Georgia Gun Laws

Gun Control Laws in Georgia

Georgia constitutionally guarantees the rights of citizens to bear arms. The state gun laws regulate the purchase, sale, use, and transfer of all firearms, ammunition, and accessories in the state. Georgia is a “Shall Issue” state and all licenses to carry are processed through the probate court system. Georgia allows open carry for specific criteria, such as your home, workplace or vehicle, someone else’s vehicle, while fishing or hunting or if it’s a long gun, you can carry it around right out in the open with a permit. The state governs all gun laws and does not allow local counties to set firearm rules. Along with the fairy permissive laws, you cannot carry in a courthouse, prison, jail, government building, mental health facility, place of worship, a polling station, near a power plant or on any school grounds. If however, you keep your firearm in a locked box in your vehicle when visiting these places; that is ok. According to Georgia’s "Stand Your Ground" law, citizens are not required to retreat before using deadly force against any attackers.

State CCW Quick Facts

  • Shall Issue State gun policy
  • yes/No - Without a License Open Carry Permitted
  • No Constitutional Carry
  • Yes Carry In Restaurants
  • Yes Carry In Vehicle
  • Residents License issued to
  • 979,006 Number of Active CCW Permits
  • 33 # of states that honor Georgia license
  • 32 # of state licenses that Georgia honors
  • 12 % of state’s population with a permit
  • 5 Years license is valid
  • 75 $ cost of the license
  • 21 Minimum age for license permit

Georgia’s policy is Shall Issue in practice and its license is issued to residents. You can carry a handgun in: state parks, state and national forests, road side rest areas, vehicle, all areas of the state not listed as forbidden.

Georgia CCW Reciprocity Map

The thirty-three states that honor Georgia’s weapon permits are

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In kind, Georgia honors permits from these states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

There are seventeen states that do not honor Georgia’s weapon permits, and they are

California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Washington D.C.

  • Permit honored
  • Permit not honored
  • Issuing state

Georgia Concealed Carry Permit and Laws

You do not need a concealed carry permit to have a gun in your home, workplace or car or while fishing or hunting. However, there are other restrictions, and a license helps to bypass those. The Georgia gun law stipulates you need a permit “outside your property.” Permits are processed through probate court for the county. You do not have to notify officers if you are carrying and you can carry in a state park or wildlife preserve. You also do not have to worry about any “no weapons” signs. You can freely carry into bars, restaurants and other businesses that serve and sell alcohol.

CCW Eligibility: Qualify or Pre-Qualify?

To apply for a gun permit in Georgia, you need to be at least 21 years old. If you are in the military, however, you can be 18. You must live in the county where you file your application, and you must be able to prove your residency. You must also be a valid U.S. citizen. You must comply with all federal permit statues and cannot have any felonies or mental illness. You also cannot have any drug convictions or a history of family violence. Your previous license cannot be suspended. You will also need a copy of your birth certificate or passport when applying, plus your driver’s license. It costs $75 for your initial permit and $40 to renew it. You must renew your old permit 90 days before it expires.

Georgia Gun Background Check

Private sales of guns are exempt from background checks, and you do not need to register or inform anyone if selling. Georgia used to be a “point of sale” state but then in 2005 repealed that part of the law. So now all gun sale background checks have to be processed through the NCIS and the FBI. Oddly enough one town in Georgia, Kennesaw actually requires that all homeowners have a firearm and ammunition. Anyone who has a concealed carry weapon permit in Georgia can purchase a gun without the need for a background check.

  • Permits
  • Handguns
  • Long Guns
  • Total

GA CCW and Pistol Permit Information

State Concealed Carry Requirements

  • Must be at least 21 years of age or 18 if in the military.
  • Resident of the county you file the application in.
  • Must be a US citizen or lawful alien.
  • Your weapons license has not been revoked in the last 3 years.
  • Federal law requirements

Gun CCW Permit Application

  1. Download the application form or pickup from the Probate court. Some counties have online applications.
  2. You will need the following documents; Completed application form. Copy of birth certificate or US passport Drivers license or state ID card showing your county address
  3. Submit your application at the county Probate court.
  4. You will be notified by mail if your application has been approved.

CCW Renewal

  • You can apply to have a license renewed 90 days prior to the expiration date or within 30 days after the license has expired.
  • A new application will need to be made if the license is more than 30 days past the expiration date.
  • Renewal requirements are the same as for a new permit.

GA Concealed Carry License Fee information

Permit typeFees when getting a new permitRenewalCurrent license amendmentFingerprint scan feeFee for firearm classesAdditional state fees
Weapons carry license (handguns)$75 varies by county$30.00$6.00$5.00$100.00

Places Where You Can & Can’t Carry a Gun in Georgia

AllowedForbidden
State parksSchool bus
State and national forestsSchool function
Road side rest areasSchool safety zone
VehicleSecured area of an airport
All areas of the state not listed as ForbiddenCourthouse
Government building if restricted by security personnel
Jail or prison
State mental health facility
Premises of a nuclear power facility
Within 150 feet of any polling place when elections are being conducted
Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by Federal Law

Georgia CCW Contact

Georgia Bureau of Firearms

Hours

Monday – Friday:8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed

Contact

Address:Department of Public Safety Headquarters
959 E. Confederate Ave. SE
City:Atlanta, GA 30316
Phone:(404) 624-7700

CCW Licensing Offices in Georgia

Appling County Probate Court

Office Address
Appling County Courthouse 36 S. Main Street Baxley, GA 31513

Phone
(912) 367-8114

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Atkinson County Probate Court

Office Address
19 W Roberts Ave, PO Box 855 Pearson, GA 31642

Phone
(912) 422-3552

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Bacon County Probate Court

Office Address
502 W 12th Street, #100, P.O. Box 389 Alma, GA 31510,

Phone
(912) 632-7661

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Baker County Probate Court

Office Address
Baker County Government Building 167 Baker Place P.O. Box 548 Newton, GA 39870

Phone
(229) 734-3007

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Baldwin County Probate Court

Office Address
Baldwin County Courthouse 121 North Wilkinson Street Milledgeville, GA 31061

Phone
(478) 445-4807

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Banks County Probate Court

Office Address
144 Yonah Homer Road, Suite 7 Homer, GA 30547

Phone
(706) 677-6250

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Barrow County Probate Court

Office Address
652 Barrow Park Drive, Suite D Winder, GA 30680

Phone
(770) 307-3045

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Bartow County Probate Court

Office Address
135 West Cherokee Avenue, Suite 243A Cartersville, GA 30120

Phone
(770) 387-5075

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Reference Links

Counties in Georgia