Alabama state law allows any person 19 years old and over to obtain a concealed carry permit. However, you can obtain a license to carry concealed firearm at the age of 18 if you are an emancipated minor.
Applicants must submit a form to their local county Sheriff’s office, and pay the applicable fee. There is no competency training requirement to obtain an Alabama concealed carry license. Although the fee will vary, it is generally accepted as $20 per year. A license is valid for up to 5 years. The state of Alabama does not issue non-resident permits, and is accepted by 32 other states.
This information was last updated in April 2020.
Table of Contents
Alabama Concealed Carry By The Numbers
Average Cost in Dollars
# of States That Accept AL License
# of Years Valid
Minimum Age*
# of Days To Get A Permit
Reciprocity Map for Alabama
Use the tabs below to display states that will accept an Alabama concealed carry permit or those states that Alabama will honor. Click the sections below for a complete listing of states in each category, along with other relevant information.
Map Legend
Red: Active State
Green: States that honor the active states concealed carry permits
Yellow: Conditional acceptance of active states concealed carry permits
Grey: Does not accept active state concealed carry permit.
See lists below for terms of conditional acceptance
Map Legend
Red: Active State
Green: Active state honors concealed carry permits
Yellow: Conditional acceptance of concealed permits by the active state
Grey: Concealed carry permits not accepted by active state
See lists below for terms of conditional acceptance
States That Honor Alabama Concealed Carry
- Alaska – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Arizona – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Arkansas
- Colorado – Resident Permit ONLY
- Florida – Resident Permit ONLY
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan
- Mississippi – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Missouri – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania – Resident Permit ONLY
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Alabama Will Honor The Following States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Under Alabama state code Section 13A-11-85 all valid out of state concealed carry permits are recognized.
How To Apply for an Alabama Concealed Carry License
Can I get a concealed carry permit in Alabama?
- conviction of violent crime
- having entered a plea of insanity
- found to be mentally ill
- found to be mentally diseased or defect
Relevant Code(s):
Section 13A-11-75
What is the minimum age to obtain a CCW license in AL?
Alabama states that “No person who is a minor” may possess a firearm. Alabama considers anyone under the age of 19 to be a minor. However, an individual who has petitioned the court at the age of 18 to become an “emancipated minor” is considered to have the same rights as an individual who has reached the age of majority, and therefore eligible to apply for a concealed weapons license.
Relevant Code(s):
Section 26-1-1
Section 13A-11-72
Who issues a concealed carry permit in Alabama?
Relevant Code(s):
How long is an Alabama concealed carry permit good for?
Relevant Code(s):
Does AL issue concealed permits to non-residents?
How long does it take to process a concealed carry application?
Relevant Code(s):
How much does a concealed carry permit cost?
What are the accepted forms of competency training?
Restrictions on Carrying A Firearm in Alabama
Is Alabama an Open Carry State?
Relevant Code(s):
Can I Conceal Carry in a Vehicle?
Those with a valid concealed carry permit, can carry a loaded pistol in their vehicle. However, those without a permit must keep the weapon unloaded, and it must not be accessible by the driver or any passenger.
Relevant Code(s):
Can I Conceal Carry in State Parks?
Relevant Code(s):
Can I Conceal Carry In Restaurants?
“[…]notice at the public entrances of such premises or buildings alerting those entering that firearms are prohibited”
Relevant Code(s):
Can I Conceal Carry in a Church?
Can I Conceal Carry in a Bank?
“[…]a person, including a person with a permit issued under Section 13A-11-75(a)(1) or recognized under Section 13A-11-85, may not, without the express permission of a person or entity with authority over the premises, knowingly possess or carry a firearm inside any building or facility to which access of unauthorized persons and prohibited articles is limited during normal hours of operation by the continuous posting of guards and the use of other security features, including, but not limited to, magnetometers, key cards, biometric screening devices, or turnstiles or other physical barriers.”
Relevant Code(s):
Can I Conceal Carry in a Hospital?
“Inside a facility which provides inpatient or custodial care of those with psychiatric, mental, or emotional disorders.”
Furthermore, hospitals do have restricted access sections and frequently employ security guards. Therefore, it can fall under the same protections as a bank and therefore, could be considered illegal to conceal carry a firearm into a hospital.
“[…]a person, including a person with a permit issued under Section 13A-11-75(a)(1) or recognized under Section 13A-11-85, may not, without the express permission of a person or entity with authority over the premises, knowingly possess or carry a firearm inside any building or facility to which access of unauthorized persons and prohibited articles is limited during normal hours of operation by the continuous posting of guards and the use of other security features, including, but not limited to, magnetometers, key cards, biometric screening devices, or turnstiles or other physical barriers.”
Relevant Code(s):
The content of this page is for informational purposes. It is not intended as a substitute for legal council, or intended as legal advice. It is recommended that you inquire with the state about the validity of the information contained herein.
In the State of Alabama I am a concealed carry permit holder, But I am still confused. In a vehicle can I have a loaded pistol , You know clip in & one in the chamber ? Does it have to be concealed or in the open ?
Sammy, thanks for your comment, I will update the page to be more clear. Because you have a concealed carry permit, you are permitted to carry your pistol in your vehicle. Make sure the weapon is holstered if you carry openly. Alabama does not define “loaded” or “unloaded”, nor does it require those with a concealed permit to keep their weapon in a specific condition (e.g. condition 3 vs. condition 1) while carrying.