Washington D.C. License To Carry A Handgun

**WARNING**
It is extremely important that if you obtain a Washington D.C. License to Carry a Handgun,
you must be aware of all the current laws and requirements of this state.
A Washington D.C. license does not supersede any other state's laws or requirements.

The permit is valid for 2 years and 2 years upon each renewal

Note: All firearms in Washington D.C. must be registered. Non-residents who want to obtain a license to carry a handgun must register all firearms they plan on carrying. More information can be found here.

Cost:
Initial Application: $75 / Fingerprints: $35 / Total: $110
Renewals: $75.00

General Eligibility:

DC Admin Code 24-2332.1 A person is eligible for issuance of a license to carry a concealed pistol (concealed carry license) only if the person:
(a) Is at least 21 years of age;
(b) Meets all of the requirements for a person registering a firearm pursuant to the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 (the Act), effective September 24, 1976 (D.C. Law 1-85; D.C. Official Code § 7-2501.01 et seq. (2012 Repl. & 2014 Supp.));
(c) Possesses a pistol registered pursuant to the Act;
(d) Does not currently suffer nor has suffered in the previous five (5) years from any mental illness or condition that creates a substantial risk that he or she is a danger to himself or herself or others; provided that if the person no longer suffers such mental illness or condition, and that person has provided satisfactory documentation required under § 2337.3, then the Chief may determine that this requirement has been met;
(e) Has completed a firearms training course, or combination of courses, conducted by an instructor (or instructors) certified by the Chief;
(f) Has a bona fide residence or place of business:
(1) Within the District of Columbia;
(2) Within the United States and a license to carry a pistol concealed upon his or her person issued by the lawful authorities of any State or subdivision of the United States; or
(3) Within the United States and meets all registration and licensing requirements pursuant to the Act;
(h) Is a suitable person to be so licensed.

DC Admin Code 24-2345 Non-Resident Applications for Concealed Carry License
2345.1 A non-resident of the District, as defined by the Act, may apply to the Firearms Registration Section for a concealed carry license upon a showing that the applicant meets all of the eligibility requirements of § 2332.
2345.2 A non-resident may satisfy some or all of the firearms training requirements in § 2336 by providing proof of completion of a firearms training course in another state or subdivision of the United States.
2345.3 A non-resident shall obtain a certification from a firearms trainer that the applicant has received and completed training in District firearms law and the District law of self-defense.

Washington D.C. has removed the requirements to demonstrate to the Chief that he or she has a good reason to fear injury to his or her person or property. Sections 2345.4 and 2345.5 no longer apply.

Training Required:
16 hours of classroom training and at least 2 hours of range training from a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) certified firearms training instructor.

24-2336. Firearms Training Course Requirements.
2336.1 To satisfy the firearms training eligibly requirement of § 2332.1(e), a person shall obtain a certificate of completion from an instructor (or instructors) certified by the Chief that includes at least sixteen (16) hours of training, and covers the following:
(a) Firearm safety, including firearm safety in the home, a discussion of prevention of access by minors, locking and storing of firearms, and use of safety devices such as secure lock boxes;
(b) Firearm nomenclature;
(c) The basic principles of marksmanship;
(d) The care, cleaning, maintenance, loading, unloading, and storage of pistols;
(e) Situational awareness, conflict management, and use of deadly force;
(f) Selection of pistols and ammunition for defensive purposes; and
(g) All applicable District and federal firearms laws, including the requirements of the Act, An Act To control the possession, sale, transfer, and use of pistols and other dangerous weapons in the District of Columbia, to provide penalties, to prescribe rules of evidence, and for other purposes, approved July 8, 1932 (47 Stat. 650; D.C. Official Code §§ 22-4501 et seq.), and District law pertaining to self-defense.

CDCR 24-2336
2336.2 In addition to the requirements of § 2336.1, a person shall complete at least two (2) hours of range training, including shooting a qualification course of fifty (50) rounds of ammunition from a maximum distance of fifteen (15) yards (forty-five (45) feet), and receiving a qualifying score of seventy percent (70%) as certified by the instructor.
2336.3 The Chief may, on a case by case basis, exempt a person from the requirements of §§ 2336.1 and 2336.2 if the person submits evidence that he or she has received firearms training in the U.S. military or has otherwise completed firearms training conducted by a firearms instructor that, as determined by the Chief, is equal to or greater than that required by the Act.
2336.4 An applicant may submit to the Chief the application required under § 2337 without including the certificate of completion of training required by this section; provided that if the Chief preliminarily approves the application pursuant to § 2339, the applicant has forty-five (45) days to submit the certificate of completion and successfully complete the range training.

Training Cost & Where To Take the Required Training:
Costs depend on where you decide to obtain the training required to obtain the Washington D.C. permit.
Training must be completed by a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) certified instructor.
See the list here.

Application:
To download an application and instructions, click here.

What Must Accompany the Application:
Completed application and documentation showing completion of required training or reason for exemption from training.

Where To Submit The Application:
An application must be submitted in person at MPD Headquarters only.

Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters (Main Entrance)
300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 3058
Washington, DC 20001
Telephone: (202) 727-4275
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 am – 5 pm
Nearest Metro Stop: Judiciary Square (4th Street Exit)

Application Process:
The application must be made in person at the Metropolitan Police Department. At that time you will be fingerprinted and photographed for your license. The application fee is $75 and the fingerprint fee is $35. This is payable at the time you make an application.

The process can take up to 90 days.

24-2340. Issuance or Denial.
2340.1 The Chief shall issue a license to carry a concealed pistol or provide a written denial of the application within a reasonable time after receiving a completed application. A reasonable period of time shall normally be within ninety (90) days; however, the time may be extended by the Chief for an additional ninety (90) days where there is good cause for additional time to complete the investigation and the applicant is so notified in writing.
2340.2 A completed application shall satisfy all the requirements prescribed by the Chief including evidence that applicant has satisfied the firearms training requirements in § 2336.
2340.3 A written denial provided by the Chief shall contain the reasons the application was denied and a statement of the applicant's appeal rights.

24-2342. Appeal.
2342.1 With the exception of an appeal of a summary suspension or limitation of a license, a person whose original or renewal license application is denied or whose license is revoked or limited may submit a written request to the Board to review the decision of the Chief within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the notice of denial, revocation, or limitation.