Kentucky issues pistol permits to those that meet the application requirements.

To obtain a permit, you must be familiar with Kentucky pistol permit law and its provision.

Kentucky Gun Permit Summary

Kentucky is a shall-issue state when it comes to a pistol permit application. The sheriff’s office in the local county is in charge of issuing the permit.

The state does not issue purchase permits, but permit holders do not have to undergo a criminal record check to buy firearms.

How To Get A Gun Permit In Kentucky?

Kentucky gun permit is available to residents of the state that are twenty-one years old or more and do not have federal or state prohibition against possessing firearms.

Kentucky issues permits for just concealed carry in the state.

Kentucky Gun Permit Laws

Kentucky pistol permit Is not mandatory for open carry in the state. Anybody that is eighteen years old or more and can legally possess firearms can open carry in Kentucky.

Also, Kentucky does not prohibit the possession, sales, and manufacturing of machine guns and other similar assault weapons as long as they are registered and handled in compliance with federal laws and regulations in the state.

However, armor-piercing ammunition is not legal in the state.

Kentucky Pistol Permit Requirements

To possess firearms in Kentucky, you must meet the requirements provided by gun laws of the state, and they include the following:

  • You must be at least twenty-one years old.
  • You must not be an illegal immigrant in the United States.
  • You must be a legal resident of Kentucky.
  • You must have lived in the state for a minimum of six years before filing for the Kentucky pistol permit application.
  • You must undergo and pass a licensed Kentucky concealed carry class.
  • You must not be a convict to any federal or state law due to the use of illicit substances or convicted of any crime related to the use of drugs or substances under control by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
  • You must not have more than two convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating substance that can affect your driving ability, within three years before your application.
  • You must not have been charged for any alcohol-related incident in the past three years before your Kentucky CCW application.
  • You must not be a child support debtor of a cumulative amount spanning over a year fee.
  • You must agree with any subpoena or child support warranty that requires you to settle proceedings.
  • You must not be a convict of any violent crime that results from the usage of fourth-degree terrorism within three years before your permit application.
  • You must meet all other federal laws that have to do with a pistol permit application.

Different Types Of Gun Permits In Kentucky

A summary of firearms permits in Kentucky includes the following:

  • State permit to purchase long guns: Kentucky does not issue a state permit to buy long guns.
  • State permits to purchase handguns: Kentucky does not issue a state permit to purchase handguns.
  • State permit to open carry: Kentucky is a permissive state, so no license required to open carry.
  • State permits to conceal carry long guns: Kentucky does not issue a state permit to conceal handguns.
  • State permits to conceal carry handguns: Kentucky issues a pistol permit to conceal carry guns in the state.

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

The price for both the initial permit application and renewal permit application is sixty dollars. This is broken down into twenty dollars for the county sheriff and forty dollars to the state’s treasurer office.

Renewal permit application processed after the expiry date will carry an extra charge of fifteen dollars.

This fee should be included with that of the forty dollars for the state treasurer office.

Gun Permits Application And Renewal Law In Kentucky?

The process for permit application in Kentucky includes the following:

Complete Your Training

Before anything, make sure that you have completed your firearm training course, this could also be a Kentucky concealed carry class online.

Make sure that the government recognizes the course you enroll for, and the instructor has a license.

Submit The Required Documents

After obtaining your firearm certificate, take it alongside your passport photograph to your local sheriff’s office in your suburban county.

You will get a Kentucky pistol permit application form, and you have to complete and sign it under oath.

Pay the required fee.

Get Approval Mail

Upon the approval of your application, you will receive a mail to notify you.

Your Kentucky pistol permit is valid for just five years, after which you will have to undergo the permit renewal process or forfeit it.

You can begin the process four months before the expiry date.

The state’s police department will send you a reminder mail to notify you of your expiry date during this period.

With this mail comes the renewal application form.

Failure to renew your permit application before it expires means that you have to pay an additional fee of fifteen dollars for late renewal.

You have until six months to pay this renewal fee, after which your Kentucky concealed carry permit will finally expire and become invalid.

After this, you can only apply for a new permit.

Here are the steps to renewing your permit

Submit Your Documents

Retrieve your renewal notice from the mail, and take it alongside your passport photograph to the local sheriff’s office.

After completing the application, you have to pay the required fee.

Receive Approval Mail

You will receive a mail to notify you of the application status.

Gun Reciprocity With Kentucky

Kentucky will honor permits from every other jurisdiction in the United States of America.

Other aspects of its reciprocity with other states include the following:

States That Kentucky Will Honor Their Pistol Permit

You can possess your firearm in Kentucky if you are from any state in the country. More so, Kentucky is a constitutional carry state that allows permitless carry of a gun for anyone that is twenty-one years old or more.

States That Recognize Kentucky Pistol Permit

These states will allow the use of Kentucky gun licenses for the possession of firearms within their territory. But you must handle the firearm according to gun laws in these states. They include the following:

  • Alabama
  • Delaware
  • Georgia
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • Puerto Rico

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity With Kentucky

These states also accept pistol permits from Kentucky, but you must meet specific requirements before using the pistol permit to possess firearms with their territory. They are:

  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Michigan
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina

States That Have Permitless Carry Policy

You can possess firearms in these states without a permit because, just like Kentucky, most of them operate on a permitless carry policy. They include the following:

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

FAQs About Gun Permits In Kentucky

Some of the most frequently asked questions about pistol permit in Kentucky include the following:

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

Yes, to conceal carry firearms in Kentucky, you must possess a pistol permit.

What Is The Validity Period Of Pistol Permit In Kentucky?

The validity period for the possession of pistol permits in Kentucky is five years.

Can A Non-Resident Apply For Kentucky Pistol Permit?

No, Kentucky only issues pistol permits to residents of the state and the military members posted to the state.

How Can I Change The Name And Address On My Kentucky Pistol Permit?

To change the details of your pistol permit in Kentucky, you must first notify the state police at least thirty days after changing the address or your name.

Anybody that does not notify the police violation law and must pay a twenty-five dollars fine

After notifying the police, you can now obtain the change of personal information form, complete it, and submit the office of the sheriff in the local county.

The sheriff will send this application to the state police department.

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

Report to the local county sheriff office and obtain a replacement pistol permit. The fee for a replacement permit is fifteen dollars.

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

You can apply for a Kentucky pistol permit at the sheriff’s office, in the local county you establish residency, as soon as you move to the state.

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

No, upon moving to another state, a Kentucky pistol permit becomes invalid and unusable.

Do I Need A Pistol Permit To Open Carry In Kentucky?

No, Kentucky does not require a permit for open carry in the state.

It is a permissive open carry state and anybody, eighteen years old or more, who does not have any prohibition against possessing firearms can open carry.

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

Anybody that is twenty-one years old or more without a prohibition to use firearms can apply for a Kentucky gun license.

Do I need A Permit To Purchase Firearms In Kentucky?

No, there are no purchase permits to buy firearms in Kentucky

Does My Firearm Permit Exempt Me From Completing A Criminal Record Background Check Before Buying Firearms In Kentucky?

Yes, Kentucky exempts permit holders from completing the criminal record check before buying firearms.

Do I Need A Kentucky Pistol Permit To Possess Firearms In My Private Property?

No, there is no need for a permit to possess firearms in personally owned properties or dwelling places.

Do I Need To Complete A Firearm Training Before Applying For Kentucky Pistol Permit?

Yes, you must complete a firearm training before the application of Kentucky pistol permit

What Is The Processing Period For Firearm Permits In Kentucky?

The processing period for permit application in Kentucky is ninety days.

Is Kentucky A Preemption Gun Law State?

Yes, the Kentucky state government has the right to regulate the possession of firearms in all jurisdictions of the state.

Can I Conceal Carry While Hunting In Kentucky?

Anybody that has legal rights to hunt in Kentucky can possess firearms while hunting. But it is a prohibition to use such guns to take down games during bow hunting.

What Is The Age Requirement To Possess Firearms In Kentucky?

You must be at least eighteen years old before you can possess firearms in Kentucky.

Relevant Gun Permits Laws And Legislature In Kentucky

Some of the gun laws in Kentucky related to its pistol permit include the following:

Possession Of Firearms In Private Cars

Kentucky allows the possession of firearms in private cars without a pistol permit.

As long as a person is twenty-one years old or more, they can possess firearms in the same place and the same way a pistol permit holder can conceal or open carry.

[Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 527.020]

[Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 237.109]

Possession Of Firearms In Roadside Areas

Kentucky gun law does not prohibit the possession of firearms in roadside areas of the state.

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

Kentucky allows the possession of firearms in state parks and forests.

However, some wildlife management areas will require a pistol permit, so you must visit their website for more information.

Possession Of Firearms In Restaurant And Bar Areas In The State

Concealed carry of firearms is legal in a restaurant area with a dining facility for at least fifty people, as long as there is no post prohibiting the possession of weapons in that area.

However, it is prohibited to possess firearms in bars and ventures that sell alcohol and generate more than half of their yearly income on the sale of alcohol.

[Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 237.110(16)(e)]

[Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 244.125(3)]

Possession Of Firearms In Hotels

According to Kentucky statute, [KRS § 237.110 (17)], private properties and businesses can prohibit the possession of a firearm within their premises with signage restricting weapons.

Therefore, hotel management can come up with policies to regulate the possession of firearms within their premises, so you have to visit the website for more information.

Possession Of Firearms In Employee Parking Lot

According to [Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 237.106], nobody, not even an employer, can prohibit anybody with legal rights to carry firearms, from possessing ammunition or guns anywhere.

Additional Resources

Kentucky Gun Laws
Kentucky Concealed Carry Laws
Kentucky Open Carry Laws

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