Yes, Kansas is a permitless carry state. Since July 1, 2015, anyone 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm may carry a handgun openly or concealed without a license. Adults 18 to 20 need a provisional license to carry concealed.
This guide covers Kansas gun laws in plain terms: the Kansas concealed carry permit, the required 8-hour class, reciprocity, open carry, guns in cars, off-limits places and self-defense law. Each section points to the official source.
Kansas Concealed Carry At A Glance
| Permitless carry | Yes, since July 1, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Minimum age to carry | 21 (18 with a provisional license) |
| Permit name | Concealed Carry Handgun License (CCHL) |
| Issued by | Kansas Attorney General (apply through your county sheriff) |
| Permit fee | $32.50 new (paid to sheriff); $0 renewal |
| Permit length | 4 years |
| Training required | Yes: 8-hour handgun course including actual firing of handguns, taught by an Attorney General- or NRA-certified instructor (K.S.A. 75-7c04). |
| Online course counts? | No, in-person training required |
| Non-resident permit | Limited (Only active-duty military members and their dependents stationed in Kansas.) |
| Lifetime permit | No |
| States that honor it | 39 (Kansas AG list) |
| Last verified | November 2, 2026 |
Do You Need A Permit To Carry In Kansas?
No, not if you are 21 or older. The Kansas Attorney General says people 21 and older who may lawfully possess firearms can carry concealed without a license. No permit is needed to carry openly either.
Under 21 is different. K.S.A. 21-6302(a)(4) makes it a crime for a person under 21 to carry a concealed firearm, except on their own land, in their home or at their fixed place of business. A valid provisional license, or a recognized out-of-state license, is an exception.
You may not carry at all if you are a prohibited person. That includes anyone barred by federal law under 18 U.S.C. 922(g), such as most felons, and anyone barred under Kansas weapons statutes. Kansas law also generally bars people under 18 from possessing a handgun (K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(14)), with exceptions for hunting, ranges and supervised activities.
Why Get A Kansas Concealed Carry License Anyway?
The main reason is travel. The Kansas Attorney General lists 39 states that recognize the Kansas license. Many of those states still require a license, even for visitors.
Other real benefits:
- Carry at 18 to 20. A provisional license is the only way for adults under 21 to carry concealed in most places in Kansas.
- Free renewals. Kansas dropped the Attorney General’s fee and renewal fee as of July 1, 2023.
- Training. The required class covers Kansas use-of-force law, which every carrier should know.
How To Get A Kansas Concealed Carry License
The official name is the Concealed Carry Handgun License (CCHL). The Attorney General issues it, but you apply through your county sheriff.
- Check eligibility. You must be a Kansas resident and live in the county where you apply. You must be 21 for a standard license or 18 for a provisional license, and not prohibited from possessing firearms (K.S.A. 75-7c04).
- Take the 8-hour class. It must be taught by an instructor certified by the Attorney General or the NRA. Keep your certificate of completion.
- Apply through the sheriff. Submit your application and certificate to the sheriff of your county of residence. The fee is $32.50, paid to the sheriff. The Attorney General’s fee is $0.
- Wait for approval. The Attorney General’s office says processing currently takes 8 to 12 weeks because of a backlog.
- Get your card. Follow the approval notice instructions. The Attorney General’s office directs approved renewals to a Kansas driver’s license station.
A Kansas license is valid for four years. Start at the Kansas Attorney General’s Concealed Carry Licensing page, or call the licensing unit at (785) 291-3765.
Do You Need A Class For A Kansas Carry Permit?
Yes. K.S.A. 75-7c04(b) requires an 8-hour handgun safety and training course. It must cover safe storage, Kansas law on concealed carry and deadly force, and “actual firing of handguns.”
The course must meet standards set by the Attorney General. Instructors must be certified by the Attorney General or by the NRA. You pay for the class yourself, and prices vary by instructor.
Online-only courses do not count. In November 2016, then-Attorney General Derek Schmidt warned that online concealed carry courses do not meet Kansas licensing requirements. The statute’s live-fire requirement means you need an in-person class with a range portion.
If you already hold a license from another state, Kansas may accept that training. It must be equal to or greater than the Kansas standard, and you must send proof of the course content and completion.
If you are new to handguns, a short online safety course can be a good first step before you sign up for the required class. It is a primer only. It does not replace the Kansas 8-hour course, and its certificate is not a license or permit.
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 Kansas, you apply for the Concealed Carry Handgun License (CCHL) through the Kansas Attorney General (apply through your county sheriff).
Can Non-Residents Get A Kansas Carry Permit?
No. Kansas issues licenses only to Kansas residents. The exception is active-duty military members and their dependents stationed in Kansas.
A Kansas license is valid only while you live in Kansas or are stationed there. If you move away, you must surrender it unless Kansas is your military home of record.
Non-residents rarely need a Kansas license anyway. Kansas honors any valid out-of-state license held by a non-resident 18 or older. Non-residents 21 and older may also carry without any license.
Which States Honor The Kansas Concealed Carry License?
The Kansas Attorney General lists 39 states that recognize the Kansas license. They include Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Virginia. States not on the list, such as Illinois, California and New York, should be treated as not honoring it.
Kansas recognizes every valid concealed carry license or permit issued by another state or Washington, D.C., for non-residents 18 and older. It does not recognize another state’s permit held by a Kansas resident. Check the Attorney General’s out-of-state license recognition page before any trip, because the list can change.
Going next door? See our guides for Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Colorado, or compare every state on our concealed carry laws by state hub.
Can You Open Carry In Kansas?
Yes. Kansas does not require a license to carry openly. K.S.A. 75-7c03 states that the licensing law does not create a general ban on carrying a handgun without a license, openly or concealed.
State law also preempts most local gun ordinances, so cities cannot set their own carry rules (K.S.A. 12-16,124, per handgunlaw.us). The minimum age for open carry is 18 in practice, because people under 18 generally may not possess a handgun.
Posted buildings and other restricted places apply to open carry too. If you are asked to leave a posted building and refuse, you can face a trespass charge.
Can You Keep A Gun In Your Car In Kansas?
Yes. If you are 21 or older and not prohibited, you can keep a loaded handgun in your vehicle without a license. Adults 18 to 20 without a provisional license should keep it unloaded and secured rather than on their person (handgunlaw.us).
Employer parking lots: Private employers can ban carry inside the workplace through personnel policies. But K.S.A. 75-7c10(b) says no employer may prohibit possession of a handgun in a private vehicle, even if it is parked on company property.
School parking lots: K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(11) bars firearms on K-12 school property. The law exempts a firearm secured in a vehicle while dropping off or picking up a student, and a concealed handgun carried by a non-prohibited person 21 or older or a valid licensee (K.S.A. 21-6301(j)).
Do not drink and carry. K.S.A. 21-6332 makes it a misdemeanor to carry a loaded firearm, including one within reach in a vehicle, while too impaired to handle it safely.
Where You Can’t Carry A Gun In Kansas
Kansas has a short list of off-limits places, and many depend on posting. Watch for signs at every entrance.
- Posted buildings. Any building posted with Attorney General-approved signs at all exterior entrances (K.S.A. 75-7c10). Carrying past a sign is not a crime by itself, but you can be denied entry or removed.
- Secured public buildings. State and municipal buildings can ban carry only if they have adequate security measures, such as metal detectors and armed guards, and are posted (K.S.A. 75-7c20, per handgunlaw.us).
- K-12 school property. Firearms are banned on school grounds and at school events (K.S.A. 21-6301(a)(11)), with the exemptions noted above. School buildings may also be posted.
- Courtrooms. A chief judge may restrict weapons in courtrooms (K.S.A. 75-7c10(f)).
- Certain medical facilities. Some state or municipal medical care facilities, adult care homes, community mental health centers and indigent health care clinics may post (K.S.A. 75-7c10(d)).
- Secure areas of jails, correctional facilities and law enforcement facilities (per handgunlaw.us).
- Anywhere while impaired (K.S.A. 21-6332).
- Federal property where federal law bans firearms, such as post offices and federal courthouses (K.S.A. 75-7c10(i)).
Duty to inform: Kansas law does not require you to tell an officer you are carrying when stopped, according to handgunlaw.us. Telling the officer calmly and early is still a good practice.
Renewing A Kansas Concealed Carry License
Renewal is free, and you do not need new training or fingerprints. The Attorney General mails a renewal notice about 90 days before your license expires.
The renewal form must be notarized and sent by certified mail or hand-delivered to the Attorney General’s office in Topeka. Keep your address current with the office, because notices go only to the address on file.
Do not let it lapse too long. A license is permanently expired six months after its expiration date, and you must start over as a new applicant. A 2025 law (HB 2052) also lets provisional license holders move to a standard license when they turn 21.
Kansas Castle Doctrine And Stand Your Ground Law
Kansas has both a castle doctrine and a stand-your-ground law. K.S.A. 21-5222 covers defense of a person, and K.S.A. 21-5223 covers defense of a dwelling, place of work or occupied vehicle.
Under K.S.A. 21-5224, you are presumed to reasonably believe deadly force is necessary when someone is unlawfully or forcefully entering your home, workplace or occupied vehicle. The presumption does not apply if the person has a right to be there, if you are committing a crime, or if the person is a police officer acting lawfully.
K.S.A. 21-5230 says a person who is not engaged in unlawful activity and is attacked where they have a right to be has no duty to retreat. K.S.A. 21-5231 makes justified force immune from criminal prosecution and civil action. Police may still investigate, but may not arrest without probable cause.
The immunity has limits. It does not protect force used against an officer you knew or should have known was an officer, and courts can deny it if you provoked the fight.
These laws do not prevent an arrest or charges. Even a justified shooting can lead to a long investigation, and a legal defense can be expensive.
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Kansas Gun Laws FAQ
Is Kansas A Constitutional Carry State?
Yes. Since July 1, 2015, adults 21 and older who can legally possess a firearm may carry openly or concealed without a license. The license is optional for that age group.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Carry A Gun In Kansas?
You must be 21 to carry concealed without a license. Adults 18 to 20 may carry concealed with a provisional license. Open carry is generally available at 18, since Kansas bars handgun possession by most people under 18.
How Much Is A Kansas Concealed Carry Permit?
The application fee is $32.50, paid to your county sheriff. The Attorney General’s portion is $0, and renewals are free. You also pay for the 8-hour class.
Can You Carry A Gun In A Restaurant That Serves Alcohol In Kansas?
Generally yes, unless the building is posted, according to handgunlaw.us. Do not drink while carrying, because carrying while impaired is a crime under K.S.A. 21-6332.
Does Kansas Honor Other States’ Permits?
Yes. Kansas recognizes any valid permit from another state or Washington, D.C., if the holder is a non-resident 18 or older. Kansas residents must use a Kansas license.
Can You Carry A Gun In Church In Kansas?
Kansas law does not name churches as off-limits. A church is treated like other private buildings, so it can ban carry by posting Attorney General-approved signs at every exterior entrance (K.S.A. 75-7c10). If a church is posted and you are asked to leave, you must go.
If your church wants armed volunteers, look into legal protection for church security teams.
Sources
- Kansas Attorney General: Concealed Carry Licensing
- Kansas Attorney General: Out-Of-State License Recognition
- K.S.A. 75-7c03 (License Validity And Recognition)
- K.S.A. 75-7c04 (Eligibility And Training)
- K.S.A. 75-7c10 (Restrictions, Posting And Employer Parking)
- K.S.A. 21-6301 (Criminal Use Of Weapons, School Property)
- K.S.A. 21-6302 (Criminal Carrying Of A Weapon)
- K.S.A. 21-6332 (Possession Of A Firearm Under The Influence)
- K.S.A. 21-5224 (Use Of Force Presumptions)
- K.S.A. 21-5230 (No Duty To Retreat)
- K.S.A. 21-5231 (Immunity)
- KWCH: 2016 Attorney General Alert On Online Courses (news report)
- Kansas HB 2052 (2025) Bill History (secondary)
- Handgunlaw.us: Kansas (secondary source)