Nebraska is a permitless carry state. Since September 2, 2023, when LB 77 took effect, anyone 21 or older who is not a prohibited person may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. Open carry is not prohibited by state statute.
The Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit still has real benefits, especially for travel. This guide covers who can carry, how to get the permit, the required in-person class, reciprocity, vehicles, off-limits places and Nebraska’s self-defense law.
Nebraska Concealed Carry At A Glance
| Permitless carry | Yes, since September 2, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Minimum age to carry | 21 (18 for military and law enforcement) |
| Permit name | Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) |
| Issued by | Nebraska State Patrol |
| Permit fee | $100 new, $50 renewal (+$4.50 online) |
| Permit length | 5 years |
| Training required | Yes: NSP-certified instructor course (usually 8-16 hours) with live fire at a range; certificate valid 3 years. |
| Online course counts? | No, in-person training required |
| Non-resident permit | No (Residents only (180 days); visitors 21+ may carry without a permit) |
| Lifetime permit | No |
| States that honor it | About 30 (USCCA) |
| Last verified | November 2, 2026 |
Do You Need A Permit To Carry In Nebraska?
No. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1202.01, a person who is not a minor or a prohibited person may carry a concealed handgun anywhere in Nebraska, with or without a permit, subject to the listed exceptions.
For this law, a “minor” is anyone under 21 (28-1201(11)). People 18 to 20 are not minors if they serve in the armed forces, the National Guard or ROTC, or work in law enforcement.
A prohibited person is anyone barred from having firearms under Nebraska law, including 28-1206, or under federal law. That covers felony convictions, domestic violence misdemeanors, certain protective orders, unlawful drug use and some mental health adjudications. The Nebraska State Patrol FAQ says it is your job to know whether you are prohibited.
Why Get A Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit Anyway?
- Carry in other states. Roughly 30 states honor the Nebraska permit, according to the USCCA reciprocity map. The State Patrol warns that other states may not honor Nebraska’s permitless carry.
- The State Capitol. A 2026 law, LB 1237, tightened weapons rules at the Capitol. Under 28-1202.01(11), holders of a valid Nebraska permit are exempt from the prohibited-place limits inside the Capitol.
- Buying handguns. The State Patrol says permit holders are exempt from Nebraska’s handgun purchase certificate requirement. The ATF Brady Permit Chart also lists the permit as a NICS alternative if it was issued within the past five years.
- Federal school zones. Federal law has its own 1,000-foot school-zone rule that exempts people licensed by the state where the zone sits. A Nebraska permit meets that test. Permitless carry does not.
How To Get A Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit
The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) issues the permit. Under 69-2433, you must be 21 or older, a Nebraska resident for at least 180 days, meet the vision standard, and have no felony and no recent violent misdemeanor, weapons or drug conviction.
- Take an approved course. Use an NSP-certified instructor (see below). Your certificate is valid for 3 years.
- Fill out the application. It must be signed and notarized. Answer every question truthfully; false information is a Class IV felony.
- Apply in person. First-time applicants must go to an NSP Troop headquarters in Omaha, Norfolk, Grand Island, North Platte, Scottsbluff or Lincoln. Call ahead, and do not bring a gun. See the NSP Concealed Handgun Permits page for locations and the form.
- Bring your documents. You need your training certificate, a Nebraska license or ID, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful status, and a vision statement if you use a state or military ID.
- Pay $100. Training costs are paid to your instructor separately.
- Wait up to 45 days. NSP says an initial permit will be issued within 45 days if you meet all requirements.
The permit lasts 5 years. Renewal costs $50, plus $4.50 to pay online, and you can renew up to four months early without retaking the class. After 30 business days past expiration, you must start over with a new class and the $100 fee.
Do You Need A Class For A Nebraska Carry Permit?
Yes. You must provide proof of training (69-2433(10)) from an instructor certified by the Nebraska State Patrol. The course length is not set by law, but NSP says courses normally run 8 to 16 hours.
A live-fire exercise at a firing range is required. NSP states plainly: “Online training courses do NOT satisfy the handgun training and safety requirement.” It also does not honor out-of-state online courses.
Military training from the past three years may count if it covers the required topics, but NSP reviews the curriculum and says few military courses do. A short online safety course can still be a good primer before your in-person class, especially if you are new to handguns.
Get Started On Your Permit Online
Watch a short instructional video on firearm safety and responsible carry, take a 10-question quiz, and download your certificate of completion.
Start The Free Online Safety Video →
The certificate is a training record, not a license or permit. In Nebraska, you apply for the Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) through the Nebraska State Patrol.
Can Non-Residents Get A Nebraska Carry Permit?
No. NSP says the permit is “available only to residents of this state.” Some active duty military members and their spouses have exceptions (69-2433(7)).
New residents who hold a permit from a state on Nebraska’s reciprocity list can apply right away, without waiting 180 days. They still must meet the fee, background check and training rules.
Visitors do not need a Nebraska permit. NSP says anyone may carry under 28-1202.01 “with or without a permit,” including non-residents, if they are 21 or older and not prohibited.
Which States Honor The Nebraska Concealed Handgun Permit?
About 30 states honor the Nebraska permit, according to the USCCA reciprocity map. It lists 9 with no special conditions, including Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota and Indiana. It lists 21 more with conditions, including Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming.
Nebraska does not publish its own list of states that honor its permit, so confirm with each state before you travel.
NSP keeps a list of 35 states plus D.C. whose permits Nebraska recognizes. Since LB 77, NSP says that list is used only to waive the 180-day residency rule for new residents. It does not limit who may carry while visiting.
Going next door? Read our guides for Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota, or browse gun laws by state.
Can You Open Carry In Nebraska?
Yes. The State Patrol says open carry is “not statutorily prohibited” in Nebraska. State law bars handgun possession by anyone under 18, with narrow exceptions (28-1204).
Cities and counties can no longer write their own gun rules. LB 77 made firearms regulation “a matter of statewide concern” and voided local ordinances that regulate the ownership, possession, storage, transportation, sale or transfer of firearms, or that require registration (13-330).
Open carry still draws attention, and private property owners can ask you to leave. The school ban in 28-1204.04 applies to all firearms, open or concealed.
Can You Keep A Gun In Your Car In Nebraska?
Yes. Anyone 21 or older who is not prohibited may keep a concealed handgun in a vehicle without a permit.
Parking lots at off-limits places: You may drive into a public parking lot used by a prohibited place, but you must lock the handgun in the glove box, trunk, another compartment or an attached storage box before you get out (28-1202.01(6)). This does not apply where federal law bans guns in the lot.
School parking lots: The same lock-it-up rule applies to public parking areas used by schools (28-1204.04(2)(j)). A non-student adult may also have unloaded firearms in a private vehicle if they are cased or in a locked rack.
Employer parking lots: We found no Nebraska statute that requires employers to allow guns in employees’ cars. Employers may ban concealed handguns on premises they control (28-1202.01(2)) and in company vehicles (28-1202.01(7)). Check your workplace policy.
Where You Can’t Carry A Gun In Nebraska
These places are off-limits under 28-1202.01(3), with or without a permit:
- Police, sheriff and State Patrol stations and offices
- Detention facilities, prisons and jails
- Courtrooms and any building that contains a courtroom
- Polling places during an election
- Meetings of a county, city, school district or other local governing body
- Meetings of the Legislature or its committees
- Financial institutions
- Professional or semiprofessional athletic events
- School buildings, grounds, vehicles, sponsored activities and athletic events (also 28-1204.04)
- Places of worship
- Hospitals, emergency rooms and trauma centers
- Political rallies and fundraisers
- Bars and other liquor licensees that get more than half their income from alcohol sales
- Anywhere else state or federal law bans firearms
- Private property where the owner or employer prohibits concealed handguns (28-1202.01(2))
For places open to the public, you break this rule only if the owner posted a clear notice or asked you to leave with the gun (28-1202.01(5)). A first offense is a Class III misdemeanor.
Duty to inform: Yes. Under 28-1202.04, anyone carrying a concealed handgun must immediately tell a peace officer or emergency services worker who contacts them. The officer may secure the gun during the contact.
The duty does not apply to a gun that is unloaded, cased and stored separately from ammunition in a vehicle. Penalties climb from a Class III misdemeanor to a Class IV felony on a third offense.
Nebraska Castle Doctrine And Stand Your Ground Law
Nebraska is not a stand-your-ground state. Under 28-1409, deadly force is justified only if you believe it is necessary to protect yourself against death, serious bodily harm, kidnapping or forced sexual intercourse.
Duty to retreat: Deadly force is not justified if you know you can avoid it with complete safety by retreating, by handing over property someone claims, or by complying with a demand to stop doing something you have no duty to do.
Castle doctrine: You do not have to retreat from your home or your place of work. That exception does not apply if you were the initial aggressor, or if you are attacked at work by someone you know also works there.
Other limits: Deadly force is not justified if you provoked the fight intending to cause death or serious harm. We did not find a Nebraska statute that grants civil immunity for justified self-defense.
Nothing in these laws stops an arrest, an investigation or charges. Without stand-your-ground or civil immunity protection, a self-defense case can be expensive to fight, which is why many carriers buy legal protection in advance.
Protect Yourself After A Self-Defense Incident
CCW Safe is a self-defense legal protection membership. It pays criminal and civil defense costs upfront for members involved in a self-defense incident, so you aren't paying for a defense lawyer out of your own pocket.
Nebraska Gun Laws FAQ
Is Nebraska A Constitutional Carry State?
Yes. LB 77 took effect September 2, 2023. Anyone 21 or older who is not a prohibited person may carry a concealed handgun without a permit.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Carry A Gun In Nebraska?
You must be 21 to carry concealed, with or without a permit. Military members and law enforcement officers can carry at 18. Handgun possession under 18 is generally illegal.
How Much Is A Nebraska Concealed Carry Permit?
The permit costs $100 for 5 years, plus the cost of your class. Renewal is $50, plus $4.50 if you pay online.
Can You Take An Online Class For A Nebraska Concealed Carry Permit?
No. The State Patrol does not accept online courses for the permit. You need an NSP-certified instructor and a live-fire exercise at a range.
Can You Carry A Gun In Omaha?
Yes, under the same state rules as the rest of Nebraska. LB 77 voided local ordinances that regulate gun ownership, possession, storage, transportation, sale or transfer, or that require registration (13-330). State prohibited places and private property rules still apply in Omaha and Lincoln.
Can You Carry A Gun In Church In Nebraska?
Generally no. Places of worship are on the prohibited list in 28-1202.01(3), and NSP says the term covers classrooms, social halls and other buildings on a church campus.
A place of worship may authorize its own security personnel to carry if it gives the congregation written notice and meets the conditions in 28-1202.01(4). Churches that set up a team should look at legal protection for church security teams.
Sources
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1202.01, Concealed handgun carry and prohibited places
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1202.04, Duty to inform
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1201, Definitions
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1204, Handgun possession under 18
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1204.04, Firearms at schools
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-1409, Use of force in self-protection
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 13-330, Local firearm regulation preempted
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 69-2433, Permit applicant requirements
- Nebraska State Patrol: Concealed Handgun Permits
- Nebraska State Patrol: CHP FAQ
- Nebraska State Patrol: Reciprocity
- Nebraska Examiner: Capitol security bill (LB 1237) coverage, March 31, 2026 (news)
- Governor’s letter on LB 1237 (April 16, 2026)
- ATF Brady Permit Chart
- USCCA Nebraska reciprocity map (secondary source)