Pistol Permits

Click HERE to Begin your Online Pistol Permit Application

 

Those permit holders seeking renewal must also go online and create an account under the Pistol Permit issuing system.

• The question regarding being charged or convicted of any crime DOES include traffic tickets. While you are not required to list each one separately or to have specific years, failure to disclose this information may be grounds for denial of the application.
• “OTHER NAMES” is intended for use for prior last names. Please include any LEGAL names you have used for identification.
• The question “Has your license ever been revoked?” refers to a pistol license, not a driver’s license.

  

13A-11-75: Pistol Permit Issuance, fees, and additional info

Section 13A-11-75

(Effective until the implementation of Act 2021-246) Permit to carry a pistol in a vehicle or concealed on the person - Issuance; fee; revocation; release of information.

(a)(1) An Alabama resident who is 19 years of age or more may apply to the sheriff of his or her county of residence for issuance or renewal of a concealed carry permit, valid for one year or five years.

(2) An Alabama resident who is 18 years of age or more and is a service member as defined in Section 35-10-70 or a retired or honorably discharged military veteran as described in subsection (b) may apply to the sheriff of his or her county of residence for issuance or renewal of a concealed carry permit, valid for one year or five years.

(3)a. Except as provided in paragraph b., an Alabama resident who possesses a valid concealed carry permit may apply to the sheriff of his or her county of residence for issuance of a lifetime carry permit.

b. A sheriff may require an applicant for a lifetime carry permit to possess a valid concealed carry permit for not more than five consecutive years before approving the license issuance application. A sheriff's determination under this paragraph shall not be subject to any appeal or review under subsection (j).

(b)(1) Upon receipt of an application for a concealed carry permit, the sheriff shall complete a criminal background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and review the state firearms prohibited person database.

(2) The sheriff shall also review any other available local, state, and federal criminal history databases to determine whether possession of a pistol or firearm by an applicant would be a violation of state or federal law.

(3) Upon application by an individual not a United States citizen, the sheriff shall conduct an Immigration Alien Query through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any successor agency. The application form shall require information about the applicant's country of citizenship, place of birth, and any alien or admission number issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any successor agency. The sheriff shall review the results of these inquiries before determining whether to issue a permit or renew the license. An individual unlawfully present in this state may not be given a license under this section.

(c) Within 30 days from receipt of a completed application, a sheriff shall approve or deny the application. In determining whether to approve or deny the issuance or renewal of a permit, the sheriff shall consider whether the applicant:

(1) Was found guilty but mentally ill in a criminal case.

(2) Was found not guilty in a criminal case because of insanity, mental disease, or defect.

(3) Was declared incompetent to stand trial in a criminal case.

(4) Asserted a defense in a criminal case of not guilty because of insanity, mental disease, or defect.

(5) Was found not guilty only because of lack of mental responsibility under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

(6) Required involuntary inpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital or similar facility.

(7) Required involuntary outpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital or similar treatment facility based on a finding that the individual is an imminent danger to himself or herself or to others.

(8) Required involuntary commitment to a psychiatric hospital or similar treatment facility for any reason, including drug use.

(9) Is or was the subject of a prosecution or of a commitment or incompetency proceeding that could lead to a prohibition on the receipt or possession of a firearm under the laws of Alabama or the United States.

(10) Falsified any portion of the permit application.

(11) Caused or causes justifiable concern for public safety.

(d)(1) If the sheriff determines that any of the factors in subsection (c) apply to the applicant or that the criminal background check under subsection (b) returned any result showing that the applicant is prohibited from the possession of a pistol or firearm pursuant to state or federal law, the sheriff shall deny the application.

(2) If the sheriff cannot determine whether or not a factor listed in subsection (c) applies to the applicant, the sheriff may request additional information from the applicant.

(3)a. Upon the denial by a sheriff of an application for a concealed carry permit, the sheriff shall immediately give a written notice to the applicant providing the specific reason or reasons for denial, the date of completion of the background check, and the name and signature of the sheriff whose office conducted the background check.

b. If the sheriff denies an application due to a determination that the issuance or renewal of a permit to an individual would cause or cause justifiable concern for public safety, the sheriff shall clearly articulate the reasoning behind that determination within the written notice.

(4) The sheriff shall notify the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency of a denial of an application for a permit in a manner as prescribed by the commission for entry into the state firearms prohibited person database if the reason for that denial was due to the applicant being ineligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law.

(5) Upon receiving notice of a denial of an application for a concealed carry permit due to the applicant being prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law or a conviction or court order that would prohibit that individual from possessing a pistol or firearm under state or federal law, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall enter the information into the state firearms prohibited person database and ensure that a "Firearms Prohibited Person" notice is viewable by law enforcement officers and other authorized persons through the Law Enforcement Tactical System.

(e)(1) If the sheriff determines that the applicant is not prohibited from the possession of a pistol or firearm under state or federal law and that the applicant should not otherwise be denied a concealed carry permit pursuant to this section, the sheriff, upon receipt of the appropriate fee as provided in subsection (f), shall approve the application.

(2)a. Immediately upon approval of an application for a concealed carry permit, the sheriff shall issue the applicant a secure permit card to carry a pistol in a vehicle or concealed on or about his or her person within this state, valid for a term of one year, five years, or the permit holder's lifetime, as indicated within the approved application.

b. If the sheriff cannot produce a hard copy secure permit card at the time of approval, the sheriff shall issue the applicant a temporary paper permit, valid for 30 days following the date of issuance. The sheriff shall produce and mail the applicant a hard copy of the secure permit card within 15 days of issuing the temporary paper permit.

(f)(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary:

a. The fee for a concealed carry permit for a term of one year or five years shall be the same as currently provided by local law for that county, and the resulting funds shall be distributed as presently provided by local law.

b. If there is no local law setting the fee for a one-year permit, the fee shall be twenty-five dollars ($25), and the funds shall be distributed to the sheriff. If there is no local law setting the fee for a five-year permit, the fee shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125), and the funds shall be distributed to the sheriff.

c. A sheriff shall charge no fee for issuing or renewing a permit to a service member, a retired or honorably discharged military veteran, a law enforcement officer as defined by Section 36-30-20, or an honorably retired law enforcement officer eligible for a card under Section 36-21-9.

(2)a. The lifetime concealed carry permit fee shall be three hundred dollars ($300). Suppose an individual applies for a lifetime carry permit within one year after the expiration date of an otherwise valid pistol permit possessed by that individual or the expiration of any extended renewal period offered by the sheriff, whichever is later. In that case, the fee for the lifetime carry permit shall be reduced by an amount equal to the fee paid for the expired permit at the time that the expired permit was issued.

b. Notwithstanding paragraph a., the lifetime concealed carry permit fee shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150) if the applicant is 60 years of age or older at the time of application.

c. A sheriff shall charge no fee for issuing or renewing a lifetime carry permit to a service member, a retired or honorably discharged military veteran, a law enforcement officer as defined by Section 36-30-20, or an honorably retired law enforcement officer eligible for a card under Section 36-21-9.

(3)a. Eighty percent of the fees for a lifetime carry permit shall be distributed to the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence to administer the concealed carry permit application process and other law enforcement purposes. The remaining 20 percent shall be distributed to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to administer the state firearms prohibited person database and other law enforcement purposes.

b. Notwithstanding paragraph a., beginning October 1, 2024, the agency may use these funds only to administer the state firearms prohibited person database.

(4) Each sheriff shall ensure that all fees set forth within this section are appropriately distributed under this section quarterly.

(5) Each sheriff shall prepare a report on the number of permits issued and renewed within the county, including a detailed accounting of fees and their distribution. A sheriff, upon request, shall provide a copy of this report to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or the Legislative Services Agency.

(g)(1) A permittee who changes his or her permanent address shall report that change of address to the county sheriff of his or her new residence within 30 days. Failure by an individual with a valid concealed carry permit or lifetime carry permit to report the change of address as directed by this subdivision shall result in the permit being subject to revocation.

(2) A permittee who loses the physical permit or has his or her physical permit stolen shall report that lost or stolen permit to the county sheriff of his or her residence within 30 days.

(3) If a permittee changes his or her permanent address, loses his or her concealed carry permit, has his or her concealed carry permit stolen, or desires to replace a damaged concealed carry permit, and requests a new physical license before the expiration date of the concealed carry permit, upon receipt of request and a fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25), the sheriff of the county of residence shall issue a license in the same manner as provided in subdivision (e)(2).

(h) At least once every five years from the date of issuance, each sheriff shall conduct a background check on each individual with a lifetime carry permit issued within his or her county in the same manner as provided in subsection (b) to ensure that the individual has not been convicted of any crime which would prohibit that individual from purchasing or possessing a pistol or firearm under state or federal law and that the individual has otherwise remained eligible for a permit based upon the factors provided in subsection (c).

(i)(1)a. At any point after an individual is issued a concealed carry permit or lifetime carry permit, and so long as the permit is valid, if the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, a law enforcement officer, or a court becomes aware that the individual has become prohibited from possessing a pistol or firearm under state or federal law, or otherwise concludes that the individual should not possess a permit based on the factors provided for issuance under subsection (c), the agency, officer, or court shall immediately notify the sheriff of the county of residence of the individual. The agency, officer, or court shall furnish relevant evidence and the notice.

b. If the sheriff of the county of residence of a permittee becomes aware that a permittee is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a pistol or firearm under federal or state law or otherwise concludes that the permittee should not maintain a concealed carry or lifetime carry permit based on the factors provided for issuance under subsection (c), the sheriff shall revoke the license.

c. Immediately upon revocation of a permit, the sheriff shall send notice of that revocation to the individual whose permit was revoked. The notice delivered to the individual shall be written, but an additional copy may also be provided electronically. The notice shall include all of the following:

1. The name of the individual whose permit has been revoked.

2. The specific reason for revocation of the permit, including citation to relevant law.

3. The date of conviction or other event on which the revocation is based, if applicable.

4. Information on how the individual may appeal the revocation.

(2) If the revocation was due to the permittee being prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal or state law, the sheriff shall send notice to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, in a form prescribed by the commission, for entry into the state firearms prohibited person database. Upon receipt of a notice of revocation, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall update the state firearms prohibited person database to reflect that revocation and shall also enter a "Firearms Prohibited Person" notice into the state firearms prohibited person database in the same manner as provided under subdivision (d)(5).

(3) Upon revocation of a permit, the sheriff of the county of residence of the permittee or any other law enforcement officer, with a reasonable opportunity, shall make reasonable efforts to confiscate the permit card.

(j)(1) An individual who has been denied a permit under subsection (d), an individual whose permit has been revoked under subsections (g) or (i), or any individual who is listed on the state firearms prohibited person database may appeal the denial, revocation, or database entry to the district court of the county where the individual resides. During the court's review of the decision, the sheriff of the county of residence of the individual shall have the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that possession of a pistol or firearm by the individual would be in violation of state or federal law or that the individual otherwise should not possess a permit based on the factors provided for issuance under subsection (c).

(2) A court hearing an appeal under this subsection shall issue a written determination within 30 days, providing the reasoning for the determination and any facts or evidence upon which the determination was based. The court shall deliver written copies of this determination to the individual, the sheriff of the county of residence of the individual, and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.

(3) A court hearing an appeal under this subsection may waive court costs for the request if the court concludes that the appellant demonstrated a reasonable belief that he or she should not be listed on the firearms prohibited person database or that the denial or revocation was improper.

(4)a. Within three days of receiving a notice of a court determination that the revocation or denial of a permit was improper, the sheriff shall issue or reissue a physical license to the applicant in the same manner as provided in subdivision (e)(2).

b. Within three days of receiving a notice of a court determination that the listing of an individual on the database was improper, the sheriff shall ensure that the results of the appeal are sent to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for entry into the state firearms prohibited person database.

(k) The name, address, signature, photograph, and any other personally identifying information collected from an applicant or permittee under this section shall be kept confidential, shall be exempt from disclosure under Section 36-12-40, and may only be used for law enforcement purposes except when a current permittee is charged in any state with a felony involving the use of a pistol. All other information on permits under this section, including information concerning the annual number of applicants, number of permits issued, number of permits denied or revoked, revenue from issuance of permits, and any other fiscal or statistical data otherwise, shall remain public writings subject to public disclosure. Except as provided above, the sheriff of a county and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall redact the name, address, signature, photograph, and any other personally identifying information of a permit holder before releasing a copy of a permit for a non-law enforcement purpose. The sheriff or the agency may charge one dollar ($1) per copy of any redacted permit record requested other than when asked for law enforcement purposes. To knowingly publish or release to the public in any form any information or records related to the licensing process or the current validity of any permit, except as authorized in this subsection or response to a court order or subpoena, is a violation of Act 2021-246 subject to misuse penalties established by rule of the commission.

(l) A concealed carry permit issued under this section shall be valid for carrying a pistol in a motor vehicle or concealed on the permittee's person throughout the state unless prohibited by this section.

(m) This section shall not be construed to limit or place any conditions upon an individual's right to carry a pistol that is not concealed in a motor vehicle.

(n)(1) If a permittee establishes residence in another state, his or her permit shall expire upon the establishment of residence in the other state.

(2)a. Notwithstanding subdivision (1), if a service member possesses a lifetime concealed carry permit and establishes residence in another state, the access shall expire upon establishing residency there.

b. Notwithstanding paragraph a., if the service member's establishment of residence in the other state was a result of relocation related to the military service of that service member, and that service member after that re-establishes residence in Alabama, the sheriff of the county of residence, upon request of the service member, shall reinstate the lifetime concealed carry permit of that service member.

(o) Any individual who knowingly or intentionally makes a false statement while applying for a permit or appealing the denial, revocation, or database listing under this section shall be guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

(p) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a sheriff, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, or a court to disregard any federal law or regulation pertaining to the purchase or possession of a pistol or firearm.

FAQs

If I have just moved to Madison County, may I apply for a state pistol permit to carry a concealed weapon?

Yes

Where do I apply for an Alabama state pistol permit?

Follow the secure link to create an account with a log-on name and password to start the application process required by law for the background check. Fill in the information necessary for the background check, and you will be notified within 30 days of your approval. Payment must be made online with a credit or debit card with a service fee.

How long does it take for my pistol permit application to be approved?

If the Sheriff does not know otherwise, the background check reflects no reason(s), and the applicant is otherwise legally eligible, the Sheriff “shall” issue the permit within 30 days. If denied, the Sheriff’s Office will mail you written information regarding your pistol permit application. Please allow 30 days to receive this information before contacting our office.

 

Gun Reciprocity Law

 

NON-RESIDENCE LICENSES Alabama issues concealed handgun licenses only to residents of Alabama through the sheriff of their county of residence. Currently, Alabama does not issue concealed carry permits to out-of-state residents.

OTHER STATES Firearm laws can be complex. Each person holding an Alabama carry conceal permit is responsible for checking with the state/jurisdiction they are traveling to determine whether that state/jurisdiction honors Alabama’s permit and whether there are any restrictions or conditions imposed on persons carrying firearms with out-of-state licenses there. Permit Holders under the age of 21 should notify the state/jurisdiction of their age, as some states that honor the Alabama permit may not keep it if the holder is under the age of 21.

 

Permit holders are reminded that while carrying a valid concealed handgun in another state, they are bound by that state's law concerning concealed handguns. A permit or license holder from another state shall carry their firearm in compliance with Alabama laws while in this state.

 The State of Alabama recognizes concealed carry pistol licenses or permits issued by other states; however, the carrier must observe all applicable laws while in Alabama.  Also, a person may carry or transport a long gun (rifle or shotgun) without a permit. A person may lawfully transport a firearm, including a handgun, from one state in which they are legal to possess to another state without a license as required under Alabama law, provided the following conditions are met:

• The firearm is unloaded.
• Neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle.
• In the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment, the firearm and ammunition shall be in a locked container other than the glove box or console. Title 18 U.S.C, section 926A

Under Alabama law, no person convicted in this state or elsewhere of a "crime of violence" may own or possess a pistol—section 13A-11-72. Crimes of violence are defined as murder, manslaughter, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, and kidnapping. No person addicted to drugs or habitually intoxicated may own or possess a pistol—section 13A-11-72. Any person violating Alabama's pistol laws may be arrested and, upon conviction, subjected to a term of imprisonment of not more than one year and a fine of not more than $500, or both. The pistol will be seized and may be forfeited by court order.

 

NOTE: The applicant must be at least 19 to apply for a pistol permit.  However, an 18-year-old may apply for a license if they are an active military service member.