Michigan Gun Laws

Gun Control Laws in Michigan

Michigan’s state Constitution includes the clause "Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state." Their gun laws govern the sale, use, possession, and transfer of firearms and ammunition in the state. Michigan has a plethora of gun laws. Michigan law includes Tasers in their definition of firearms. Anyone looking to purchase a gun from a private seller in Michigan must first be at least 18 years old and obtain a permit. Your permit only lasts for 30 days. You have to be twenty-one to purchase a firearm from a licensed dealer. Michigan is a “Shall Issue” state and local law enforcement is responsible for issuing permits. Residents can purchase handguns and long guns, but non-residents are only allowed to buy long guns. Michigan voters, people with a Michigan driver’s license or members of the military, are exempt from this rule. Currently, there is a total of 616,508 CCWs in Michigan. Michigan calls their CCWs, Concealed Pistol Licenses. Michigan allows open carry but with a few restrictions. You cannot open carry into any place that sells or serves alcohol. You must be 18 to open carry, and you cannot open carry in your vehicle unless you have a CPL.

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
  • 616,508 Number of Active CCW Permits
  • 39 # of states that honor Michigan license
  • 50 # of state licenses that Michigan honors
  • 5 Years license is valid
  • 100 $ cost of the license
  • 21 Minimum age for license permit

Michigan’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.

Michigan CCW Reciprocity Map

There are thirty-nine states that honor a Michigan gun permit for residents and they are:

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

In turn, Michigan honors fifty state’s permits for:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, 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, and Puerto Rico.

These eleven states will not honor a Michigan permit: 

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

  • Permit honored
  • Permit not honored
  • Issuing state

Michigan Concealed Carry Permit and Laws

Michigan has a long list of requirements when applying for a concealed pistol license. The cost is $100, and it is good for five years. You cannot carry a loaded weapon in your vehicle unless you have a permit. Otherwise, it must be taken apart, unloaded and locked in a case in the trunk. You are required by law to notify an officer if you are carrying. You are allowed to carry in state parks and wildlife preserves. You do not have to worry about “no weapons” signs. They are not legally enforceable. You can open carry but only if you are 18, have a CPL and are a resident of the state. You cannot open carry into grocery stores or any other store that sells alcohol. Michigan does permit you to carry in restaurants, even those that serve alcohol.

CCW Eligibility: Qualify or Pre-Qualify?

To apply for a CPL, you must be twenty-one years old or older. You must have completed and passed a firearms training course. Only Michigan residents who have lived there at least six months are eligible. You must have a valid driver’s license. You have to be a U.S. citizen free of any felonies or violent charges. You must not have a mental illness or have restrictions regarding firearms. There is a long list of misdemeanors you cannot have on your record. You must also comply with all federal gun regulations. Michigan is a “Shall Issue” state.

Michigan Gun Background Check

Michigan is a partial “point of sale” state. Federally licensed dealers must use the FBI’s NCIS system to perform a background check on buyers. For private sales and CPL licenses, the Michigan Department of State Police runs their own background checks before issuing.

  • Permits
  • Handguns
  • Long Guns
  • Total

MI CCW and Pistol Permit Information

State Concealed Carry Requirements

  • Must be at least 21 years old.
  • You have completed an approved firearms training class.
  • You have a valid state-issued driver’s license or personal identification card.
  • Be a legal resident of Michigan and reside in Michigan for at least six months immediately prior to application.
  • You have not been convicted of a violent crime that is a felony.
  • Be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted into the United States
  • Not be subject to an order or disposition for any of the following; Involuntary hospitalization or involuntary alternative treatment. Legal incapacitation Personal protection order Bond or conditional release prohibiting purchase or possession of a firearm Finding of not guilty by reason of insanity
  • Not be prohibited from possessing, using, transporting, selling, purchasing, carrying, shipping, receiving, or distributing a firearm under Michigan law.
  • Not be under a court order of legal incapacity in this state or elsewhere.
  • Have not been found guilty but mentally ill of any crime, and has not offered a plea of not guilty of, or been acquitted of, any crime by reason of insanity.
  • Have not been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of any of the following in the three years immediately preceding the date of application and a charge for a misdemeanor violation of any of the following is not pending against the applicant in this state or elsewhere at the time he or she applies for a license: (Long….list on their website)
  • Have not been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of any of the following in the eight years immediately preceding the date of the application and a charge for a misdemeanor violation of any of the following is not pending against the applicant in this state or elsewhere at the time he or she applies for a CPL: (another long….list on their website)
  • Is not currently and has never been subject to an order of involuntary commitment in an inpatient or outpatient setting due to mental illness.
  • Not have a diagnosed mental illness at the time the application is made that includes an assessment that the individual presents a danger to himself or herself or to another, regardless of whether he or she is receiving treatment for that illness.
  • Have never been convicted of a felony in Michigan or elsewhere, and a felony charge against the applicant is not pending in Michigan or elsewhere at the time he or she applies for a CPL.
  • Federal law requirements

Gun CCW Permit Application

  1. Complete your firearm training course if required.
  2. Download the application under the FORMS tab or pickup from the county clerks office.
  3. You will need the following documents; Passport quality photo Certificate stating you have completed a firearms course.
  4. Complete and file the application under oath at the County Clerks office where you reside.
  5. You will then need fingerprints taken from either the county clerk, state police, sheriffs office or other entity. You must provide your application receipt to who ever takes your fingerprints.
  6. The entity providing fingerprint services will fingerprint the applicant and immediately forward the fingerprints to the MSP for processing
  7. You will be notified within 45 days by mail if your application has been approved or denied.

CCW Renewal

  • You will normally get a reminder in the mail 3 – 6 months before your licenses expiry date.
  • You can also submit a renewal application 6 months before the expiry date but not before the 6 months and 12 months after the expiry date.
  • No fingerprints are required for renewals.

MI Concealed Carry License Fee information

Permit typeFees when getting a new permitRenewalCurrent license amendmentFingerprint scan feeFee for firearm classesAdditional state fees
Concealed pistol license$100.00 Total

Note:
$74.00 Michigan State Police recieve
$26.00 County clerk receives
$115.00 Total

Note:
$36.00 County clerk recieves
$79.00 State Police receives
$15.00$80 - $125Note:
You will need to pay an additional $15 for fingerprints with new applications.

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

AllowedForbidden
State parksSchools or school property
State and national forestsAny day care center, child caring agency, child placing agency
Road side rest areasCourtroom, office, or other space used for official court business
VehicleSports arena or stadium
All areas of the state not listed as ForbiddenA tavern where the primary source of income is the sale of alcoholic liquor by the glass consumed on the premises
Any church, synagogue, mosque or similar place of worship
An entertainment facility which has a capacity of 2,500 or more
A hospital
A dormitory or classroom of a community college, college, or university
A Casino
Michigan State University
University of Michigan
Wayne State University
Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by Federal Law

Michigan CCW Contact

Michigan Bureau of Firearms

Hours

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

Contact

Address:Michigan State Police Headquarters
7150 Harris Drive
City:Dimondale, MI 48821
Phone:(517) 284-3700
(517) 241-1917

CCW Licensing Offices in Michigan

Alcona County Clerk's Office

Office Address
106 N 5th St, Harrisville, MI 48740

Phone
(989) 724-9410

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Alger County Clerk's Office

Office Address
100 Court St, Munising, MI 49862, USA

Phone
(906) 387-2076

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Allegan County Clerk's Office

Office Address
113 Chestnut St, Allegan, MI 49010

Phone
(269) 673-0450

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Alpena County Clerk's Office

Office Address
720 W Chisholm St # 2, Alpena, MI 49707

Phone
(989) 354-9520

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Antrim County Clerk's Office

Office Address
203 E. Cayuga Street P O Box 520 Bellaire, MI 49615

Phone
(231) 533-6353

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Arenac County Clerk's Office

Office Address
120 N Grove Street P O Box 747 Standish, MI 48658

Phone
(989) 846-4626

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Baraga County Clerk's Office

Office Address
2 S. Main St. L’Anse, MI 49946

Phone
(906) 524-6100 ext. 698

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Barry County Clerk's Office

Office Address
Barry County Courthouse – Floor 1 220 W. State St. Hastings, MI 49058

Phone
(269) 945-1285

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Reference Links

Counties in Michigan