Constitutional Carry States 2025
Permitless Carry
29
Requires Permit
22
State | Constitutional Carry Status↓ | Minimum Age | Effective Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | California | Requires Permit | ||
 | Colorado | Requires Permit | ||
 | Connecticut | Requires Permit | ||
 | Delaware | Requires Permit | ||
 | District of Columbia | Requires Permit | ||
 | Hawaii | Requires Permit | ||
 | Illinois | Requires Permit | ||
 | Maryland | Requires Permit | ||
 | Massachusetts | Requires Permit | ||
 | Michigan | Requires Permit | ||
 | Minnesota | Requires Permit | ||
 | Nevada | Requires Permit | ||
 | New Jersey | Requires Permit | ||
 | New Mexico | Requires Permit | ||
 | New York | Requires Permit | ||
 | North Carolina | Requires Permit | ||
 | Oregon | Requires Permit | ||
 | Pennsylvania | Requires Permit | ||
 | Rhode Island | Requires Permit | ||
 | Virginia | Requires Permit | ||
 | Washington | Requires Permit | ||
 | Wisconsin | Requires Permit | ||
 | Alabama | Permitless Carry | 21 | January 1, 2023 |
 | Alaska | Permitless Carry | 21 | September 9, 2003 |
 | Arizona | Permitless Carry | 21 | July 29, 2010 |
 | Arkansas | Permitless Carry | 18 | August 16, 2013 |
 | Florida | Permitless Carry | 21 | July 1, 2023 |
 | Georgia | Permitless Carry | 21 and 18 for military | April 12, 2022 |
 | Idaho | Permitless Carry | 18 | July 1, 2016. Additions July 1, 2019 & July 1,2020 |
 | Indiana | Permitless Carry | 18 | July 1, 2022 |
 | Iowa | Permitless Carry | 21 | July 1, 2021 |
 | Kansas | Permitless Carry | 21 | July 1, 2015 |
 | Kentucky | Permitless Carry | 21 | June 27, 2019 |
 | Louisiana | Permitless Carry | 21 | July 4, 2024 |
 | Maine | Permitless Carry | 21 | October 12, 2015 |
 | Mississippi | Permitless Carry | 21 | July 1, 2015 |
 | Missouri | Permitless Carry | 19 and 18 for military | January 1, 2017 |
 | Montana | Permitless Carry | 18 | February 18, 2021 |
 | Nebraska | Permitless Carry | 21 | September 2, 2023 |
 | New Hampshire | Permitless Carry | 18 | February 22, 2017 |
 | North Dakota | Permitless Carry | 18 | August 1, 2023 |
 | Ohio | Permitless Carry | 21 | June 13, 2022 |
 | Oklahoma | Permitless Carry | 18 for military | November 1, 2019 |
 | South Carolina | Permitless Carry | 18 | March 7, 2024 |
 | South Dakota | Permitless Carry | 18 | July 1, 2019 |
 | Tennessee | Permitless Carry | 18 for military | July 1, 2021 |
 | Texas | Permitless Carry | 21 | September 1, 2021 |
 | Utah | Permitless Carry | 21 | May 5 2021 |
 | Vermont | Permitless Carry | 18 | March 4, 1791 |
 | West Virginia | Permitless Carry | 21 | May 26, 2016 |
 | Wyoming | Permitless Carry | 21 | July 1, 2021 |
- Constitutional carry means that the state’s laws enable citizens who legally possess a handgun to carry it openly and/or in a concealed manner. Therefore, no state permit is required.
- Permitless carry includes not only constitutional carry states but also states where the carrier must meet certain qualifications in order to legally carry, such as having no DUIs for 5 years.
- Some states allow open carry without a permit but require a permit for concealed carry.
- Firearm carry laws may change at any time. Data shown should not be considered legally authoritative, and interested users are encouraged to confirm legality with local authorities.
In the United States, the phrase “constitutional carry,” also called permitless carry, means that someone can carry a concealed handgun without a license or permit. The term was derived from the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gives citizens the right to bear arms. As of 2024, there are 29 states with Constitutional Carry, the 29th being Louisiana, where CC goes into effect on July 4, 2024.
Aside from constitutional carry, states have concealed carry and open carry. In concealed carry states, a person can carry a legal weapon in their vehicle or on their person as long as it is hidden from sight. A permit is required in several states, and every state has laws about whether or not a permit will be issued to residents or non-residents. In open carry states, a person can legally carry their firearm in a holster or attached to a sling so that it is in the open and easily accessible.
As of mid-2024, twenty-nine states allow Constitutional Carry. (PC-xx numbers indicate the required age of the carrier)
- Alabama (PC-21)
- Alaska (PC-21)
- Arizona (PC-21)
- Arkansas (PC-18)
- Florida (PC-21, as of July 1, 2023)
- Georgia (PC-21 years old or 18 for military)
- Idaho (PC-18)
- Indiana (PC-18)
- Iowa (PC-21)
- Kansas (PC-21)
- Kentucky (PC-21)
- Louisiana – (PC-21) effective July 4th, 2024
- Maine (PC-21; also recognizes reciprocity permits)
- Mississippi (PC-21)
- Missouri (PC-19 or 18 for military)
- Montana (PC-18)
- Nebraska (PC-21)
- New Hampshire (PC-18)
- North Dakota (PC-18) HB 1339 enabled non-residents concealed carry under North Dakota’s permitless carry laws as of August 1, 2023
- Ohio (PC-21)
- Oklahoma (PC-21 or 18 for military)
- South Carolina (PC-18)
- South Dakota (PC-18)
- Tennessee (PC-18)
- Texas (PC-21 - per Jan 23, 2023 agreement in federal court)
- Utah (PC-21)
- Vermont (PC-18)
- West Virginia (PC-21)
- Wyoming (PC-21)
In many of these states, a person must be 18 or 21 years old to possess a firearm. Some states have an age requirement of 21 but allow military members to permitless carry at 18. It is important to check local laws to know the status of permitless carry.
Illinois, New Mexico, and Montana have a limited form of concealed carry that does not require a permit. In Illinois, a permit is not required to carry a handgun that is unloaded and fully enclosed. In New Mexico, it is legal to carry a loaded, concealed weapon while traveling in a vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and horseback. Montana does not quite make the cut for constitutional carry because it authorizes people to carry without a permit in restricted non-populated areas in Montana.
