Idaho is one of the US states that just legalized constitutional carry. But the state still issues a license to conceal carry. It is a shall-issue state, and as long as you meet all firearm requirements, you will be issued a gun permit. Processing of permits is overseen at a local county level by the sheriff in charge.

You do not need a gun license to buy firearms from private dealers in the state, neither will you have to complete a firearm background check. There are also no firearm registration and waiting periods for gun shows and private sellers.

However, if you want to buy a firearm from a federally licensed dealer in the state, you will need to complete the statutory firearm background check. But if you are a concealed carry licensee already, you will not have to complete the check.

Possession of Firearms in Idaho

Open carry is legal in Idaho. You are not required to own a permit before you can open carry, and the age requirement is at least eighteen years old. But you cannot open carry in some restricted parts of the state.

In 2020 constitutional carry Idaho became legal for concealed possession of firearms within the state. The age requirement is to conceal carry is a minimum of eighteen years old. The state issues its concealed weapon license to both residents and nonresidents.

For the sake of residents that would like to possess firearms outside Idaho, the state does not only issue concealed weapon licenses. An enhanced license is meant for this purpose. To apply for a gun license in the state, it is mandatory that you complete firearm training that is approved by the state’s gun law legislature.

Idaho laws state that the possession of firearms is legal in personally owned vehicles and with permission in someone else’s car. The state also has allowed concealed carry of firearms in the roadside area for those that have the gun permit.

Idaho does not prohibit the possession of firearms in state or national forests, parks, and wildlife management areas. Idaho gun laws permit the possession of firearms in restaurants and bar areas for permit license holders, except there is a post prohibiting such or the person is under the influence of alcohol.

According to Idaho gun laws, a hotelkeeper or attendant can banish a person who possesses a firearm from the premises, and he or she has the right not to provide accommodation to such a person.

To possess firearms in such establishments, you can call to make inquiries about their laws and policies. Employers have the right to prohibit employees from storing firearms in vehicles in the parking lot.

Unlike most states, Idaho permits the possession and open carry of machine guns and semi-automatic firearms, as long as they are licensed.

Places Where You Cannot Possess Firearms in Idaho

Using firearms without a permit in Idaho does not imply that you can carry guns in every location of the state. Even those that have either of the state gun licenses are prohibited from firearm possession in certain areas of the state.

• You cannot conceal carry in universities dormitories or halls of residence. This also includes public areas and premises within a university or a college that have a post prohibiting the usage of guns.
• You cannot conceal carry in public or primary schools, both secondary and elementary. This includes school activities that are not within the school premises. An exception to this is adults that can legally conceal carry and have their firearm with them in the school’s parking lot. The firearm must be locked away from public view and remain in the vehicle at all times.
• You cannot conceal carry in a school bus or any vehicle that is meant for the transportation of school students
• You cannot conceal carry in a building that is used for children care
• You cannot conceal carry in an outdoor event that is organized for children
• You cannot conceal carry in government veterans’ residence
• You cannot conceal carry within prison premises or a juvenile facility
• You cannot conceal carry within the premises of a privately owned building or any property that has signage prohibiting the use of a firearm
• You cannot conceal carry while under the influence of alcohol or any drug substance
• You cannot conceal carry in any place where the possession of a firearm is not prohibited by federal laws.

Application For Gun License in Idaho

Application for the gun license can be done by downloading the form online or visiting your local sheriff’s office. The next thing is submitting other documents needed to complete your application. The documents required in Idaho are certificates of firearm training and photo identification. After taking the documents to the local sheriff’s office, your fingerprints will be collected. Then you have to wait for the stipulated period for mail approval.

Idaho concealed carry permit expires after five years. If you intend to continue carrying, you have to renew your permit. Your Idaho permit renewal must be within a period of ninety days prior to and after your permit expires. If you fail to renew your permit after this period, then you have to apply for a new one again

To renew the permit, just as it was for the application process, download your renewal application online or pick it up from your county sheriff’s office. Submit the important documents like a filled application and a photo identification. Then await approval.

Idaho Permit has a waiting period of ninety days, and it is issued to both residents and non-residents. There are no variations in residents and non-resident permits application and requirements. As a non-resident, if you have an already issued permit from your state of residence, you can apply for Idaho’s enhanced gun license.

Application for a non-resident permit can be done anytime. But for a resident’s permit, you must have lived in Idaho for at least six months.

For firearm training, Idaho accepts a number of complete firearms training courses. They include the following:

A hunter education course that is recognized by Idaho’s fish and game department, or a related department from other states.

A National Rifle Association gun safety training under a hunter course.

• Gun laws of the state will accept firearm training overseen by any of the following:
• A law enforcement agency
• Managements of colleges
• Universities and schools,
• Firearm training with state-approved instructors from NRA or the state’s police force.

For an enhanced permit training in Idaho, you need more training than the basic permit’s training. This will include an eight-hour duration training class and the use of assault weapons

Requirements to Apply for Idaho Gun License

To successfully apply for an Idaho gun license, you have to meet all requirements provided by the gun law. The state is obligated to issue licenses to only people that meet these requirements.

• You must be at least twenty-one years old to apply for the Idaho gun permit.
• You must be a legal citizen of the United States and a legal resident of Idaho.
• You must not be someone who has renounced the country’s citizenship in the past.
• You must complete an Idaho firearm class from a recognized course.
• You must be a resident of Idaho for more than six months.
• You must not be charged for any kind of crime that had you imprisoned for more than a year.
• You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
• You must not be an illicit user of drugs, stimulants, or other substances that are under the control of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
• You must not lack mental capacity following Idaho law.
• You must not be mentally impaired.
• You must not be a disabled person in accordance with Idaho state laws.
• You must not be an incapacitated person, according to Idaho state laws.
• You must not have dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces.
• You must not be guilty or on probation for a misdemeanor, violent activities, like using physical force against another person and adjourned as a threat to anyone. An exception to this is a completed probation period.
• You must not be guilty of any crime that has to do with breaking Idaho gun permit laws or having a sentence for a permit prohibited case.
• You must not have a judge’s restriction or protection in your name.
• You must meet all other federal laws that have to do with applying for a CCW permit.

Is Constitutional Carry Idaho Allowed in Some Parts of the State?

The state government of Idaho has all rights and authority concerning possession and use of firearms in the state. However, local areas can adopt policies to regulate the usage of firearms within their territories, for safety reasons.

The preemption gun law explicitly states that no municipality, county, or political subdivision in the state can create ordinances, regulate or enact laws that have to do with the possession, transportation, licensing, buying, and selling of ammunition, firearms, and their components.

Additional Resources

Idaho Gun Laws
Idaho Concealed Carry Laws
Idaho Open Carry Laws
Idaho Gun Permit Laws