New Jersey requires a Permit to Carry a Handgun, and New Jersey honors no concealed carry permits from any other state. There are no exceptions and no reciprocity agreements. A permit from your home state authorizes nothing in New Jersey.
New Jersey became shall issue after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, then passed Chapter 131 within days, which kept the permit but added roughly 25 categories of places where permit holders cannot carry. Much of Chapter 131 has been in litigation ever since and significant parts of it are currently enjoined.
This guide covers the permit process, what Chapter 131 restricts, and exactly where the litigation stands.
New Jersey concealed carry at a glance
| Permit name | Permit to Carry a Handgun |
| Issuing authority | Municipal police chief for residents, New Jersey State Police for non-residents |
| Issued to | Residents and non-residents |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Permitless carry | No |
| Out-of-state permits honored | None |
| Application fee | $200 |
| Permit valid for | 2 years |
| Training required | Yes, with live fire qualification |
| Character references | Four, unrelated, known you 3+ years |
| Separate permit to buy a handgun | Yes, Firearms Purchaser Identification Card |
| Legal status | Unsettled. See the litigation section. |
On this page
- Driving through New Jersey with a firearm
- Where the law actually stands right now
- Who qualifies
- The four-reference requirement
- Training and qualification
- How to apply
- What it costs
- Non-resident permits
- Renewing
- Chapter 131 sensitive places
- Carrying in a vehicle
- New Jersey self-defense law
- New Jersey reciprocity
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Can I drive through New Jersey with my out-of-state carry permit?
No. New Jersey honors no out-of-state concealed carry permits. Carrying a handgun in New Jersey without a New Jersey Permit to Carry exposes you to felony charges, and New Jersey enforces its firearms statutes aggressively against out-of-state visitors who believed their home permit was good there.
New Jersey sits between New York and Pennsylvania on I-95 and I-78, so this catches a lot of travelers who never intended to stop there.
Transporting a firearm through New Jersey without a New Jersey permit is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6(g), which requires the firearm to be unloaded and contained in a closed and securely fastened case, gunbox, or locked trunk, with ammunition carried separately. The federal safe passage provision at 18 U.S.C. § 926A provides a defense for interstate transport meeting those conditions, but it is an affirmative defense rather than protection from arrest, and New Jersey has historically been an unforgiving place to test it.
Where New Jersey carry law actually stands right now
New Jersey carry law is genuinely unsettled as of July 2026, and any summary that presents Chapter 131 as a fixed list of rules is misleading you.
Here is the procedural history, which matters because the piece most sites cite is no longer good law.
- December 2022. New Jersey enacts Chapter 131 in response to Bruen. It removes the old justifiable need standard, raises fees, adds a liability insurance requirement, and designates roughly 25 categories of sensitive places. It also makes private property presumptively off limits unless the owner consents.
- 2023. The federal district court grants a preliminary injunction against several provisions, finding parts of the law plainly unconstitutional. The enjoined provisions include the private property presumption and the requirement that permit holders render firearms inoperable in a moving vehicle.
- September 10, 2025. A Third Circuit panel upholds most of the sensitive places list 2 to 1, while affirming the injunction against the private property presumption.
- December 11, 2025. The full Third Circuit grants rehearing en banc and vacates the panel opinion and judgment. That panel decision is no longer law, which is the part most summaries still get wrong.
- February 11, 2026. The en banc court hears argument.
- June 25, 2026. The Supreme Court decides Wolford v. Lopez, involving Hawaii’s similar default rule. The Third Circuit orders supplemental briefing the next day.
- July 8, 2026. All parties file supplemental briefs. The case is fully submitted and awaiting decision.
Because the panel opinion was vacated, what governs today is the district court’s preliminary injunction. The en banc Third Circuit has not ruled.
The case is captioned Koons v. Davenport now. It is still widely called Koons v. Platkin because Matthew Platkin was Attorney General when it was filed. Platkin left office in January 2026 and Jennifer Davenport was confirmed in February.
What this means practically. If you carry in New Jersey, the enforceable rules could change on any day the Third Circuit chooses to publish. Check the current status before you rely on any list of restricted locations, including the one below.
Who qualifies for a New Jersey Permit to Carry?
New Jersey issues Permits to Carry to applicants who are 21 or older, are not disqualified from firearm possession under New Jersey or federal law, are thoroughly familiar with the safe handling and use of handguns, and satisfy the statutory reference and training requirements under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.
New Jersey removed its justifiable need standard after Bruen, so applicants no longer have to demonstrate a special reason to carry. New Jersey is shall issue in that narrow sense, though the process remains among the most demanding in the country.
The four-reference requirement
New Jersey requires four character references on a Permit to Carry application, and the requirements on those references are strict enough to derail applications on their own.
Each of the four must be a reputable person who is not related to you by blood or by law and who has known you for at least three years before the application date. Each must certify that you have not engaged in acts or made statements suggesting you are likely to engage in conduct, other than lawful self-defense, that would pose a danger to yourself or others.
References must also provide supporting information, including the nature and extent of their relationship with you and what they know about your use of drugs or alcohol.
Line up your four references early. This is the requirement New Jersey applicants most often underestimate.
What training does New Jersey require?
New Jersey requires completion of a state-approved firearms training course including a live fire qualification with a certified instructor. On completion you receive the Safe Handling and Proficiency Certification, commonly called the SP 182 form, which you upload with your application.
New Jersey requires a training record completed within the past two years, which means the qualification has to be current at the time you apply and again at each renewal.
You must qualify with the specific handgun or handguns you intend to carry, and you provide proof of ownership for those handguns with your application.
How do I apply for a New Jersey Permit to Carry?
New Jersey Permit to Carry applications are submitted online through the New Jersey State Police concealed carry portal. Residents apply through the chief police officer of their municipality. Applicants in municipalities without a police force, and out-of-state applicants, apply through the New Jersey State Police.
- Complete a state-approved training course with live fire qualification and obtain your SP 182 certification
- Secure four qualifying references
- Gather your SBI number from your Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, Social Security number, and driver’s license number
- Obtain a passport-style photograph
- Gather proof of ownership for each handgun you qualified with and intend to carry
- Submit through the NJSP portal and pay both portions of the fee
New Jersey applications are reviewed by law enforcement and, historically, approved permits were then submitted to a Superior Court judge. Whether judicial approval is still part of the process after Chapter 131 is worth confirming with your issuing agency.
How much does a New Jersey Permit to Carry cost?
A New Jersey Permit to Carry costs $200 in application fees, split as $50 to the State of New Jersey and $150 to the municipality. Renewal costs the same $200.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| State portion | $50 |
| Municipal portion | $150 |
| Online portal processing | Roughly $5 to $10 |
| Initial training and qualification course | Commonly $250 or more |
| Renewal qualification course | Commonly $75 to $150 |
Chapter 131 also imposed a liability insurance requirement on permit holders. Confirm its current status and cost, since it is among the provisions that have been challenged.
Can a non-resident get a New Jersey Permit to Carry?
Yes. New Jersey issues Permits to Carry to non-residents, who apply through the New Jersey State Police rather than a municipal police department. Out-of-state applicants apply to the NJSP station closest to their residence by driving distance.
For anyone who travels through New Jersey regularly and cannot rely on a home state permit, this is the only lawful path to carrying there.
How do I renew a New Jersey Permit to Carry?
New Jersey Permits to Carry are valid for two years, which is the shortest term of any state permit covered on this site. You may submit a renewal application no more than four months before your permit expires.
Renewal requires a current training record completed within the past two years, meaning New Jersey permit holders requalify every two years for the life of the permit. Fingerprinting is not required for renewals where an SBI number is already on file and your identifying information has not changed.
Chapter 131 sensitive places
Chapter 131 designates roughly 25 categories of sensitive places where New Jersey permit holders may not carry. Several are enjoined. The en banc Third Circuit has not ruled on the rest. Read the litigation section above before relying on any of this.
Categories the panel had upheld before its opinion was vacated
The September 2025 panel decision, since vacated, would have upheld Chapter 131 restrictions covering public gatherings, parks, beaches, playgrounds, recreation facilities, youth sports events, public libraries and museums, bars and establishments serving alcohol, entertainment facilities, casinos, and healthcare facilities.
That listing is useful for understanding what New Jersey is defending, not as a statement of current law. The opinion has no force.
Provisions currently enjoined
- The private property presumption. Chapter 131 made all private property presumptively off limits unless the owner affirmatively consented. That provision is enjoined, so there is no statewide presumption that publicly accessible private businesses are gun free by default. Property owners retain every ordinary right to exclude firearms through consent and trespass principles.
- The vehicle inoperability requirement. Chapter 131 required permit holders to render firearms inoperable inside a moving vehicle. That provision is enjoined.
Carrying in a vehicle in New Jersey
New Jersey permit holders may carry in a vehicle. Chapter 131’s requirement that a permit holder render a firearm inoperable inside a moving vehicle was preliminarily enjoined and is not being enforced.
Anyone without a New Jersey permit is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6(g), which requires the firearm to be unloaded and in a closed and securely fastened case, gunbox, or locked trunk, with ammunition separate.
Is New Jersey a stand your ground state?
No. New Jersey imposes a duty to retreat before using deadly force in public if you know you can retreat with complete safety. That standard is codified at N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4.
New Jersey recognizes a castle doctrine exception. You are not required to retreat from your own dwelling, subject to statutory conditions.
New Jersey justifies deadly force only when you reasonably believe it is immediately necessary to protect yourself against death or serious bodily harm. Combined with the duty to retreat, New Jersey’s standard is among the least forgiving in the country, and it differs sharply from neighboring Pennsylvania.
New Jersey concealed carry reciprocity
States that honor a New Jersey Resident permit
States that do NOT honor a New Jersey Resident permit
- American Samoa
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Virgin Islands
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
States that honor a New Jersey Non-Resident permit
States that do NOT honor a New Jersey Non-Resident permit
- American Samoa
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Virgin Islands
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Permits New Jersey honors
No states in this category.
Permits New Jersey does NOT honor
- Alabama
- Alaska
- American Samoa
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virgin Islands
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Last verified: August 13, 2026
New Jersey recognizes no out-of-state concealed carry permits. There are no New Jersey reciprocity agreements, because New Jersey has entered none.
The recognition runs poorly in the outbound direction as well. A New Jersey Permit to Carry is honored in very few states, in part because New Jersey permits have historically been issued naming specific handguns, which does not map cleanly onto how other states structure recognition.
Use the map above to check current outbound recognition rather than assuming either way.
New Jersey concealed carry FAQ
No. New Jersey honors no out-of-state concealed carry permits and has no reciprocity agreements with any state. Carrying a handgun in New Jersey without a New Jersey Permit to Carry exposes you to felony charges regardless of what permit you hold elsewhere.
A New Jersey Permit to Carry costs $200 in application fees, split as $50 to the State of New Jersey and $150 to the municipality. Renewal costs the same $200, plus the cost of the required requalification course.
A New Jersey Permit to Carry is valid for two years. You may submit a renewal application no more than four months before it expires, and renewal requires a training record completed within the past two years.
Yes. New Jersey issues Permits to Carry to non-residents, who apply through the New Jersey State Police rather than a municipal police department. Out-of-state applicants apply to the NJSP station closest to their residence by driving distance.
New Jersey requires four character references. Each must be unrelated to you by blood or by law, must have known you for at least three years, and must certify that you have not engaged in acts or made statements suggesting you would pose a danger to yourself or others.
Yes, in the narrow sense that New Jersey removed its justifiable need standard after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, so applicants no longer have to demonstrate a special reason to carry. The process remains among the most demanding in the country.
Chapter 131 is the New Jersey law enacted days after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision. It removed the justifiable need standard for carry permits while adding roughly 25 categories of sensitive places where permit holders cannot carry, raising fees, and requiring liability insurance. Significant parts of it have been enjoined and it remains in litigation.
Chapter 131’s presumption that all private property is off limits unless the owner consents is currently enjoined, so there is no statewide default that private businesses are gun free. Property owners still retain every ordinary right to exclude firearms through consent and trespass principles.
No. New Jersey imposes a duty to retreat before using deadly force in public if you know you can retreat with complete safety, under N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4. New Jersey recognizes a castle doctrine exception for your own dwelling.
N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6(g) requires the firearm to be unloaded and contained in a closed and securely fastened case, gunbox, or locked trunk, with ammunition carried separately. The federal safe passage provision at 18 U.S.C. 926A provides a defense for interstate transport meeting those conditions, but it is a defense rather than protection from arrest.
The SP 182 is the New Jersey Safe Handling and Proficiency Certification form. A certified instructor completes and signs it after you pass the required live fire qualification, and you upload it with your Permit to Carry application or renewal.
No. New Jersey does not require fingerprinting for renewals where an SBI number is already on file and your identifying information has not changed. Renewal does require a current training record completed within the past two years.
Not as of July 30, 2026. The Third Circuit heard Koons v. Davenport en banc on February 11, 2026 and vacated the earlier panel opinion in December 2025. Supplemental briefing closed July 8, 2026 following the Supreme Court’s decision in Wolford v. Lopez. The case is fully submitted and awaiting decision, and the district court’s preliminary injunction governs in the meantime.
New Jersey carry law is the subject of active federal litigation and the enforceable rules may change on short notice. I work to keep this page current, but it is your responsibility to verify before you carry. This page is informational and is not legal advice. Contact a New Jersey attorney for advice on your specific situation.
