Connecticut is one of the states with stringent gun permit laws.

Therefore, to apply for the pistol permit, you have to make sure that you fulfill all requirements.

Connecticut Gun Permit Summary

Connecticut is a may-issue state with the permit application processed by the Department of Emergency Service and Public Safety.

The issuing body has the discretion to either accept or reject the application.

The state also issues a purchase permit and mandates criminal record checks for the sales of firearms.

How To Get A Gun Permit In Connecticut?

Connecticut gun permit is legal for any resident of the state that is at least twenty-one years old without any legal issue for firearm possession, and non-residents with a license from their state.

Connecticut Gun Permit Laws

In terms of open carry, Connecticut is a licensed state, and only those with the pistol permit can open carry.

But there are still off-limit places for the possession of firearms in the state regardless of if a person is a permit holder or not.

Examples of these places are schools, government buildings, detention facilities, etc.

It is also a prohibition for anybody to manufacture, purchase, or possess assault weapons in the state.

Connecticut Pistol Permit Requirements

To apply for a Connecticut gun license, there are specific requirements provided by the state gun statute that you must meet. They are:

  • You must be at least twenty-one years old.
  • You must not be an illegal resident of the United States.
  • You must reside or have a business around the local area you are applying for the concealed pistol permit.
  • You must be willing to use the firearm for only legal purposes.
  • You must meet the background check requirement to receive a CCW permit.
  • You must complete a firearm carry class Connecticut.
  • You must not be a convict for a felony.
  • You must not be a user of drugs or controlled substances.
  • You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
  • You must not be guilty of a third-degree assault or reckless endangerment.
  • You must not be guilty of any case of stalking.
  • You must not be a victim of riot or unlawful restraint in the past.
  • You must not have any diagnosis of mental illness.
  • You must not have a legal restraining order from a judge due to threatening or use of physical force towards anybody.
  • You must not violate other federal government concealed carry permit requirements.

Different Types Of Gun Permits In Connecticut

A summary of firearms permits available in Connecticut includes the following:

  • State permit to purchase long guns: Connecticut does not issue a state permit to buy long guns.
  • State permits to purchase handguns: Connecticut does not issue a state permit to buy guns.
  • State permit to open carry: Connecticut is a licensed open carry state, and you need a pistol permit to use firearms openly.
  • State permits to conceal carry long guns: Connecticut does not issue a state permit to conceal handguns.
  • State permits to conceal carry handguns: Connecticut issues a pistol permit to conceal carry guns in the state.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Gun License In Connecticut?

The cost for a Connecticut pistol permit is one hundred and forty dollars in total.

This includes seventy dollars for an initial temporary permit and another seventy dollars for the permanent permit.

There are no additional costs for the criminal record background check and fingerprints.

Renewal permit application also costs seventy dollars.

Gun Permits Application And Renewal Law In Connecticut?

The process to apply for Connecticut pistol permit includes the following:

Complete A Training Course

You need first to complete a firearm training course licensed by the state.

Obtain Application

You can either download the application form from an online platform or obtain it from the police department.

Submit The Application

After completing the application, leave it unsigned. You can only sign it in front of an official when you take it for submission.

Other documents to provide during submission includes the following:

  • Cards that contain your fingerprints.
  • Copies of either your passport or birth certificate.
  • Firearm safety certificate or any proof that you completed a safety training.
  • The required fee.

The law enforcement agency will use the fingerprints card to complete a criminal record background check.

Receive Temporary Card

The local authority will give you a temporary card that is effective for just sixty days.

Complete State Application

Before the sixty-day period elapses, visit the state police department, where you will complete the pistol permit application.

For this, you will need the following:

  • The temporary Connecticut pistol permit issued by your local law enforcement agency.
  • Proof that you are a legal citizen of the United States of America. This could be either a birth certificate or a passport.
  • Your Connecticut issued identification card.

Final Approval

If the department of public safety approves, you will get your permanent identification card.

Connecticut permit renewal process can begin three months before the actual expiry date of the current permit.

The Connecticut issuing board will send a letter about renewing the permit to your address around this time.

You can still apply for the renewal application up to ninety days after the permit expires.

After this period, the permit becomes invalid, and to get a new one, you have to start the process again all over.

Connecticut permit renewal can also be done via mail.

Connecticut Gun Permit Reciprocity

Connecticut does not honor a permit from any other state in the USA. Other aspects of the reciprocity include the following:

States That Recognize Connecticut Pistol Permit

You can possess firearms with a Connecticut pistol permit in these states. However, you must handle the firearm in compliance with the gun laws of these states.

  • Alabama
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Puerto Rico

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity

You can make use of your Connecticut gun permit in this state, only after you have met the requirements available. The only state that has such reciprocity with Connecticut is Michigan.

State With Permitless Policy

These states do not issue a gun permit for the possession of firearms within their territory. However, some of them have age requirements to meet before this permitless carry. They are:

  • Arizona
  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia

FAQs About Gun Permits In Connecticut

Some of the most frequently asked questions about Connecticut pistol permit laws and the application for the permits include the following:

Do I Need A Permit To Conceal Carry Firearms In Connecticut?

Yes. You can only conceal carry in Connecticut with a handgun permit issued in the state.

What Is The Validity Period For Handgun Permits In Connecticut?

A temporary permit issued by the local authority, with a validity of sixty days, while the original license is valid for five years.

Can Non-Residents Apply For Connecticut Firearm Permits?

Yes, Connecticut will issue a permit to non-residents who have a license from a state-recognized by any jurisdiction in the United States of America.

Non-residents can complete this process via mail.

Can I Change The Name And Address On My Connecticut Gun Permit?

Connecticut gun statute requires that before a change in your firearm permit, you must notify the licensing authority at least two days prior.

After the notification, you can file for a change via a mail to the licensing and firearm unit of Connecticut.

While filing, make sure that the application contains your name, your Connecticut pistol permit number, the old name or address, and the new name or address.

What Can I Do If I Lost My Connecticut Pistol Permit Or It Gets Stolen?

As soon as you realize that your permit is missing, make a report in the closest police station.

After reporting contact, the licensing authority and tell them about the missing or stolen permit.

Then, visit the state police department and apply for a duplicate permit. The cost of this is five dollars.

How Soon Can I Apply For Connecticut Pistol Permit After Moving To The State?

You can apply for a permit any time after moving to Connecticut.

Can I Make Use Of Connecticut Pistol Permit After Moving To Another State In The Country?

After gaining residency in another state, you can continue using your Connecticut gun permit until it expires.

However, you must contact the special licensing unit to report change or residency.

Do I Need An Connecticut Permit To Open Carry In The State?

Yes, you can only open carry in Connecticut with a pistol permit.

Connecticut is a licensed open carry state, and as long as you are at least twenty-one years old without a state prohibition to use firearms, you can open carry without an issue.

What Is The Minimum Age Requirement To Apply For Connecticut Pistol Permit?

You must be at least twenty-one years old before applying for a Connecticut gun license.

Do I need A Permit To Purchase Firearms In Connecticut?

Yes, you need a certificate of eligibility for pistol and revolver, or Connecticut pistol license to buy firearms in the state.

Does Connecticut Pistol Permit Exempt From Completing A Criminal Record Background Check Before Buying Firearms In The State?

No, even with a pistol permit, the criminal record background check is mandatory for the purchase of firearms in Connecticut.

Is Connecticut Pistol Permit Needed For Possession Of Firearms In Private Building?

No, you do not need a permit to make use of firearms in private properties, workplaces, or private vehicles.

Do I Need To Complete A Firearm Training Before Applying For Connecticut Gun Permit?

Connecticut pistol law requires the completion of firearm training in the state before a gun permit application.

The training must be state-licensed and conducted by a certified instructor.

How Long Is The Processing Period For Connecticut Gun Permit?

The processing period for the gun permit is sixty days, but there will be a temporary permit for this period.

The temporary permit expires after the original license is available or after sixty days.

Is Connecticut A Preemption Gun Law State?

No. Connecticut allows local municipalities to enact gun laws for the regulation of firearms within their territories.

Can I Conceal carry While Hunting In Connecticut?

No. Connecticut prohibits concealed carry while hunting.

What Is The Age Limit To Possess Firearms In Connecticut?

The age limit for firearm possession in Connecticut is eighteen years old.

Relevant Gun Permit Laws And Legislature In Connecticut

Connecticut gun laws relating to pistol permits in the state include the following:

Possession Of Firearms In Private Vehicles

You can possess a firearm in your car if you have a Connecticut pistol permit.

If you do not have a permit, the firearm must not be loaded, and if there is ammunition, it must be kept in a separate compartment with the firearm.

Also, since the first of October in twenty-nineteen, a law came into effect that any pistol or handgun in unattended vehicles must be kept away in the glove box, a toolbox, or the vehicle trunk.

[Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 29-38d]

[Public Act 19-7]

Possession Of Firearms In Forests, Parks, And Wildlife Management Areas

According to [Conn. Admin. Rule § 23-4-1] it is a prohibition to possess firearms in parks, forests, and wildlife management areas of Connecticut without a permit.

Possession Of Firearms In Roadside Areas

It is not a prohibition to possess firearms in roadside areas of the state, as long as you have a Connecticut pistol permit.

Possession Of Firearms In Restaurant And Bar Areas

Possession of firearms in restaurant and bar areas is not illegal if you have a Connecticut pistol permit, except there is a post restricting such by the management of the place.

Possession Of Firearms In Hotels And Similar Establishments In The State

According to [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-28(e)Connecticut pistol permit does not automatically allow the possession of firearms in any private property in the state where the owner or person in charge prohibits weapons on the premises.

This prohibition could either be with signage or verbally.

Therefore, only the management of a hotel can prohibit possession of firearms on the premises and come up with any other gun law.

Additional Resources

Connecticut Gun Laws
Connecticut Concealed Carry Laws
Connecticut Open Carry Laws

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