◆ VIRGINIA · CARRY LAW
Virginia.
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
No
Open, no permit
Yes
In a vehicle, no permit
Only in some cases
Getting a permit
Yes, shall-issue
- You must produce your permit if an officer asks for it.
- This state has an extreme-risk protective order law.
◆ CARRYING HERE
What Virginia requires
The state's permit is the Concealed Handgun Permit, issued by the clerk of your circuit court.
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.
No
You need a permit. Carrying a handgun hidden from common observation without one is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and a second offense is a felony.
Can I carry openly here without a permit?
Yes
Open carry needs no permit. It is lawful because the offense reaches only CONCEALED weapons, but a locality may still bar it from its buildings, parks and rec centers.
Can I keep a loaded handgun in my car without a permit?
Only in some cases
Without a permit a handgun in a car must be either in plain sight or secured in a container or compartment. Loose under the seat is the offense.
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
Apply to the clerk of the circuit court where you live, for a five-year permit. There is no minimum time you must have lived in the county or city.
Can I get this state's permit if I live somewhere else?
Yes
Yes. A non-resident applies to the State Police rather than to a circuit court clerk. A different door, not a closed one.
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.
18
18 to carry openly. The concealed permit is 21, so if concealed is what you want, 21 is your number.
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.
Only if asked
You do not have to volunteer it, but you must carry the permit and photo ID and hand both over when an officer asks.
Va. Code §§ 18.2-308.01(A), 18.2-308.014(A)(ii)Read at the Virginia General Assembly ↗Checked 9 days ago
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 or license to buy. But since 2020 almost every sale runs a background check. A private seller must have a dealer run one first.
Is there a limit on magazine capacity here?
No limit
No statewide cap. One local catch: in a handful of cities and counties it is an offense to carry a LOADED rifle, shotgun or handgun holding more than 20 rounds in a public place.
No statewide magazine limit; cf. Va. Code § 18.2-287.4Read at the Virginia General Assembly ↗Checked 9 days ago
How we checked there is no such law
Searched the Code of Virginia’s weapons article on 2026-09-05 for a capacity limit. What comes back is § 18.2-287.4, which restricts carrying certain LOADED firearms with magazines over 20 rounds in public places in named localities. A carrying offense in some places, not a possession cap anywhere. Finding that provision is what makes this a real check rather than a failed query.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.
Sometimes, check the city
Strong on paper, with a real hole. No locality may regulate firearms, except that since 2020 it MAY ban them from its own buildings, its public parks, its recreation and community centers, and streets next to a permitted event. Several large cities have. Check the city.
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
Yes. Since 2020 a court may issue an emergency substantial risk order requiring firearms to be surrendered.
In force since July 1, 2020.
◆ RECIPROCITY
Permits Virginia honors
If you are visiting Virginia, 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 Virginia permits are honored
If you live in Virginia, 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
Lawful with the federal paperwork. Virginia has no statute of its own banning them.
No suppressor prohibition in Va. Code tit. 18.2, ch. 7Read at the Virginia General Assembly ↗Checked 9 days ago
How we checked there is no such law
Searched the Code of Virginia’s weapons chapter on 2026-09-05 for a silencer or suppressor prohibition. The prohibited-weapons provisions that come back reach sawed-off shotguns and rifles, machine guns, plastic firearms and Striker 12 shotguns, and no muffler or silencer among them. The neighboring prohibitions are what make this a real check.Can I possess a short-barreled rifle here?
Legal
Lawful if possessed in compliance with federal law. Virginia says so expressly.
Can I possess a short-barreled shotgun here?
Legal
Lawful if possessed in compliance with federal law. Virginia says so expressly.
Can I possess a machine gun here?
Federally, civilian possession is limited to pre-1986 registered transferables.
Legal
Lawful to possess if registered. Virginia does not ban machine guns outright. It criminalizes possessing or using one for an offensive or aggressive purpose, and separately requires registration.
Can I possess an AOW here?
Legal
Lawful with the federal paperwork.
No any-other-weapon provision in Va. Code tit. 18.2, ch. 7, arts. 6-7Read at the Virginia General Assembly ↗Checked 9 days ago
How we checked there is no such law
Read every section heading in article 7 and searched its full text. 119,000 characters. On 2026-09-07 for “cane gun”, “pen gun”, “wallet gun”, “zip gun”, “disguised”, “covert”, “not immediately recognizable” and “any other weapon”. Zero hits.◆ 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 clerk of your circuit court ↗
- ATF’s index
- Virginia firearm statutes ↗ (PDF)