Tennessee issues pistol permits for the possession of firearms in the state.

To apply, you must meet all the gun requirements provided by the state laws.

Tennessee Gun Permit Summary

Tennessee is a shall-issue state for the application of firearms processed by the department of safety and homeland security.

The state does not issue purchase permits to buy firearms.

• Recommended Reading: Tennessee Gun Laws

How To Get A Gun Permit In Tennessee?

To apply for gun licenses in Tennessee, you must be at least twenty-one years old and have legal rights to carry firearms in the state.

Tennessee Gun Permit Laws

You need an enhanced pistol permit to open carry firearms in Tennessee. Without the license, you can only open carry guns that are not loaded.

However, even with a permit, Tennessee prohibits the possession of firearms in some parts of the state like schools and government buildings.

Tennessee prohibits the possession of machine guns and similar firearms, except for law enforcement officers, military members, museum purposes, federally licensed individuals, and those permitted by the state to sell assault weapons.

Tennessee Pistol Permit Requirements

Before you can successfully apply for a gun license in Tennessee, you must meet the state gun requirements provided by its law, and this includes the following:

• You must be at least twenty-one years old before you apply for the permit. Members of the military must be at least eighteen years old or honorably discharged from service.
• You must complete the necessary Tennessee firearm training for the permit you want.
• You must be a resident of Tennessee.
• You must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident.
• You must not be an alcohol dependent, drug defendant, or a mentally disabled person.
• You must not be a convict for any criminal offense or felony.
• You must not be a convict for stalking.
• You must not have any protection orders from the court.
• You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
• You must not be an addict of narcotics of any substance controlled by the drug enforcement agency, or be a patient in a mental institution for at least ten years before Tennessee gun permit application.
• You must not have multiple charges or a single charge for driving under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating substance ten years and five years, respectively, before application.
• You must not be a mentally defective person, committed to a mental home, have a developmental illness, or adjudged to be a threat due to a mental disease seven years before application.
• You must meet all federal requirements for the gun permit application.

Different Types Of Gun Permits In Tennessee

A summary of firearms permits issued in Tennessee includes the following:

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

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

The cost of a lifetime enhanced permit is three hundred dollars, or two hundred dollars if you are updating it from an eight-year permit.

For an ordinary enhanced pistol permit, the cost for the application is one hundred dollars, while the fee for a renewal is fifty dollars.

Military members and those honorably discharged from service will pay a fee of sixty-five dollars for the permit.

Ordinary concealed carry permits are valid for eight years and costs sixty-five dollars.

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

The processes to apply for gun permits in Tennessee includes the following:

Complete A Firearm Training Class

You need to complete the required training course for the permit you choose.

A regular permit must consist of a ninety-minute Tennessee training. An enhanced license, on the other hand, must include an eight hours safety class.

The only exception for firearm training is military members.

Make sure that a state-certified instructor is in charge of your training.

Complete The Online Application

Complete the application online or visit your local sheriff’s office to do so.

Submit The Necessary Documents

Visit the driver’s service center with the following documents:

• Your USA proof of residence.
• A means of identification. This could either be a driver’s license or your state-issued ID card.
• For residents that do not have a driver’s license, submit your state residency proof. This must include your name and address.

Pay the required fee.

After processing your application, take your fingerprint.

Receive Mail Notification

You will get an approved mail after the processing period.

For the renewal permit process in Tennessee, you can begin the application six months before the expiry date of your current permit.

You can also renew your permit up to a cycle after its last expiry date, if more than eight years pass before your last renewal, then the license becomes invalid and you have to apply for another one.

Gun Permit Reciprocity With Tennessee

Tennessee will allow pistol permits issued by any jurisdiction of the United States.

Other aspects of its reciprocity include the following:

States That Recognize Tennessee Pistol License

In these states, you can possess firearms if you are a Tennessee gun licensee.

However, you must carry firearms according to the gun laws of the states. They include the following:

• Alabama
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Montana
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
• Puerto Rico

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity With Tennessee

These states will accept a gun permit from Tennessee, but there are other individual requirements that a permit holder must meet before he or she can possess firearms in the state. The states are:

• Colorado
• Florida
• Michigan
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Dakota
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina

States With Permitless Carry Policy

These states will accept the possession of firearms within their territory without a gun license, as long as you satisfy every other requirement. They include the following:

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

FAQs About Gun Permits In Tennessee

Some of the most frequently asked questions about Tennessee pistol permit application and other important information you need to know include the following:

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

Yes, to conceal carry firearms, you need a Tennessee issued pistol license.

For How Long Is Tennessee Pistol Permit Valid?

Tennessee gun license is valid for eight years, after which you have to apply for a renewal permit.

How Many Types Of Pistol Permits Does Tennessee Issue?

Tennessee issues two types of pistol permits. The regular concealed carry handgun permits and an enhanced pistol permit.

The enhanced pistol permit will allow you to possess firearms in more states than the regular license.

Can Non-Residents Apply For Tennessee Gun Permits?

Tennessee will issue pistol permit to any of the following Non-residents in the state:

• Members of the military posted to the state.
• Non-residents from another state that regularly work in Tennessee.
• Non-residents employed in the state for at least six months before making the application.
• Non-residents that have a pistol license issued from their state.

Note that the application process for non-residents is the same for residents of the state.

How Can I Change The Name And Address On My Tennessee Gun License?

If you change your name or permit in Tennessee, you are under obligation to inform the state department of safety and homeland security to issue a change in the records. The notification may be online or in writing.

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

For missing or stolen permits, you need to apply for a replacement permit. You can get a new license at any Tennessee driver’s services center.

You can also mail the duplicate application and a check of five dollars to the state department of safety and homeland security.

How Soon Can I Apply For Tennessee Gun Permit After Moving To The State?

If you are a new resident in Tennessee that moved in from any of the states that it recognizes and you have a license, you can apply for the pistol permit immediately.

However, if this is not the case, you have to live in Tennessee for at least six months before applying.

Can I Make Use Of Tennessee Gun Permit After Moving To Another State In The Country?

No, upon establishing residency in Tennessee, your gun permit becomes invalid and expires immediately.

Do I Need A Tennessee Gun Permit To Open Carry In The State?

Yes, you need to be an enhanced permit holder in Tennessee before you open carry in the state.

Tennessee is a licensed open carry state.

What Is The Minimum Age Requirement To Apply For Tennessee Gun Permit?

You must be at least twenty-one years old to apply for a gun permit in Tennessee.

Do I need A Permit To Purchase Firearms In Tennessee?

No, Tennessee does not issue purchase permits to buy firearms.

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

No, regardless of if you are a permit holder or not, you must complete a criminal record check before buying firearms.

Do I Need A Tennessee Gun Permit To Possess Firearms In My Private Property?

No, there is no requirement that you must be a permit holder for the possession of firearms in private properties, personal vehicles, or dwelling places.

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

Yes, you must complete a firearm training before applying for a pistol permit in Tennessee.

What Is The Processing Period For Firearm Permits In Tennessee?

The processing period for the application of gun licenses in Tennessee is ninety days.

What Is The Age Requirement For The Possession Of Firearms In Tennessee?

You must be at least eighteen years old to apply for pistol permits in Tennessee.

Relevant Gun Permit Laws And Legislature In Tennessee

Some of Tennessee gun permit laws relating to the possession of firearms in the state include the following:

Possession Of Firearms In Private Vehicles In The State

You can either open or conceal carry firearms in private vehicles, as long possession of weapons is not prohibited in the state or federally.

[Tenn. Code. Ann. § 39-17-1307(e)(1)

Possession Of Firearms In Roadside Areas Of Tennessee

Tennessee allows the possession of firearms in roadside areas of the state for enhanced permit holders and those that have a license from any state that it recognizes.

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

According to the statute, [Tenn. Code. Ann. § 39-17-1311], you can possess firearms in these places as long as you are an enhanced permit older or you have a pistol permit from one of the states Tennessee recognizes.

For more information, visit websites of the state or national park in Tennessee.

Possession Of Firearms In Restaurant and Bar Areas Of The State

You can possess firearms in restaurants and bar areas of Tennessee if you have your pistol permit.

However, if there is a post prohibiting the possession of firearms in the places or you are under the influence of alcohol, you cannot carry guns in restaurants or bar spaces.

[Tenn. Code. Ann. § 39-17-1321]

Possession Of Firearms In Hotel Areas Of The State

The statute [Tenn. Code. Ann. § 39-17-1359(b)], indicates that private businesses and properties in the state may prohibit the possession of firearms on their premises or regulate it as they deem fit.

This law also applies to hotels, and they can develop policies to control the possession of firearms in their facilities.

For more information, visit the hotel website.

Possession Of Firearms In Employee’s Parking Lot

Tennessee pistol permit holders can keep firearms and ammunition in their vehicles parked in public or private property in the state, so far, the car is in a garage or parking lot designated for it.

Also, the permit holder must make sure that he or she locks the firearm in a compartment away from the public view.

Furthermore, Tennessee gun law does not allow employers to prohibit employees from the possession of firearms or ammunition in their car, as described above.

[Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-312]

[Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1313(a)]

Additional Resources

Tennessee Gun Laws
Tennessee Concealed Carry Laws
Tennessee Open Carry Laws