Permit to Purchase by state map including DC and Puerto Rico, November 2026 - Minuteman University.com

Gun Permits

Educational information, not legal advice. Gun laws change often and vary by state, county and city. Check current law where you are and talk to a firearms attorney before acting. Full disclaimer

Last reviewed November 1, 2026

Gun Permits: Where It Stands in 2026

There is no federal permit to own or buy an ordinary rifle, shotgun or handgun. A permit requirement is a state choice, and most states have never required one. The minority that do (including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois with its FOID card, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Maryland for handguns) make a law-abiding citizen ask the government for permission before exercising a constitutional right, often with fees, training mandates and weeks of waiting.

No Permit to Purchase (37): Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Permit for Some Firearms (7): Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island

Permit for Most or All Firearms (8): California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Puerto Rico

The trend in free states has been to eliminate these barriers. Iowa repealed its permit-to-acquire requirement effective July 1, 2021, and North Carolina repealed its sheriff-issued pistol purchase permit in March 2023. On carry, 29 states now recognize permitless (constitutional) carry. North Carolina came close to becoming the 30th: the Senate overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of S.B. 50 in 2025, but the House had not held an override vote as of mid-2026.

In anti-gun states the direction is the opposite. Washington enacted a permit-to-purchase law (HB 1163) in May 2025 that takes effect May 1, 2027. Colorado’s SB25-003 requires a training-based eligibility card to buy many semi-automatic firearms, with applications opening August 1, 2026. Oregon’s voter-passed Measure 114 permit system remains blocked in state court, and the 2026 Legislature passed HB 4145 to push its start date to January 1, 2028.

Key Facts

  • Federal law: no permit to purchase or own standard firearms; a dealer sale requires the Form 4473 and a NICS check.
  • 29 states have permitless carry as of October 2026; South Carolina (signed March 7, 2024) was the most recent addition.
  • Washington HB 1163: signed May 2025, effective May 1, 2027; permit issued by the Washington State Patrol, valid five years, requires certified safety training.
  • Colorado SB25-003: county sheriffs issue a five-year Firearm Safety Course Eligibility Card; applications opened August 1, 2026, and the law faces federal lawsuits filed in September 2025.
  • Oregon Measure 114 (2022): enjoined under state court orders; the Oregon Supreme Court heard argument in November 2025, and HB 4145 (2026) would delay the permit system to January 1, 2028.
  • November 16, 2025: Delaware’s Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit took effect for handgun buyers.
  • Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License was upheld by the en banc Fourth Circuit in 2024, and the Supreme Court declined review in January 2025.

What Gun Owners Should Know

  • Before buying in a new state, check whether a purchase permit, FOID or license is required; a dealer cannot complete the sale without it.
  • A carry permit is still worth having in constitutional carry states for reciprocity when traveling and, in states with ATF-approved Brady permits, as an alternative to a NICS check at purchase.
  • If you live in Washington, Colorado or Oregon, plan ahead for training and processing time, and keep copies of certificates and cards.
  • Find training classes and instructors through After Action.net, and watch effective dates on Gun Calendars.com.
  • Related pages: Gun Registration, the 4473 and Background Checks.

Sources

Background and Resources

Only a FEW states require any kind of permit to own a gun

State Gun Law Maps 2021 Permit Required to OwnAn heirloom 2021 map. No permit was required to make it, just coffee, patience and a human with a mouse.