Vermont is a permitless carry state, and it always has been. Vermont has never required a permit to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, and it does not issue carry permits at all. Anyone who can legally have a gun may carry, with no state minimum carry age beyond a parental consent rule for children under 16.
This guide covers who can carry, how Vermonters get permits to carry in other states, open carry, car carry, the places where guns are banned, and Vermont’s self-defense law. It also covers recent changes, including Act 134 of 2026.
Vermont Concealed Carry At A Glance
| Permitless carry | Yes, since Always (no permit has ever been required) |
|---|---|
| Minimum age to carry | No set age (under 16 needs parental consent for a handgun) |
| Permit name | None (Vermont issues no carry permits) |
| Training required | No permits issued |
| Online course counts? | Not applicable (no training required) |
| Non-resident permit | No (Vermont issues no permits to anyone) |
| Lifetime permit | No |
| States that honor it | None (no Vermont permit exists) |
| Last verified | November 2, 2026 |
Do You Need A Permit To Carry In Vermont?
No. Vermont has no carry permit system. The main carry crime is 13 V.S.A. § 4003, which makes it illegal to carry a dangerous or deadly weapon with the intent to injure another person. Carrying for lawful self-defense is not a crime.
You still must be legally allowed to have a gun. Anyone barred by federal or Vermont law from possessing firearms cannot carry.
Vermont sets no general minimum age to carry. Under 13 V.S.A. § 4008, a child under 16 may not have a pistol or revolver without a parent’s or guardian’s consent.
The same rules apply to visitors. A non-resident who can legally have a gun may carry in Vermont without a permit.
Why Vermonters Get Out-Of-State Permits
Because Vermont issues no permits, Vermont residents have no home-state permit to take on the road. Many states honor only permits, so carrying permitless in Vermont does not carry over to them.
To carry in states that require a permit, a Vermonter needs a non-resident permit from another state. Each non-resident permit is honored in a different set of states, so check where you travel before you choose one.
Plan your trips before you pick a permit. A Vermonter who mostly drives into New Hampshire and Maine has different needs than one who travels to states farther south or west.
Some states let visitors carry without any permit. Maine, for example, allows non-residents who are 21 or older and not prohibited to carry concealed without a permit, according to the Maine State Police.
How Vermonters Can Get A Permit To Carry In Other States
These states issue non-resident permits, according to their official agency pages:
- New Hampshire: The New Hampshire State Police issue non-resident pistol and revolver licenses. You download the application and mail it to the Permits and Licensing Unit in Concord.
- Maine: The Maine State Police handle all out-of-state concealed handgun permits and post a non-resident application.
- Utah: The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification issues permits to non-residents. It lists a $90 initial fee for non-residents as of October 1, 2026.
The basic steps are similar:
- Decide which states you will travel to, and pick a permit those states honor.
- Meet that state’s training rule, if it has one.
- Complete the non-resident application, which often requires fingerprints and a copy of your ID.
- Mail it with the fee to the issuing agency and wait for approval.
Fees, training and reciprocity change often. Confirm the current rules on the issuing agency’s site before you apply.
Do You Need A Class To Carry A Gun In Vermont?
No. Vermont has no permit, so it has no training requirement for carrying.
Out-of-state permits are different. Utah, for example, requires a course from a Utah-certified instructor covering firearm safety and handling and suicide prevention, though BCI says Utah does not currently require live fire. Check the training rule of the state whose permit you want.
Training is still worth your time. Vermont law does not require it, but knowing safe handling, storage and the law protects you and the people around you.
Can Non-Residents Carry In Vermont?
Yes. Vermont’s carry law applies the same way to residents and visitors. If you can legally possess a firearm, you may carry openly or concealed in Vermont without a permit.
Visitors must follow the same location bans listed below, and Vermont’s waiting period applies if you buy a gun from a dealer here.
Does Vermont Honor Other States’ Permits?
Vermont doesn’t need to. Since no permit is required, an out-of-state permit adds nothing to your right to carry in Vermont.
The reverse is the problem for Vermonters, covered above. No state honors a Vermont permit because none exists.
Going next door? See the New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York guides, or browse concealed carry laws by state. Massachusetts and New York have much stricter carry laws than Vermont.
Can You Open Carry In Vermont?
Yes. Vermont law treats open and concealed carry the same way. Neither requires a permit, and neither is a crime unless you carry with intent to injure someone.
Open carriers must follow the same location bans as everyone else. Private property owners can ban guns on their property.
Can You Keep A Gun In Your Car In Vermont?
Yes, for handguns. Vermont requires no permit to keep a handgun in a vehicle, loaded or unloaded.
Long guns are different. Under 10 V.S.A. § 4705, you may not carry a rifle or shotgun with a round in the chamber, mechanism or magazine in or on a motor vehicle within the right-of-way of a public highway. The rule also covers charged muzzleloaders and cocked crossbows, and you must show the long gun to a game warden or officer on request. The rule does not mention handguns.
- School parking lots: Guns are banned inside school buildings and on school buses. On other school property, which includes school-owned vehicles, possession is a crime only with intent to injure someone (13 V.S.A. § 4004).
- Polling places: The polling place ban does not apply to a firearm stored in a motor vehicle (13 V.S.A. § 4027).
- Employer parking lots: We found no Vermont law that requires employers to let workers keep guns in their cars. Check your employer’s policy.
Where You Can’t Carry A Gun In Vermont
- School buildings and school buses: Knowing possession is banned unless the school board, or a delegated principal or superintendent, authorizes it (13 V.S.A. § 4004(a)). A first offense can bring up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.
- Courthouses: No firearms in a courthouse without court authorization. Notice must be posted at each public entrance (13 V.S.A. § 4016).
- Hospital buildings: Knowing possession of a firearm inside a hospital building is banned, with a fine of up to $250 (13 V.S.A. § 4023).
- Polling places: No firearms at a polling place or on the walks leading to it on Election Day, or at the town clerk’s office during early voting. Guns stored in a vehicle are exempt (13 V.S.A. § 4027).
- State buildings: The Commissioner of Buildings and General Services may adopt rules on firearms in buildings under that office’s control (29 V.S.A. § 152(a)(14), according to Giffords Law Center). Look for posted notices.
- Private property and federal property: Owners can ban guns and ask you to leave. Federal facilities follow federal gun bans.
Vermont does not ban carry in bars, restaurants, parks or places of worship by statute, according to Giffords Law Center. Never drink while carrying.
Duty to inform: Vermont has no law requiring you to tell an officer you are carrying. Since Vermont has no permit, there is also no permit to show.
Vermont Castle Doctrine And Stand Your Ground Law
Vermont has no stand your ground statute and no separate castle doctrine statute. Its main self-defense law is 13 V.S.A. § 2305.
Under § 2305, a person who kills or wounds another is guiltless when acting in the just and necessary defense of their own life or someone else’s life. It also covers a person who reasonably believes they or another are in imminent peril from someone attempting murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, burglary or robbery. The statute keeps common law defenses in place.
On retreat, Giffords Law Center reports that the Vermont Supreme Court has held there is no duty to retreat before using force in public, citing State v. Hatcher (1997). We found no Vermont statute that gives civil immunity for justified self-defense, so you can still be sued.
Self-defense law doesn’t prevent an arrest or criminal charges. Paying for a defense lawyer, and possibly a civil case, can be expensive even when you acted lawfully.
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.
Vermont Gun Laws FAQ
Is Vermont A Constitutional Carry State?
Yes. Vermont has never required a permit to carry, which is why permitless carry is sometimes called “Vermont carry.” Anyone who can legally have a gun may carry openly or concealed.
Does Vermont Issue Concealed Carry Permits?
No. Vermont issues no carry permits to residents or non-residents. Vermonters who want to carry in permit-only states need a non-resident permit from another state.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Carry A Gun In Vermont?
Vermont sets no general carry age. A child under 16 needs a parent’s or guardian’s consent to have a pistol or revolver (13 V.S.A. § 4008).
Is There A Waiting Period To Buy A Gun In Vermont?
Yes. Under 13 V.S.A. § 4019a, a dealer-facilitated transfer must wait until 72 hours after the background check is approved or seven business days after it starts, whichever comes first. The law took effect July 1, 2023, and was amended in 2024.
Can You Carry A Gun In A Bar In Vermont?
Vermont has no statute banning guns in bars or restaurants that serve alcohol, according to Giffords Law Center. The owner can still ban guns as private property. Never drink while carrying.
Did Vermont Gun Laws Change In 2026?
Yes, but not for carry. Act 134 (H.606), signed June 15, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, changed how relinquished firearms are stored, released and returned. It did not change where or how you can carry.
Can You Carry A Gun In Church In Vermont?
Yes, unless the church says no. Vermont has no statute banning guns in places of worship. A church can ban them as private property, and you should respect posted signs or a request to leave. If you serve on a volunteer safety team, look into legal protection for church security teams.
Sources
- 13 V.S.A. § 4003, Carrying Dangerous Weapons
- 13 V.S.A. § 4004, School Property And School Buses
- 13 V.S.A. § 4008, Children Under 16
- 13 V.S.A. § 4016, Weapons In Court
- 13 V.S.A. § 4019a, Waiting Period
- 13 V.S.A. § 4023, Hospital Buildings
- 13 V.S.A. § 4027, Polling Places
- 13 V.S.A. § 2305, Justifiable Homicide
- 10 V.S.A. § 4705, Loaded Firearms In Vehicles
- Vermont Legislature: H.606 (Act 134 Of 2026)
- New Hampshire State Police: Pistol And Revolver Licensing
- Maine State Police: Concealed Carry In Maine
- Utah BCI: Concealed Firearm Permits
- Giffords Law Center: Location Restrictions In Vermont (secondary source)
- Giffords Law Center: Stand Your Ground In Vermont (secondary source)