◆ FLORIDA · CARRY LAW
Florida.
Information, not legal advice. Confirm with the state before you carry.
Kept in this browser only. Never sent to us.
◆ THE SHORT ANSWEREvery tile below is one of the answers further down this page, with its citation.
Concealed, no permit
Yes
Open, no permit
Yes
In a vehicle, no permit
Yes
Getting a permit
Yes, shall-issue
- This state has an extreme-risk protective order law.
◆ CARRYING HERE
What Florida requires
The state's permit is the Concealed Weapon or Firearm License, issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Carrying without a permit3
Can I carry concealed here without a permit?
Permitless or "constitutional" carry. "Limited" means some adults qualify and others do not. Read the qualifier.
Yes
No license needed if you would qualify for one. Florida grants permitless carry by pointing at the license criteria rather than restating them, so every disqualifier that would block a license blocks this too.
In force since July 1, 2023.
Can I carry openly here without a permit?
Yes
Legal since 25 September 2025, but by COURT RULING, not by statute. The ban in § 790.053 is still printed in the code; an appellate court held it unconstitutional and the Attorney General advised treating open carry as lawful statewide. Schools, courthouses, polling places and private property that says no are all still off limits.
In force since September 25, 2025.
McDaniels v. State (Fla. 1st DCA, 10 Sept 2025); Fla. Stat. § 790.053Read at FindLaw ↗, not the statuteChecked 9 days ago
Can I keep a loaded handgun in my car without a permit?
Yes
Two routes. At 21, permitless carry covers it outright. At 18, no license is needed either, provided the firearm is securely encased or otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use.
Permits and age3
If I want this state's permit, will they issue one?
Shall-issue means the state must issue to any qualified applicant. May-issue leaves it to an official's discretion.
Yes, shall-issue
Issued by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, not a sheriff.
Can I get this state's permit if I live somewhere else?
Yes
Florida issues to non-residents, which is why a Florida license is one of the more widely-held out-of-state permits.
How old do I have to be to carry here?
The floor for the least restrictive lawful route. Where permitless and permit ages differ, the qualifier says so.
21
21 to carry, and there is no military exception. That exception belongs to out-of-state license holders under 790.015, not to Florida’s own floor. Separately, anyone 18 or older may keep a firearm in their vehicle if it is securely encased.
Fla. Stat. § 790.06(2)(b); § 790.01(1)(b); § 790.25(4)Read at the Florida Legislature ↗Checked 9 days ago
If an officer stops you1
Do I have to tell an officer I am armed?
"Required" means you must volunteer it on contact. "On request" means only when asked.
Not required
Buying and owning2
Do I need a state-issued card just to own or buy a firearm here?
Illinois' FOID is the main example. Distinct from a carry permit.
Not required
No permit to purchase, but there is a mandatory waiting period and the minimum age to buy any firearm from a dealer is 21.
No state permit-to-purchase statute; Fla. Stat. § 790.065Read at Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services ↗Checked 9 days ago
Is there a limit on magazine capacity here?
No limit
No state magazine capacity statuteRead at Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services ↗Checked 9 days ago
How the state governs guns2
Can a city here write its own gun rules on top of the state's?
Full preemption means state law is the only law. Partial means some cities may go further. Check locally.
No, state law is the only law
Among the strongest in the country. The statute carries personal penalties for local officials who enact their own firearm rules.
Does this state have a red-flag law?
An extreme risk protection order lets a court order firearms surrendered temporarily.
Yes, this state has one
Risk Protection Order, enacted after Parkland in 2018.
◆ RECIPROCITY
Permits Florida honors
If you are visiting Florida, this is whether your permit counts here.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored54
◆ RECIPROCITY, THE OTHER WAY
Where Florida permits are honored
If you live in Florida, this is where your permit travels.
Pick a state for the full answer with its citation, or find it in the grid below.
Honored33
Honored, with a condition3
Not honored18
◆ NFA ITEMS
Suppressors and NFA legality
Federal registration is required everywhere these are legal. A state can prohibit them regardless, and several do.
Can I possess a suppressor here?
Federal NFA registration is required everywhere it is legal. State law can prohibit it regardless.
Legal
Requires federal NFA registration.
Can I possess a short-barreled rifle here?
Legal
Lawful with federal NFA registration; unregistered possession is a state felony.
Can I possess a short-barreled shotgun here?
Legal
Lawful with federal NFA registration; unregistered possession is a state felony.
Can I possess a machine gun here?
Federally, civilian possession is limited to pre-1986 registered transferables.
Legal
Pre-1986 registered transferables only, under federal law.
Can I possess an AOW here?
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork, and Florida excepts federally lawful items from its own ban outright.
Fla. Stat. § 790.221(1), (3)Read at the Florida Legislature ↗Checked 9 days ago
How we checked there is no such law
Read § 790.221 in full on 2026-09-07. It enumerates three weapon types and no AOW category.◆ SOURCES
Where this comes from
This is information, not legal advice. Gun law changes often and the penalty for getting it wrong is criminal. Confirm every answer with the state before you carry there.
- The authority
- the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ↗
- ATF’s index
- Florida firearm statutes ↗ (PDF)