School Firearm Laws
Utah has different firearm carry laws for K–12 schools, daycares, colleges, and universities.
Your age, Utah concealed firearm permit, and the type of school determine whether you may carry a firearm.
School Types
K–12 Schools: Public and private elementary and secondary schools, including charter and religious schools.
Daycares: Preschools and childcare centers covered by Utah's daycare firearm laws.
Institutions Of Higher Education: Colleges and universities.
Open Carry Restrictions
Open Carry Is Prohibited
Open carry is prohibited at K–12 schools, daycares, colleges, and universities, unless lawfully responding to an active threat.
K–12 Schools
Ages 18–20
PROHIBITED. Individuals ages 18–20 cannot carry a firearm on public or private K–12 school premises even with a valid Concealed Firearm Permit.
Ages 21+
Individuals 21 or older with a valid Utah Concealed Firearm Permit or Utah Temporary Concealed Firearm Permit may carry a loaded firearm on public or private K–12 school premises.
Firearms must be concealed, unless lawfully responding to an active threat.
Out-Of-State Concealed Firearm Permits
PROHIBITED. Out-of-state concealed firearm permits and licenses do not authorize firearm carry on K–12 school premises.
Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act
Federal law restricts firearm possession within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a public, private, or religious K–12 school.
With a valid Utah Concealed Firearm Permit: You may possess a loaded firearm within the federal school zone under the federal state-issued license provision.
Without a Utah Concealed Firearm Permit: The firearm must be unloaded and secured in a locked container or locked firearm rack on a motor vehicle under the federal locked-storage provision.
Utah law enforcement generally do not enforce this restriction.
Daycares
Ages 18–20
Individuals ages 18–20 with a valid Utah Provisional Concealed Firearm Permit may carry a loaded firearm on daycare premises.
Firearms must be concealed, unless lawfully responding to an active threat.
Ages 21+
Individuals 21 or older with a valid Utah Concealed Firearm Permit or Utah Temporary Concealed Firearm Permit may carry a loaded firearm on daycare premises.
Firearms must be concealed, unless lawfully responding to an active threat.
Out-Of-State Concealed Firearm Permits
PROHIBITED. Out-of-state concealed firearm permits and licenses do not authorize firearm carry on daycare premises.
Colleges & Universities
Ages 18–20
Individuals ages 18–20 with a valid Utah Provisional Concealed Firearm Permit may carry a loaded firearm on college and university premises.
Firearms must be concealed, unless lawfully responding to an active threat.
Ages 21+
Individuals 21 or older may carry a loaded firearm on college and university premises without a concealed firearm permit under Utah constitutional carry.
Firearms must be concealed, unless lawfully responding to an active threat.
Secure Hearing Rooms
Firearms and other dangerous weapons are prohibited inside secure hearing rooms.
Utah law authorizes an institution of higher education to establish no more than one secure hearing room. Notice must be posted at every entrance, and secure weapons storage must be provided.
Dormitories & Student Housing
Students can possess lawfully owned firearms in college dormitories and student housing without a concealed firearm permit.
A college or university may
allow a dormitory resident
to request roommates who
choose not to possess firearms.
A roommate preference
does not prohibit other
residents from lawfully
possessing firearms.
Private Schools
Carrying Loaded Firearms At Private Schools
Private K–12 schools: Individuals 21 or older with a valid Utah Concealed Firearm Permit or Utah Temporary Concealed Firearm Permit may carry a loaded, concealed firearm.
Private colleges and universities: Individuals ages 18–20 with a Utah Provisional Concealed Firearm Permit and individuals 21 or older carrying under Utah constitutional carry may carry loaded, concealed firearms, subject to the institution's private-property policies.
Private School Firearm Policies
A private school or private university may adopt a policy prohibiting firearms on its privately controlled property.
If an owner or authorized representative tells you to leave, you must leave. Refusing to leave can result in criminal trespass charges.
Students & Employees
Students who violate a private school's firearm policy may be suspended, expelled, or otherwise disciplined. Employees may be disciplined or terminated.
Example: Brigham Young University
BYU prohibits firearms on university-controlled property, including campus housing, without written permission. This is a private-property policy, not an automatic criminal firearm prohibition. You can be required to leave.
Firearms In Vehicles On School Property
What You Can Do
You may have a loaded handgun in a vehicle on K–12 school, daycare, college, or university property without a Utah concealed firearm permit, when you lawfully possess the vehicle or have permission from the person lawfully possessing it.
What You Cannot Do
Rifles, shotguns, and muzzle-loading rifles must be unloaded unless you have a valid Utah concealed firearm permit.
PROHIBITED: Firearms cannot be carried or stored in any vehicle owned by the school or used by the school to transport students.
Teachers & School Employees
Carrying At Work
Teachers and school employees who have a valid Utah Concealed Firearm Permit or Utah Temporary Concealed Firearm Permit may carry concealed firearms at K–12 schools.
You do not need to notify or receive permission from the principal, superintendent, school district, or another employee before carrying.
Firearms must be concealed, unless lawfully responding to an active threat.
Keeping Firearms Secure
The firearm must remain concealed and under the employee's immediate control.
You cannot leave a firearm in a desk, bag, briefcase, or other location where a student or another unauthorized person can gain access to it.
School Guardians & Educator-Protector Program
Utah law establishes the School Guardian Program and Educator-Protector Program for authorized school personnel.
Participants may securely store a firearm on school grounds in a biometric gun safe located in the participant's office while the participant is physically present on school grounds, subject to program requirements.
Firearms must be carried concealed, unless lawfully responding to an active threat. Program participants must comply with the required training, authorization, and storage rules.
Armed Security Officers & Other Authorizations
Utah school firearm laws also authorize possession in circumstances involving:
- Armed school security officers as described in Utah Code § 53G-8-704.
- Law enforcement officers and individuals covered by Utah Code § 53-5a-108.
- Firearm possession approved by the responsible school administrator.
- Firearms used in a lawful, approved school activity under the control of the responsible individual.
- Possession at an individual's residence or on real property owned by the individual when authorized by statute.
- Possession inside a vehicle lawfully under the individual's control, subject to the vehicle restrictions above.
Applicable Utah & Federal Laws
- 34-45-107 — Parking Restrictions & School Premises
- 47-3-305 — School Property Restrictions
- 53-5a-102.2 — Open & Concealed Carry
- 53-5a-108 — Individuals Exempt From Weapons Laws
- 53-22-105 — School Guardian Program
- 53-22-107 — Educator-Protector Program
- 53G-8-704 — Armed School Security Officers
- 53H-1-101 — Higher Education Definitions
- 53H-1-102 — Utah Higher Education System
- 53H-3-102 — Higher Education Institutions
- 53H-3-902 — Higher Education Firearm Rules & Dormitories
- 76-2-402 — Defense Of Person
- 76-2-405 — Defense Of Habitation
- 76-2-407 — Defense Of Property
- 76-3-203.2 — Weapons Offenses On School Premises
- 76-6-206 — Criminal Trespass
- 76-8-311.1 — Secure Hearing Rooms
- 76-8-703 — Trespass At Higher Education Institutions
- 76-11-205 — K–12 Schools
- 76-11-205.5 — Colleges & Universities
- 76-11-206 — Daycares
- 18 U.S.C. § 922(q) — Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act
- 18 U.S.C. § 924 — Federal Penalties
- ATF Gun-Free School Zone Notice (PDF)