District of Columbia concealed carry laws, backed by the statute
At a glance
- Carry rule
- Permit with added requirements
- Minimum age
- 21
- Non-resident permit valid here?
- No
- Statute
- D.C. Code § 22-4504
Carrying in District of Columbia
District of Columbia does issue carry permits to adults 21 and older, but the process asks more of you.
Expect in-person training and review by a state or local agency.
Requires 16 hours of classroom training and 2 hours of live-fire range training with a DC-certified instructor.
Source: D.C. Code § 22-4504. Metropolitan Police Department. Reviewed Q3 2026.
Does a non-resident permit work in District of Columbia?
A non-resident permit is a carry permit issued by a state you do not live in.
No. District of Columbia does not honor a non-resident permit. Carrying on it there is illegal, even if District of Columbia honors some other permits.
Getting District of Columbia's own permit
District of Columbia requires in-person training and processing by a state or local agency. Online-only training does not satisfy District of Columbia's rules.
Common questions
- Do I need a permit to carry in District of Columbia?
- Yes. District of Columbia requires a carry permit. The minimum age is 21.
- Does District of Columbia honor out-of-state permits?
- No. District of Columbia does not honor a non-resident permit. Carrying on one there is illegal.
- Where can I check District of Columbia's official rules?
- Check Metropolitan Police Department. The controlling law is D.C. Code § 22-4504.
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Check your state's rules →Sources and verification
- DC: D.C. Code § 22-4504. Metropolitan Police Department.
Recognition and carry-law data compiled from each state's statutes and official Attorney General, State Police, or Department of Public Safety reciprocity pages. Reviewed quarterly. Last reviewed: Q3 2026. We review and update this information about once a quarter. Laws change between reviews, so verify with the destination state before you travel or apply. Read how we verify our information, including our public corrections log.