Florida Concealed Carry

Florida is a Shall Issue State and issues Concealed Weapon Licenses to residents of Texas and non-residents.

In 1987, Florida became the first state to enact a “shall issue” concealed carry permit law, revolutionizing gun legislation in the United States. This law mandated that concealed carry permits be issued to all qualified applicants who met specific criteria, such as passing background checks and completing training requirements. The move significantly altered the landscape of concealed carry regulations, inspiring many other states to follow suit with similar laws. This shift aimed to standardize the permit issuance process, making it more predictable and accessible for law-abiding citizens.

Yes, Florida’s Constitutional Carry law (Florida House Bill 543) went into effect on July 1, 2023. This law allows individuals who meet certain criteria to carry a concealed weapon in Florida without a concealed carry license from any state. The requirements are as follows:

– Must carry a government issued ID (e.g. REAL ID) and display it upon demand by an officer;
– Must be a United States resident and citizen or hold a permanent resident status;
– Must be 21 years of age or older;
– Does not have any physical aliments preventing the safe handling of a weapon or firearm;
– Not prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm as a result of a prior conviction for a felony offense or other provision of Florida or federal law or set by the court system;
– Has not been committed under Florida State Statutes, Chapter 397, for abusing a controlled substance;
– Does not chronically and habitually use alcoholic beverages to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired;
– Not in possession of drugs / controlled substance while actively carrying a concealed weapon;
– Has not been adjudicated an incapacitated person in a guardianship proceeding;
– Has not been committed to a mental institution under Florida State Statute, Chapter 394;
– Has not had an adjudication of guilt withheld or imposition of sentence suspended on any felony or one or more misdemeanor crimes of violence, unless three years have lapsed since probation or any other conditions set by court have been fulfilled or the record has been expunged;
– Does not have current injunctions in force for domestic or repeat violence

By meeting these requirements, individuals can legally carry concealed weapons in Florida without needing a specific concealed carry license.

Florida Concealed Weapon Licenses are issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You can visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Concealed Weapon License website here.

To be eligible for a Florida Concealed Weapon License, you must be at least 21 years old, unless you are a servicemember or a veteran of the United States Armed Forces discharged under honorable conditions, in which case you can apply at 18. 

Demonstrating competency with a firearm is also required. 

Applicants must reside in the United States and be either U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. If serving overseas in the U.S. Armed Forces, you need to include deployment documentation with your application. Permanent residents must provide a valid Permanent Resident Alien card.

The initial fee for a Florida Concealed Weapon License for residents and non-residents is $97 which includes a $42 fingerprint processing fee and a $55 initial license fee.

Renewals for residents cost $45 and for non-residents is $87 which includes a $42 fingerprint processing fee.

The cost is $15 to obtain a revised or duplicate copy of your Florida Concealed Weapon License.

There is no $42 fingerprint processing fee for Active Florida Law Enforcement Officers. If you are a Florida Law Enforcement Officer that has retired within a year, there are no initial fees. If you have been retired for more than one year, the initial fee is $72 which includes a $42 fingerprint processing fee and a $30 initial license fee. Renewals for all retired Florida Law Enforcement Officers cost $30.

There are no charges whatsoever for active Judges.

The initial and renewal fees for a Consular Security Official are $300.

Florida Concealed Weapon Licenses are valid for seven years. You can find the expiration date on the front of your license.

Please note that by law, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has up to 90 days from receiving a complete application to either issue or deny a license. While licenses are typically issued well before the 90-day deadline, a higher volume of applications may result in longer processing times.

You can check the status of your application by using the Concealed Weapon License Application Online Status Check.

All applicants for a Florida concealed weapon license submit fingerprints that are checked against the Florida Crime Information Center database (FCIC), National Crime Information Center database (NCIC) and National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for disqualifying offenses.

Several specific factors can result in the denial of a Florida Concealed Weapons License application. These include:

– The physical inability to handle a firearm safely.
– A felony conviction (unless civil and firearm rights have been restored by the convicting authority).
– Having adjudication withheld or sentence suspended on a felony or misdemeanor crime of violence unless three years have elapsed since probation or other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled.
– A conviction for a misdemeanor crime of violence in the last three years.
– A conviction for violation of controlled substance laws or multiple arrests for such offenses.
– A record of drug or alcohol abuse.
– Two or more DUI convictions within the previous three years.
– Being committed to a mental institution or adjudged incompetent or mentally defective.
– Failing to provide proof of proficiency with a firearm.
– Having been issued a domestic violence injunction or an injunction against repeat violence that is currently in force.
– Renouncement of U.S. citizenship.
– A dishonorable discharge from the armed forces.
– Being a fugitive from justice.

Detailed explanations of these various disqualifying conditions are provided in the Application Instructions for the Concealed Weapon or Firearm License.

No. Due to Federal Laws, having a Florida Concealed Weapon License or any other state’s concealed weapon license or permit does not exempt you from the background check when purchasing a gun in the state of Florida.

Military training does exempt you from the training requirements when applying for a Florida Concealed Weapon License. Active duty members can submit their Common Access Card or another form of official military identification with their applications. A copy of service members’ current orders will be accepted as proof of active duty status. Honorably discharged veterans can submit a copy of their DD 214 long form with their applications.

You will receive a renewal form from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services with instructions at least 90 days before the expiration date of your license. You should submit your renewal as soon as possible to give them sufficient time to process your application. There are three ways to renew your Florida concealed weapon license: Online, In Person, By Mail.

To renew online, click here.

To renew In Person, visit  a Division of Licensing regional office. You must call the office to schedule an appointment.

To renew by mail, send all renewal applications to:

CONCEALED WEAPON OR FIREARM LICENSE RENEWAL
Division of Licensing
Post Office Box 6387
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6387

If your license has expired, you have up to 180 days to renew the permit along with a $15 late fee. If it has been more than 180 days, you must apply for a new permit.

To request a name change, provide a written request along with a copy of the legal document that verifies your name change. To obtain a revised license include a $15 check or money order made out to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. To save $15, you may also keep your existing license and submit the name change request along with your renewal application, and your renewal license will be issued with your legal name.

You are required to notify the Division of Licensing within 30 days of changing your address. You can submit an address change through their online form here or submit the change in writing to:

Division of Licensing
P.O.Box 6387
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6387

Your residence is no longer printed on the license, so there is no need to pay $15 a duplicate license when changing your address.

If your Florida Concealed Weapon License is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can obtain a duplicate for a fee of $15. Submit a notarized written statement explaining if your license was lost, stolen, or damaged along with a check or money order made out to the Division of Licensing to:

Division of Licensing
P.O. Box 6387
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6387

Florida does not allow you to transfer another state’s concealed carry permit or license to Florida. You must apply for a new Florida Concealed Weapon License. But Florida has Constitutional Carry so as long as you meet the guidelines (see above), you can carry concealed in Florida.

Suppose you move to Florida and have a concealed weapon license or permit from another state that recognizes Florida Concealed Weapon Licenses. In that case, your permit is valid for 90 days from the date you established legal residence via registering to vote, making a statement of domicile according to s. 222.17, or filing for homestead tax exemption on property in Florida. Again, this doesn’t really matter since Florida now has Constitutional Carry.

Yes, Florida recognizes concealed carry permits from specific states through reciprocity agreements. However, with Florida’s Constitutional Carry law, residents and visitors who are 21 years old, U.S. residents, and meet the requirements to receive and maintain a concealed carry license under Florida law can carry concealed without needing a permit. If you have a valid concealed carry permit from another state, you are also allowed to carry concealed in Florida.

Yes, 37 recognize and honor your Florida Concealed Weapon License.

To see the most up-to-date reciprocity information, please view our concealed carry reciprocity maps.

When carrying in another state, you must adhere to that state’s concealed carry laws.

Florida law does not require you to inform law enforcement that you are carrying a concealed weapon. However, you must carry your Florida Concealed Weapon License and valid identification while carrying concealed and present both upon request by a law enforcement officer.

“790.06 …. The licensee must carry the license, together with valid identification, at all times in which the licensee is in actual possession of a concealed weapon or firearm and must display both the license and proper identification upon demand by a law enforcement officer. Violations of the provisions of this subsection shall constitute a noncriminal violation with a penalty of $25, payable to the clerk of the court.“

Yes. Florida issues Concealed Weapon Licenses to lawful permanent resident aliens that have been deemed so by Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship, and Immigration Service (USCIS).

In Florida, you can carry a loaded handgun on your person in a private vehicle if you are at least 21 years old and possess a valid ID. This is permitted under Florida’s Constitutional Carry law, which allows residents and visitors who meet specific criteria to carry concealed without a permit.

For those aged 18 to 20, transporting loaded rifles or shotguns in a private vehicle is allowed. However, if you are under 21 and carrying a handgun in a vehicle, the firearm must be securely encased or otherwise not readily accessible. This includes carrying the weapon in a snapped holster (not on your person), glove compartment, gun case, or a closed box or container.

Additionally, carrying a firearm on public transportation, such as a train, is permitted if the weapon is securely encased and not in your manual possession.

The following is a list of places that are off-limits when carrying a concealed weapon in Florida:

– any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05
– any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station
– any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse
– any courtroom
– any polling place
– any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district
– any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof
– any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms
– any school administration building
– any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose;
– any elementary or secondary school facility
– any area technical center
– any college or university facility
– inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport
– any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law

Yes, Florida has both a Stand Your Ground law and aspects of the Castle Doctrine. The Stand Your Ground law, established in 2005, allows individuals to use deadly force if they believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or to stop a forcible felony. This law removes the duty to retreat, even in public places. The Castle Doctrine element specifically applies to using force against intruders in one’s home, vehicle, or workplace, providing a presumption of fear of harm. For more details, refer to Florida Statutes Section 776.013.

In Florida, you are not allowed to carry a concealed weapon or firearm into any portion of an establishment that is licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, if that portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to serving alcohol. This means you cannot carry concealed in bars or the bar area of restaurants where alcohol is the main focus. However, carrying in other areas of a restaurant that serves alcohol, such as dining areas, is generally permitted

The laws on drinking alcohol while carrying a firearm in Florida are a little unclear. The law states, “It is unlawful and punishable as provided in subsection (4) for any person who is under the influence of alcoholic beverages, any chemical substance set forth in s. 877.111, or any substance controlled under chapter 893, when affected to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired, to use a firearm in this state.”

There is no clear definition of what “when affected to the extent that his or her normal faculties are impaired” means.

USA Carry always recommends not to carry a firearm while drinking alcohol.

You are not allowed to carry a concealed weapon in any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose. So you are allowed to carry concealed in a restaurant that serves alcohol.

In Florida, “No Firearms Allowed” signs do not have the force of law unless the property is specifically mentioned in state law as being off-limits to permit holders. However, if you are asked to leave a property displaying such a sign, you must comply. Refusing to leave when asked is illegal and can result in criminal charges.

No, Florida law does not require license holders to notify the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) if they are arrested or convicted. Instead, it is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies, the courts, or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to notify FDACS. According to Florida Statute 790.06(3), the FDACS will suspend a license upon notification by these authorities if the licensee or applicant is arrested or formally charged with a disqualifying crime, until the final disposition of the case.

Yes, your Florida Concealed Weapon License remains valid even if you move your permanent residence to another state. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), a Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License is valid for a period of seven years from the date of issuance, regardless of whether the licensee changes their state of residence.

However, you are required to keep your address updated with FDACS. If you change your permanent address, you must notify FDACS within 30 days. Failure to do so may result in a noncriminal violation with a penalty of $25.

State Parks: YES
State Forests YES
National Forests YES
WMA’s: YES
Roadside Rest Areas: YES

Please visit our Florida Open Carry page for more information.