Connecticut requires a person to be 21 in order to apply for a concealed carry permit. Applicants with a permanent residence in CT must apply with the chief of police in their jurisdiction. Persons looking to apply from out of state need to apply directly to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. In order to obtain a Connecticut concealed carry permit, you must provide evidence of firearms safety training from an approved course provider. The state also has a $140 fee to process your initial permit request. Permits are valid for 5 years, and 24 other states honor a CT permit.
This information was last updated in December 2018.
Table of Contents
Connecticut Concealed Carry By The Numbers
Average Cost in Dollars
# of States That Accept CT License*
# of Years Valid
Minimum Age
# of Days To Get A Permit
Reciprocity Map for Connecticut
Use the tabs below to display states that will accept an Connecticut concealed carry permit or those states that Connecticut will honor. Click the sections below for a complete listing of states in each category, along with other relevant information.
States That Honor Connecticut Concealed Carry
While 26 other states allow residents from Connecticut to carry concealed, only 24 of these recognize a CT permit. The others allow concealed carry based on age and state ID.
- Alabama
- 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
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Also honors state issued concealed carry permit.
- Kentucky
- 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
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Does NOT recognize CT permit.
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia – Must be of legal age to carry, and state ID required. Does NOT recognize CT permit.
- Wisconsin
Connecticut Will Honor The Following States
Connecticut will not honor concealed carry permits from any other state.
How To Apply for a Connecticut Concealed Carry License
Can I get a concealed carry permit in Connecticut?
Connecticut is a shall issue state. You must meet certain criteria to be eligible to apply for and obtain a CCW in the state. The below are a list of criteria that may prevent you from receiving a Connecticut permit to carry.
- convicted of a felony
- convicted as delinquent for the commission of a serious juvenile offense
- confined in a hospital for persons with psychiatric disabilities
- subject to a restraining or protective order
- found not guilty of a crime by reason of mental disease or defect
Relevant Code(s):
What is the minimum age to obtain a CCW license in CT?
Connecticut requires a person to be 21 years old in order to be eligible for a concealed carry permit. No person under the age of 21 is permitted to be in possession of a pistol. Exceptions are made for target shooting on a firing range, under the supervision of a person legally allowed to possess a firearm.
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Who issues a concealed carry permit in Connecticut?
Approval for a state permit is issued by the chief of police, warden, or selectman of the jurisdiction where the applicant has a permanent residence. However, out of state applications must be made directly to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection
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How long is a Connecticut concealed carry permit good for?
Connecticut concealed carry permits are valid for 5 years from the date it becomes effective. Subsequent renewals are subject to the same period of time that the license is valid.
Relevant Code(s):
Does CT issue concealed permits to non-residents?
Connecticut does offer a means for non-residents to apply for a concealed carry permit. However, the person must be a citizen of the United States, must have a permit or license issued by another state authority, and must apply directly to the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
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How long does it take to process a concealed carry application?
According to the below code, the local authority will have 8 weeks to approve or deny an application. For the sake of this site, that period was converted to 60 days.
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How much does a concealed carry permit cost?
According to the excerpt from the appropriate section, the cost for the initial permit is $140. However, the cost of renewal is $70.
“The fee for each state permit […] for the carrying of pistols and revolvers shall be one hundred forty dollars plus sufficient funds as required to be transmitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation […]”
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What are the accepted forms of competency training?
Connecticut requires an education component in order to obtain a permit to carry concealed. Approved education is cited as a “course approved by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection in the safety and use of pistols and revolvers.”
There is no explicit language forbidding online education. However, the section does indicate “a private or public educational institution or a firearms training school” as an acceptable form of education.
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Restrictions on Carrying A Firearm in Connecticut
Is Connecticut an Open Carry State?
Connecticut does allow the open carry of firearms for persons with a permit to carry concealed. The exact applicable verbiage is below, and can be found in the following section.
“No person shall carry any pistol or revolver upon his or her person, except when such person is within the dwelling house or place of business of such person, without a permit to carry[…]”
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Can I Conceal Carry in a Vehicle?
Connecticut requires a permit carry concealed in order to have a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Any person who does not have a valid or recognized permit is required to have the pistol unloaded and not readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment
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Can I Conceal Carry in State Parks?
According to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency website you are not allowed to carry a concealed firearm on state owned land. The referenced text is below:
“Rifles or handguns using ammunition larger than .22 caliber rimfire are prohibited on state-owned land“
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Am I Allowed To Conceal Carry In Restaurants?
Connecticut does not prohibit the carrying of firearms in restaurants, unless otherwise indicated by signage posted by the owner/controller of the premises. Furthermore, unlike other states, no distinction is made between restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol (e.g. bar, tavern, etc.)
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Can I Conceal Carry in a Church?
There is no readily available code that prohibits the carrying of firearms in places of worship, provided the person has a permit to concealed carry, and no posted signage exists that prohibits firearms on the premises.
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Can I Conceal Carry in a Bank?
There is no readily available code that prohibits the carrying of firearms in banks or other financial institutions, provided the person has a permit to concealed carry, and no posted signage exists that prohibits firearms on the premises.
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Can I Conceal Carry in a Hospital?
Hospitals and other medical facilities are not expressly addressed as places where concealed carry is forbidden. However, you must obey any posted signage that dictates the facility does not allow the carry of firearms.
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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.
