Carrying
C.R.S. 18-12-203 — a permit from the sheriff at twenty-one, good for five years, and a concealed gun without one is a class 1 misdemeanor
A Colorado sheriff issues a permit to carry a concealed handgun to an applicant who meets the section's criteria, among them being twenty-one years of age or older and submitting a training certificate from a concealed handgun class taken within the year before applying. A sheriff may deny a permit where documented previous behavior makes it likely the applicant would be a danger to themselves or others.
Who handles this in Colorado: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Colorado directory.
A permit is valid for five years after it issues, may be renewed, and is effective in all areas of the state except where the permit section limits it.
Knowingly and unlawfully carrying a firearm concealed on or about the person is a class 1 misdemeanor. It is not that offense in the person's own home, business or property, in a private vehicle while traveling for lawful protection, or with a valid permit.
At a stop. A peace officer may temporarily disarm a permit holder during a lawful stop, and returns the handgun before releasing the person from the scene.
Sources for this section (4)
- C.R.S. 18-12-203 — Criteria for obtaining a permit
- C.R.S. 18-12-204 — Permit contents - validity - carrying requirements
- C.R.S. 18-12-105 — Unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon - unlawful possession of weapons
- C.R.S. 18-12-214 — Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions - local authority
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Colorado attorney.