Kentucky Gun Laws

Table of Contents

Gun Control Laws in Kentucky

Kentucky gun laws govern the usage, sale, and possession of guns and ammunition in the state. Kentucky is a “Shall Issue” state and offers concealed carry permits to its residents. The permit includes other “deadly weapons” such as clubs, blackjacks, nunchaku, shuriken, and brass knuckles, not just guns. They offer these permits only to Kentucky residents. Kentucky has some interesting laws connected with their CCW. If someone is in arrears with child support, they cannot obtain one. Ex-military personnel are exempt from having to undergo training and required training is limited to 8 hours only. However, in Kentucky, you cannot carry into police stations, prisons, courthouses, government buildings, anywhere that alcohol is served and nowhere near a school or childcare facility.

State CCW Quick Facts

  • Shall Issue State gun policy
  • Yes Open Carry Permitted
  • No Constitutional Carry
  • Yes Carry In Restaurants
  • Yes Carry In Vehicle
  • Residents License issued to
  • 311,994 Number of Active CCW Permits
  • 37 # of states that honor Kentucky license
  • 53 # of state licenses that Kentucky honors
  • 5 Years license is valid
  • 60 $ cost of the license
  • 18 Minimum age for license permit

Kentucky’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.

KY CCW Reciprocity Map

The states that honor a Kentucky gun permit are

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Kentucky is quite generous with reciprocity and honors all other U.S. state permits for residents and non-residents. Those states and districts are

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, New York City, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The thirteen states that do not allow a Kentucky permit are

California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and the District of Columbia.

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MS MO MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY DC
  • Permit honored
  • Permit not honored
  • Issuing state

Kentucky Concealed Carry Laws and Permit

Kentucky is a “Shall Issue” state for concealed carry permits. Kentucky is quite liberal with their gun laws and anyone with or without a permit can carry in their car, concealed or open. Legally, you do not need to inform an officer when you are carrying either. Although you don’t need to inform them, open carry is completely legal, but an officer may question you as to your intentions with the firearm, so be prepared. Although the law does not specifically require you to observe “no weapons” signs, if a business posts one, it can be legally upheld it you do not comply. You can carry in state parks and wildlife preserves legally. You cannot carry in bars but you can in restaurants. Kentucky is not a constitutional carry state.

CCW Eligibility: Qualify or Pre-Qualify?

To qualify for a concealed carry permit, you must be 21 years old. You also must demonstrate you can accurately fire a gun. You must hit 11 targets out of 20 rounds to pass. You must be a resident of the state for at least six months and a legal U.S. citizen. You cannot have a history, which includes a substance abuse program or mental illness. You cannot have more than two DUI’s to your name. You cannot owe any back child support either. You cannot have any charges against you that are of a violent or domestic abuse nature. Once you have your CCW, you are not allowed to carry on any school or university campus, secure areas of airports, federally prohibited areas, any child-care facility, any place that serves alcohol and government buildings.

Kentucky Gun Background Check

Kentucky is not a “point of sale” state and does not require their own background check when purchasing a firearm. However, the federal law takes over, and you will need to submit to a federal FBI background check using the NCIS system. The background check requirement does not apply to private sales. Anyone with a gun permit from July 12, 2006, and more recently, is exempt from having to undergo the background check when purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer.

CCW Permit Information

Requirements

  • Must be at least 21 years old.
  • Demonstrate competence with a firearm.
  • Resident of Kentucky for at least six months prior to application.
  • Are a US citizen or legal resident.
  • Not have been committed to a state or federal facility for abuse of a controlled substance or convicted of a misdemeanor relating to a controlled substance within the last three years prior to application.
  • Not have two or more convictions for Operating motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other substance which impairs driving ability within the last three years prior to application.
  • Not have been committed as an alcoholic within the last three years.
  • Not owe a child support arrearage which equals or exceeds the cumulative amount which would be owed after one year of nonpayment.
  • Have complied with any subpoena or warrant relating to child support or paternity proceedings.
  • Have not been convicted of Assault in the fourth degree or (Terroristic Threatening in the third degree within the three years immediately preceding the date on which the application is submitted.
  • Federal law requirements

Application

  1. Complete your firearm training course.
  2. You will need to complete the application form at the sheriffs office in your county of residence as the form must be signed under oath.
  3. You will need the following items; Passport type photo Certificate of completion of firearms course Social security number $60 for fee

Renewal

  • 120 days before a CCDW license expires the State Police will send a renewal notice to licencees.
  • Failure to renew a license before the expiration date will result in a $15 late fee.
  • The license will be permanently expired if it has not been renewed within 6 months past the expiry date. A new application will then need to be submitted.
  • You will need to take the following to the sheriffs office when renewing your CCDW license; Renewal form, you should have recieved one in the mail. Photo, these can be done at the sheriffs office. Drivers license.

Kentucky CCW License Fee information

Permit type Fees when getting a new permit Renewal Current license amendment Fingerprint scan fee Fee for firearm classes Additional state fees
Standart | Permit to carry concealed handguns $60.00 $60.00

Note
Two payments for the application fee are required:
$20 to county sheriff.
$40 check or money order – payable to “Kentucky State Treasurer”		 Replacement: $15.00 $75.00 Late Renewal Fee: $15.00
Peace Officer | Permit to carry concealed handguns $0.00 $0.00 Replacement: $15.00 $75.00 Late Renewal Fee: $15.00
Retired Peace Officer | Permit to carry concealed handguns $0.00 $0.00 Replacement: $15.00 $75.00 Late Renewal Fee: $15.00

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

Allowed Forbidden
State parks Any police station or sheriff's office
State and national forests Any detention facility, prison, or jail
Road side rest areas Any courthouse, courtroom, or court proceeding
Vehicle Any meeting of the governing body of a county, municipality, or special district
All areas of the state not listed as Forbidden Any meeting of the General Assembly or a committee of the General Assembly
Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense beer or alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises
Any elementary or secondary school facility
Any child-caring facility, day-care center, or certified family child-care home
Property owned or controlled by State and local governments
Colleges, universities, technical schools and community colleges
An area of an airport to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property
Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by Federal Law

Kentucky CCW Contact

Kentucky Bureau of Firearms

Hours

Monday – Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Contact

Address: KSP Headquarters
919 Versailles Road
City: Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 782-1800

CCW Licensing Offices in Kentucky

Adair County Sheriff Office

Office Address
424 Public Square Columbia, KY 42728

Phone
(270) 384-2776

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Allen County Sheriff Office

Office Address
194 W Wood St, Scottsville, KY 42164

Phone
(270) 237-3210

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Anderson County Sheriff Office

Office Address
208 S Main St Lawrenceburg, KY 40342

Phone
(502) 839 - 4021

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Ballard County Sheriff Office

Office Address
437 Ohio St, Wickliffe, KY 42087

Phone
(270) 335-3561

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Barren County Sheriff Office

Office Address
117-1B N. Public Square, Glasgow, KY 42141

Phone
(270) 651-2771

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Bath County Sheriff Office

Office Address
17 W Main St, Owingsville, KY 40360

Phone
(606) 674-2931

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Bell County Sheriff Office

Office Address
101 Courthouse Sq, Pineville, KY 40977

Phone
(606) 337-3102

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Boone County Sheriff Office

Office Address
3000 Conrad Ln, Burlington, KY 41005

Phone
(859) 334-2175

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