Connecticut Gun Laws

Connecticut Gun Forms & Supporting Documentation

• State CCW Site
• State Firearm Laws
• Instructions to Applicants
• CT Certified Instructors
• State Firearm FAQs
• Hunting Gun Laws FAQs
• State Statutes
• State Admin Rules
• Guide to Firearms & Permits in CT 11/17
• State Attorney General
• Secretary of State
• Age to Carry a Firearm In Other States

Carrying a Firearm

In order to carry a handgun on or about the person, whether concealed or in the open, or in a vehicle, a permit to carry a pistol or revolver is required.

According to the Connecticut Board of Firearms Permit Examiners (which reviews denials and revocations) advises, "every effort should be made to ensure that no gun is exposed to view or carried in a manner that would tend to alarm people who see it." 

Although a person may still be on his/her own property, a permit to carry a handgun outside of his/her home is required. A permit is also required for employees of a business (who do not own/operate the business) to carry a handgun. In order to transport a handgun between one’s place of residence and place of business or to and from a target shooting range.

A local permit to carry a pistol or revolver must be obtained before a Connecticut state permit can be awarded. Out-of-state residents can apply to the Connecticut State Police directly for a non-resident Connecticut State Pistol Permit.

In the case of a state pistol permit, applicants can apply at any state police barracks. Application paperwork for a local permit may be obtained from a local police department, city or town hall or first selectman’s office. Before submitting an application for a pistol or revolver, applicants must complete a handgun safety course. A background investigation, and criminal history check must be submitted by an applicant for a permit, as well as photographs requested by the governing agency.

A concealed carry license may be issued if the licensing authority determines that the applicant:

Is at least 21 years old;

• Is a legal resident of the United States;  (Proof of citizenship must be presented, such as, a birth certificate, voter’s registration card, or U.S. passport) Applicants must provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, voters' registration card or a U.S. passport.  Non-citizens with legal resident status must provide Alien Registration numbers and a 90-day proof of residency. Naturalized citizens must present proof of citizenship.)
• Residences or has a business in the jurisdiction where they are applying;
• Agrees that use of a handgun is only for lawful purposes.
• Is considered "suitable" to receive a concealed carry permit; (New permits and the revocation of existing permits fall under the suitability clause.)
• Has not been convicted of a any violation or felony of the following:
  • Criminal possession of a controlled substance;
  • Criminally negligent homicide;
  • Third degree assault;
  • First degree reckless endangerement;
  • Second degree unlawful restraint;
  • First degree riot;
  • Second degree stalking;
• Has not been convicted of a serious offense as a delinquent.
• Has not been incarcerated and discharged after having been found guilty of a crime, by reason of a mental defect within the past 20 years.
• Is not under a restraining or protective order, involving the use of physical force or attempted physical force;
• Has not had firearms seized for posing a risk to himself/herself or others upon a legal hearing; or
• May legally possess a firearm after having been adjudicated under federal law as a mentally incompetent.

The local permit (temporary pistol permit) fee is $70.00. The state permit fee is $70.00 in addition to the required fees for a National Criminal History Records Check. Applications will be either approved or denied within a period of eight weeks, whereby the applicant shall be notified.  Any refusal or revocation of a permit within 90 days to the Board of Firearm Permit Examiners, State Armory, 505 Hudson Street, 5th Floor, Hartford, Hartford, CT 06106. The review process is free of charge. If “just and proper cause” is found, the Board will overturn its decision to refuse or revoke a permit. Appeals can be made by either the applicant or the issuing authority of the permit.

Unless it is revoked due to cause, a state permit shall be valid for a period of five years. There is a $70.00 fee for renewal of a permit.

The permit to carry a handgun may be revoked if it is determined by the issuing authority that a permit holder is no longer suitable due to a convicted felony or specified misdemeanor or after an event that disqualify him/her from being issued a license.

Under the following circumstances, a permit to carry is not required:

• If the transporter of the handgun is a peace officer;
• If the possessor of the handgun is in his/her home or place of business;
• While engaged in the act of transporting the handgun from the place it was purchased to his/her residence or place of business as long as the firearm remains in the original unopened wrapping included at the time of sale;
• While moving one’s residence from one place to another;
• While transporting an antique handgun.

It is illegal to possess a firearm on any elementary or secondary school property, whether private or public. This does not apply to any person possessing a permit to carry a firearm from a school official or traveling across school property with an unloaded firearm en route to legal hunting grounds, as long as it is not prohibited by school officials.

Machine Guns

A machine gun may be possessed legally and in compliance with federal law if it is registered yearly with the state police. A machine gun refers to any weapon that is designed to shoot automatically by a single function of the trigger without reloading. This includes any parts that are designed to convert a weapon into a machine gun. 

Within 24 hours of acquiring a machine gun, the firearm must be registered with the office of the public safety commission. Every year thereafter, the gun must be registered on July 1.

There is a presumption of possession for an offensive or aggressive purpose under the following circumstances.

• Any failure to register a machine gun, of a type required to be registered (see above);
• In possession in a location or area other than the possessor’s residence or place of business;
• When machine gun cartridges, either empty or loaded can be found in the immediate vicinity therof;
• When in the possession of a person convicted of a violent crime or an unnaturalized foreign-born person.

It is illegal to possess a machine gun for an “aggressive or offensive” purpose and is punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 and imprisonment of not less than 5 years or more than 10 years.

Range Protection

All shooting ranges are exempt from civil or criminal claims of noise if the range was in operation after October 1, 1998 and operating in accordance with regulations in effect at that time. § 22a-74a. Exemption of firing and shooting ranges from criminal and civil liability for noise and noise pollution.

(a) Any owner, operator or user of a firing or shooting range operating on October 1, 1998, shall be exempt from criminal prosecution with respect to noise or noise pollution violations and immune from civil liability with respect to noise or noise pollution resulting from shooting activity on such range provided the range was, at the time of its construction or operational approval by the municipality in which it is located, in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and regulations adopted hereunder.

(b) No standards in a noise control ordinance adopted by any municipality for limiting levels of noise in terms of decibel level which may occur in the outdoor atmosphere shall apply to any firing or shooting range exempted from liability under this section if such standards are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or the regulations adopted hereunder. 

(c) This section shall not limit the ability of a municipality to evaluate and regulate any increase in noise attributable to a physical expansion of an existing firing or shooting range.

Connecticut Concealed Carry Reciprocity

Miscellaneous

The local police department must be notified within 72 hours of any loss or theft of a firearm. Failure to notify the proper law enforcement authorities within 72 hours of loss or theft will result in a fine of up to $90.00 for the first offense and charged with a class D felony for any offense thereafter. A first time offender does not lose his/her right to to apply for or possess a firearms permit.

No loaded shotgun or rifle can be transported in a vehicle or snowmobile. Shot guns or rifles that are muzzle-loaded are considered unloaded even if there is a charge present in the bore, as long as there is no powder in the flash pan or percussion cap on the nipple.

Unless stored in the trunk of a vehicle or placed in another locked container, BB guns may not be transported.

It is illegal to alter, remove, deface, or obliterate the manufacturer’s name, serial number, make or other identifying mark from a firearm. A legal presumption is made that the person in possession of a firearm with markings removed committed the offense.

There is a fine of up to $1,000.00 for carrying a firearm without a permit or incarceration for not more than one year or both. This sentence may not be reduced or suspended by the court unless mitigating circumstances can be proven.

It is illegal to keep or store a loaded firearm on any premises if there is a reasonable likelihood that a person under the age of 16 (without parent’s or guardian’s permission) is likely to gain access to the weapon. This shall be nullified if the storage location for the firearm is believed to be secure, or in a locked container, or within close proximity or carried on his/her person legally.

An “assault weapon” may not be distributed, transported, imported, sold or possessed except in circumstances where provided by law.