry handgun permit	$100	$50 / 5 years		Neb. Rev. Stat. § 69-2436
Nevada	Concealed carry firearms permit	Up to $60	$25 / 5 years		Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 202.366, 202.3657, 202.3677
New Jersey	Permit to purchase a handgun	$2	90 days (renewable for an additional 90 days for good cause)		N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3;
	Firearms purchaser identification card	$5	Indefinite		N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3;
	Permit to possess and carry handguns	$20	$20 / 2 years		N.J. Stat. § 2C:58-4
	License to possess and carry machine guns and assault firearms	$75	$75 / 2 years		N.J. Stat. § 2C:58-5

Table 1 (continued)
Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit Type	Initial Permit/License Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
New York	License to purchase, possess, and carry handguns	$3 to $10, (actual amount varies by county)	No state cost for recertification / handgun owners must “recertify” every 5 years	County fees apply	N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00
New York City	Handgun Licenses (various)	$340	$340 / 3 years (handguns)	$87 fingerprint fee	NYC Admin Code §10-131
	Rifles and shotguns permit	$140	$140 / 3 years	$87 fingerprint fee	NYC Admin Code §10-303
North Carolina	Handgun purchase permit	$5	$5/ 5 years		N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-403,14-404
	Concealed handgun permit	$80	$75/ 5 years		N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-415.11,14- 415.16, 14-415.19
Ohio	Concealed carry handgun license	$67	$50 / 5 years	Residents of Ohio for less than 5 years must also pay for cost of FBI criminal history record check	Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.125
Oregon	Concealed carry handgun license	$50	$50 / 4 years	$15 fee for State Police fingerprint check	Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 166.291 to 166.292, 166.295
Pennsylvania	Concealed carry firearms (handguns) license	$19	Fee not specified in statutes / 5 years	$1 fee payable to the Firearms License Validation System Account	18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6109
Rhode Island	Concealed carry handgun license	$40	Fee not specified in statutes / 4 years		R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8, § 11-47-11, § 11-47-12

Table 1 (continued)
Jurisdiction and Link to Website	Permit Type	Initial Permit/License Fee	Renewal Fee/Credential Duration	Additional Fees and Notes	Citations
South Carolina	Concealed weapons permit	$50	$50 / 5 years	$5 fingerprinting fee	S.C. Code § 23-31-215
South Dakota	Concealed carry pistol permit	$10	Fee not specified in statutes / 5 years		S.D. Codified Laws § 23-7-8.2
Tennessee	Handgun carry permit	$100	$50 / 8 years	Sheriff may charge up to $5 for fingerprinting	Tenn. Code § 39-17-1351
Texas	Concealed handgun license	$140	$70 /  first birthday after 4th anniversary of issuance of license		Tex. Gov't Code § 411. 171-185; 37 Tex. Admin. Code § 6.15
Utah	Concealed firearm permit (handguns)	$37 residents, $47 nonresidents	$15 / 5 years	The Bureau of Criminal Identification may collect any fees charged by an outside agency for additional services required by statute as a prerequisite for issuance of a permit	Utah Code §§ 53-5-704 and -707
Virginia	Concealed handgun permit	Up to $50 ($100 for non-residents)	Up to $50 ($100 for non-residents) / 5 years		Va. Code § 18.2-308
Washington	Concealed pistol license	$36	$32 / 5 years	FBI criminal history record check fee	Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.070
Wisconsin	Concealed carry weapon license	$30	$12 / 5 years	$10 criminal history record check fee	Wis. Stat. § 175.60, s. 175.35(2i).

¹Special permits or licenses are not included in this table, e.g. the security guard permit required by Connecticut and special permits in California.

²In some cases, the permit requirement applies not just to handguns, but to other weapons (e.g. stun-guns, daggers, or dirks in state).

³In some cases, permits are issued by a state agency and valid statewide; in others, permits are issued by a local authority and valid only in the jurisdiction where issued.

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