New York Gun Laws And Concealed Carry Guide

New York is not a permitless carry state. To carry a handgun you need a pistol/revolver license with concealed carry authorization, and you must be at least 21 unless you are an honorably discharged veteran. Since September 1, 2022, new carry applicants must complete 16 hours of in-person classroom training and 2 hours of live-fire range training.

Those rules come from the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA), passed after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision. Several parts have since been changed by court rulings. This guide covers how to get a New York concealed carry permit, the training, New York City’s separate license, non-resident rules, reciprocity, vehicles, sensitive places, and self-defense law.

Do You Need A Permit To Carry In New York?

Yes. You need a license issued under Penal Law 400.00(2)(f), which lets you “have and carry concealed” a pistol or revolver. New York does not honor any other state’s permit.

New York City is different. A license from any other county is not valid for carry in the five boroughs. Under Penal Law 400.00(6), carrying in New York City requires a special permit from the NYC police commissioner.

Under Penal Law 400.00(1), you can’t get a license if you:

• Are under 21, unless you are an honorably discharged veteran
• Lack “good moral character,” meaning the judgment to be trusted with a weapon
• Have a felony or serious offense conviction, or an outstanding warrant for one
• Are a fugitive, an unlawful drug user, or were dishonorably discharged
• Have had a license revoked, or have certain mental health commitments
• Have been convicted of third-degree assault, misdemeanor DWI or menacing in the past five years (carry licenses only)

How To Get A New York Concealed Carry Permit

You apply to the licensing officer in the county where you live, where you are principally employed, or where your principal place of business is (Penal Law 400.00(3)). In New York City, you apply online to the NYPD License Division.

1. Complete the 18-hour training. Get a certificate of completion signed by a duly authorized instructor (details below).
2. Gather your references and household information. You need at least four character references. You must also list your spouse or domestic partner, other adults in your home, and whether minors live there.
3. Submit the application. Include a photo taken within 30 days, your training certificate and the fee. Fingerprinting is part of the process.
4. Attend an in-person interview with the licensing officer.
5. Wait for a decision. Penal Law 400.00(4-b) gives the licensing officer six months to act, unless they give written notice of good cause for a delay.

Social media: The CCIA also required a list of social media accounts. In March 2026, the state agreed to a permanent injunction in the Antonyuk case barring enforcement of that requirement, according to published reports. Ask your licensing officer what the current form requires.

Cost: Outside New York City, Nassau and Westchester, the license fee is $3 to $10, set by the county (Penal Law 400.00(14)). Fingerprint fees are extra.

In New York City, the NYPD lists a $340 handgun license application fee and an $88.25 fingerprint fee. Training costs are set by the instructor.

Renewal: Carry licenses must be renewed or recertified every three years (Penal Law 400.00(10)). The state’s FAQ says licenses from New York City, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk expire every three years. Licenses from other counties don’t expire but must be recertified with the State Police every three years.

Do You Need A Class For A New York Carry Permit?

Yes, and it must be in person. Penal Law 400.00(19) requires:

• At least 16 hours of in-person, live classroom instruction from a duly authorized instructor, using a curriculum approved by the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the State Police.
• At least 2 hours of live-fire range training.
• A written test with a score of at least 80%.
• A live-fire proficiency test. The state’s minimum standards (August 23, 2022) call for five rounds from 4 yards, with at least four hits on the target.

Classroom topics include safe storage, state and federal law, sensitive places, de-escalation, use of deadly force and the duty to retreat, suicide prevention and basic marksmanship.

Online courses do not count. The statute requires “in-person live curriculum,” so no part of the 16 hours can be done online. If you are renewing a license issued before September 1, 2022, the training applies at your first renewal after that date.

The 18 hours move fast and cover a lot of law. A short online safety course can be a helpful primer before you sign up for the required in-person class. It won’t count toward the 16 hours.

Can Non-Residents Get A New York Carry Permit?

Yes, but it depends on where you apply, and the rules are still settling. The state’s concealed carry FAQ says: “New York law does not require residency or in-state employment to apply for a firearm license.” It says licensing officers may accept non-resident applications and should judge them by the same standards.

• New York City: An NYPD emergency rule effective August 6, 2024 lets people who live outside New York State apply to the NYPD for a concealed carry license.
• Other counties: In February 2026, Chautauqua, Steuben, Tioga and Orange Counties agreed to accept non-resident applications to settle a federal lawsuit (Shaffer v. Quattrone), according to published reports. Other counties may vary.

Non-residents face the same 18-hour training, interview and reference rules. Call the licensing office before you apply.

Which States Honor The New York Concealed Carry Permit?

New York has no reciprocity agreements, and it does not honor any other state’s carry permit. A New York license is not honored by agreement anywhere else either.

Some states recognize every valid U.S. carry permit, and many permitless carry states let visitors carry. A New York license may let you carry in those states. Check each state’s official rules before you travel.

Going next door? See our New Jersey gun laws, Pennsylvania gun laws, Connecticut gun laws, Massachusetts gun laws and Vermont gun laws guides, or browse concealed carry laws by state.

Can You Open Carry In New York?

No. New York’s carry license authorizes you to carry a handgun concealed (Penal Law 400.00(2)(f)). There is no license for open carry of a handgun.

Can You Keep A Gun In Your Car In New York?

Yes, if you are licensed, but storage rules apply when you leave the car. Under Penal Law 265.45, a gun left in an unattended vehicle must be unloaded and locked in a safe storage depository out of sight. The depository must be fire, impact and tamper resistant.

A glove box or glove compartment does not count.

The state FAQ says no case is needed if an adult stays with the vehicle.

• New York City: A license from another county does not cover carry in the city. The state FAQ notes local rules, such as New York City’s, may be stricter.
• Employer parking lots: We found no New York law that protects employees who keep guns in their cars at work.
• School parking lots: The buildings and grounds of schools, colleges and universities are sensitive locations (Penal Law 265.01-e(2)(m)). Treat school parking lots as off-limits.

Where You Can’t Carry A Gun In New York

Penal Law 265.01-e lists sensitive locations where carry is a class E felony, even with a license. They include:

• Government buildings and courts (2)(a)
• Health care and behavioral health locations (2)(b)
• Places of worship, except people responsible for security there (2)(c)
• Libraries, public playgrounds, public parks and zoos (2)(d)
• Child care, nursery schools, preschools, summer camps and state-funded youth programs (2)(e)-(f)
• Programs for developmental disabilities, addiction, mental health and public assistance (2)(g)-(j)
• Shelters and certain residential health settings (2)(k)-(l)
• Schools, colleges and universities (2)(m)
• Public transit, including subways, buses, trains, ferries, airports and stations (2)(n)
• Bars and restaurants with an on-premises alcohol license, and cannabis consumption sites (2)(o)
• Theaters, stadiums, museums, concert venues, amusement parks, banquet halls and casinos (2)(p)
• Polling places (2)(q)
• Posted areas restricted for a permitted event or security (2)(r)
• Protests and other public assemblies (2)(s)
• Times Square, where marked with signs (2)(t)

Private property: Penal Law 265.01-d bars carry on private property unless the owner allows it by sign or express consent. The state FAQ says State Police aren’t enforcing this for property open to the public because of a court ruling.

A federal appeals court upheld a ruling against the rule in May 2026, according to published reports. In June 2026 the Supreme Court struck down a similar Hawaii rule in Wolford v. Lopez.

Property owners can still ban guns on their own property. The sensitive-location list above still applies everywhere.

Duty to inform: We found no New York statute requiring you to volunteer that you are carrying. But Penal Law 400.00(8) requires you to have your license on you and show it to a police or peace officer on demand.

New York Castle Doctrine And Stand Your Ground Law

New York has no stand your ground law. Its self-defense statute is Penal Law 35.15.

• Duty to retreat: You may use deadly force against someone you reasonably believe is using or about to use deadly force. But not if you know you can avoid it by retreating with complete safety to yourself and others.
• Castle doctrine: There is no duty to retreat in your own dwelling if you were not the initial aggressor.
• Other deadly force: Deadly force may also be justified against someone committing or attempting kidnapping, forcible rape, forcible aggravated sexual abuse or robbery. It may also be justified to stop a burglary under the rules in Penal Law 35.20.
• Limits: You lose the defense if you provoked the fight intending to injure, or were the initial aggressor and did not clearly withdraw.
• Civil immunity: We found no New York statute giving broad civil immunity for justified self-defense.

These are defenses, not protection from arrest. You can be arrested and charged even when you acted lawfully, and a defense in New York can be very expensive.

New York Gun Laws FAQ

How Long Does It Take To Get A Concealed Carry Permit In New York?

The licensing officer has six months to decide under Penal Law 400.00(4-b). Delays past that require written notice of good cause. Plan for the 18 hours of training before you apply.

How Much Is A New York Pistol Permit?

Outside New York City, Nassau and Westchester, the state license fee is $3 to $10, plus fingerprint fees. In New York City, the NYPD lists $340 plus an $88.25 fingerprint fee. The 18-hour course costs extra.

Is A New York Pistol Permit Valid In NYC?

No. A license from another county is not valid for carry in New York City. You need a special permit from the NYC police commissioner, or a license issued by the NYPD.

Can You Take The New York Concealed Carry Class Online?

No. The law requires 16 hours of in-person, live classroom instruction and 2 hours of live fire.

Does New York Honor Out-Of-State Permits?

No. New York honors no other state’s permit. Visitors need a New York license to carry a handgun.

Can You Carry A Gun In Church In New York?

Generally no. Places of worship are sensitive locations under Penal Law 265.01-e(2)(c). The exception is people responsible for security at that place of worship.

A federal appeals court ruled for one church challenging the ban in 2023, so check the current status with an attorney.

Churches that use armed volunteers should look into legal protection for church security teams.

Sources

• Penal Law 400.00, Licensing (New York State Senate)
• Penal Law 265.01-e, Sensitive Locations (New York State Senate)
• Penal Law 265.01-d, Restricted Locations (New York State Senate)
• Penal Law 265.45, Safe Storage (New York State Senate)
• Penal Law 35.15, Use of Physical Force (New York State Senate)
• Frequently Asked Questions: New Concealed Carry Law (New York State)
• DCJS and State Police Minimum Standards for Concealed Carry Training (posted by Tompkins County)
• Permits and Licenses: Firearms (NYPD)
• New Application Instructions and Fees (NYPD License Division)
• Concealed Carry License Rules for Non-New York Residents (NYC Rules)
• Wolford v. Lopez, No. 24-1046 docket (U.S. Supreme Court)