Utah issues gun licenses for the possession of firearms in the state.

To apply, you should submit a pistol permit application but after you satisfy all requirements provided by the gun laws of the state.

Utah Gun Permit Summary

Utah is a shall-issue state for gun permits, and the Department of public safety processes the application.

The state does not issue a permit to buy firearms.

How To Get A Gun Permit In Utah?

To get a gun permit in Utah, you have to apply, and you must be at least eighteen years old, with legal rights to possess firearms.

Utah pistol permit is for open and concealed carry.

Utah Gun Permit Law

You can open carry in Utah if you have a pistol license in the state. The age requirement to open carry is eighteen years old.

However, only those who have legal rights to possess firearms can open carry.

Also, you can open carry firearms without a license if it is not loaded or it is at least two actions away from discharge.

However, in some locations of the state, possession of firearms is wholly prohibited with or without a gun permit.

In Utah, it is prohibited to possess machine guns and similar firearms if you are not a federally licensed individual. Anybody that violates this law is guilty of a felony.

Also, there are no ammunition restrictions in Utah.

Utah Pistol Permit Requirements

You must meet all the requirements provided by Utah pistol permit laws, and they include the following:

  • You must be at least twenty-one years old to apply for the permit, or eighteen years old for a provisional license.
  • You must provide proof that you are of good character.
  • You must complete Utah firearm training in the state.
  • You must not be a convict for any felony case.
  • You must not be a convict of any crime that has to do with violence.
  • You must not be a convict for any crime that has to do with the consumption of alcohol.
  • You must not be a convict for any crime that has to do with the use of hard drugs like narcotics, or any substance under control by the drug enforcement agency of the state.
  • You must not be a convict for any moral offense in the state.
  • You must not be a convict for any domestic assault case.
  • You must not be adjudged as being mentally unstable by a court in the USA unless the verdict was reversed or canceled.
  • You must meet the qualification to buy and handle firearms as provided by gun laws in Utah.
  • You must meet all federal laws for permit applications in the state.

Different Types Of Gun Permits In Utah

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

  • State permit to purchase long guns: Utah does not issue a state permit to buy long guns.
  • State permits to purchase handguns: Utah does not issue a state permit to purchase handguns.
  • State permit to open carry: Utah is a licensed open carry state.
  • State permits to conceal carry long guns: Utah does not issue a state permit to conceal long guns.
  • State permits to conceal carry handguns: Utah issues a pistol permit to conceal carry handguns in the state.

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

Initial permit application in Utah is fifty-three dollars and twenty-five cents for both residents and non-residents of the state.

However, renewal permits cost twenty dollars for residents and twenty-five dollars for non-residents.

Gun Permits Application And Renewal Law In Utah

The processes to apply for gun permits in Utah are:

Complete Firearm Training

You must enroll for a Utah firearm training endorsed by the Bureau of Criminal Identification in the state.

Obtain The Application

You can download the application via an online website.

Take Your Fingerprints

You can do this at the Bureau of Criminal Identification or via a local law enforcement agency in the state.

Submit The Necessary Documents

Complete your application form, and submit it physically to the BCI or send it via email with the following documents:

  • Your driver’s license.
  • Your passport photograph.
  • For non-resident permit application, you must first provide a license from your state of residence. Note that the license must be one that meets all requirements for permits in Utah.
  • Your fingerprint card.
  • Your firearm training certificate.

Receive Notification Mail

After the processing period, you will receive a mail to notify you of an approved or denied application.

In Utah, you can apply for a provisional gun permit application if you are between the age range of eighteen to twenty.

This application is for both residents and non-residents of the state, and the requirements are the same as those for a regular concealed firearm permit.

The application processes are also the same.

A provisional permit cannot be valid after the holder’s twenty-first birthday. So you have to apply for the regular license as soon as you are twenty-one years old.

Note that provisional permit holders must obey all regulations, just like the regular permit holders. Provisionals permits can also not be used outside Utah.

You cannot conceal carry in school premises with your provisional permit.

For the permit renewal process, you will receive a notification from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at least one month before the expiry date of your current permit.

You can submit your renewal application online, via mail or physically.

Gun Permit Reciprocity With Utah

Utah will allow permits from other jurisdictions in the country.

Other aspects of its reciprocity include the following:

States that Recognize Pistol Permit From Utah

You can possess firearms in these states if you have a pistol permit from Utah. However, the possession of a firearm must be according to the gun laws of these states.

  • Alabama
  • Delaware
  • Indiana
  • Montana
  • North Dakota

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity With Utah

These states will allow you to possess firearms within their territory if you have a Utah pistol license. However, you must meet other individual requirements too. They are:

  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • Puerto Rico

States That Do Not Require A Pistol Permit For The Possession Of Firearms

These are permitless carry states, and to possess firearms, you do not need to have a license from any states. Also, most of these states have constitutional carry policies. The states are:

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

FAQs About Gun Permits In Utah

Some of the most frequently asked questions about pistol permit application and renewal include the following:

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

Yes, Utah issues a pistol license for concealed carry of firearms in the state.

For How Long Is Utah Gun Permit Valid?

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

How Many Types Of Pistol Permits Does Utah Issue?

Utah issued two types of pistol permits, the regular and provisional licenses.

Provisional permits are for applicants that are between the age of eighteen and twenty-one.

Can Non-Residents Apply For Utah Gun Permits?

Yes. The process to apply for a non-resident permit is the same for a resident permit. However, you must complete a firearm training course conducted by a Utah certified instructor.

If you are a resident from another state that Utah recognizes, you can submit your license for the application of a Utah gun permit.

Also, underage non-residents can apply for a provisional permit in Utah.

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

To change your name, address, or any other details of your pistol license, you need to complete a replacement permit alongside your driver’s license and notarize it.

The cost of a replacement permit is ten dollars.

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

Apply for a replacement permit. The fee is ten dollars.

You can apply for the permit as soon as you establish residency in Utah.

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

Yes, if you move to another state, your Utah pistol license will be valid until it expires, provided you apply for a replacement permit for a change of residency.

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

Yes, you need a pistol license to open carry loaded firearms. However, for unloaded guns, you do not need a pistol license.

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

You must be at least twenty-one years old to apply for Utah pistol license, and between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one for provisional permits.

Do I need A Permit To Purchase Firearms In Utah?

No, Utah does not issue a permit to buy firearms

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

Yes, permits holders do not require criminal record checks to buy firearms in Utah.

Do I Need An Utah Pistol Permit To Possess Firearms In My Private Property?

No, there are no requirements to own a pistol license on private properties or dwelling places.

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

Yes, you must complete a Utah firearm training conducted by a state-certified instructor.

What Is The Processing Period For Firearm Permits In Utah?

The processing period for a pistol permit application in Utah is sixty days.

Does Utah Have Ammunition And Firearm Restrictions?

Utah prohibits machine guns and assault weapons for residents of the state that do not have a federal license for the possession of such firearms.

There is no prohibition on ammunition in Utah.

Is Utah A Preemption Gun Law State?

Yes, Utah preempts gun laws in the state. However, local municipalities can regulate the discharge of firearms on their premises.

What Is The Minimum Age Requirement For The Possession Of Firearms In Utah?

You must be at least eighteen years old to possess firearms in the state.

Relevant Gun Permit Laws And Legislature In Utah

Utah gun laws that have to do with pistol permit, concerning gun laws of the state include the following:


Possession Of Firearms In Private Vehicles

You can possess loaded firearms in private cars if you are a Utah gun permit holder. Without a permit, you carry unloaded guns, but you must be a person with legal rights to possess firearms.

[Utah Crim. Code § 76-10-505(1)]

Possession Of Firearms In Roadside Areas Of The State

You can possess firearms in roadside areas of the state if you are a pistol permit holder, or you have one from a state that it recognizes.

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

If you have a conceal carry license, you can possess firearms in state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas in Utah.

For more information, visit the park website.

Possession Of Firearms In Restaurant And Bar Areas

There are no gun statutes in Utah that prohibit concealed carry of firearms for licensees in restaurant and bar areas except there is a post preventing this or the person is under the influence of alcohol.

Possession Of Firearms In Hotels

Utah gun laws do not prohibit the possession of firearms in Hotel areas of the state. Hotels can come up with policies regulating the possession of weapons on their premises, and there is no guarantee that you can carry a firearm if you are a permit holder.

Visit hotel websites for more information.

Possession Of Firearms In Employee Parking Lots

Utah statute, [Utah Crim. Code § 34-45-103], prohibits employees or property owners from preventing individuals from storing firearms and ammunition in vehicles parked in areas designated for them if they satisfy the following requirements:

The person has legal rights to carry, possess, transport, buy, and store firearms.

The person stores the firearms securely in the car, for example, in a locked compartment.

The person stores the firearm in such a way that it is not visible to anyone from outside the vehicle.

Places exempted by this law include schools, government buildings, places of worship, and some residential places.

Additional Resources

Utah Gun Laws
Utah Concealed Carry Laws
Utah Open Carry Laws

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