Virginia Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

The minimum age to concealed carry in Virginia is 21.

Yes, any person may use pepper spray in the protection of person, life or property.

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-312]

No. Virginia does not allow constitutional carry.

Virginia is a shall-issue state.

No more than 20 rounds for handguns.

Although Virginia has no law restricting large capacity ammunition magazines, Virginia law defines “assault firearm” as any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol which expels single or multiple projectiles by action of an explosion of a combustible material and is equipped at the time of the offense with a magazine which will hold more than 20 rounds of ammunition or designed by the manufacturer to accommodate a silencer or equipped with a folding stock. These assault firearms are prohibited from being loaded and carried on or about the person, openly or concealed, on any public street, road, alley, sidewalk, public right-of-way, or in any public park or any other place of whatever nature that is open to the public in the cities of Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, or Virginia Beach or in the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, or Prince William. There are exceptions for concealed handgun permit holders and individuals actually engaged in lawful hunting or lawful recreational shooting activities at established shooting ranges or shooting contests.

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-287.4]

Yes, with a permit. Handguns may be transported in a vehicle without a permit if secured in a container or compartment including a console, glove compartment or any other area of the vehicle or vessel that possesses the ability to be closed.

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308]

Yes, with a valid concealed carry permit. See the National Parks webpage for links to each Park in Virginia.

[4VAC15-40-60(F)]

The granting of a concealed handgun permit pursuant to this article shall not thereby authorize the possession of any handgun or other weapon on property or in places where such possession is otherwise prohibited by law or is prohibited by the owner of private property.

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.01(c)]

Yes. It is unlawful for any person to point, hold or brandish any firearm or any object similar in appearance, whether capable of being fired or not, in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured. However, this does not apply to any person engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense.

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-282]

It shall be unlawful for any person to handle recklessly any firearm so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person.

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-56.1]

Yes. Virginia does issue permits to non-residents.

There is no duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you're carrying a concealed firearm in Virginia.

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.01]

No. "No Weapons Allowed" signs have no force of law unless they are posted in areas that are mentioned by the law as being off limits.

Partial. The state has preemption of firearms laws in Virginia, except effective July 1, 2020, localities may prohibit firearms, ammunition, or components thereof in the following places, provided that notice is properly posted:

• Any building, or portion of a building owned or used by a locality for governmental purposes;
• Public parks;
• Recreation or community centers; or
• Any public street, road, alley, or sidewalk or public right-of-way or other place that is open to the public that is being used by, or is adjacent to, a permitted event or an event that would otherwise require a permit;
• Prohibit the outdoor shooting of firearms in areas so heavily populated as to make such conduct dangerous to the inhabitants;
• Impose limited prohibitions on possession of a loaded firearm on public highways;
• Prohibit the discharge of firearms; and
• Require the maintenance of safety devices on storage equipment for firearms.

In addition, municipalities may adopt local ordinances regulating the possession and storage of firearms, ammunition or components, or combination thereof, in government buildings and areas such as public parks, recreation or community centers, and outdoor areas being used during permitted events. 

[Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-915][Va. Code Ann. § 15.2-1209]

No. A permit is not required to purchase a handgun in Virginia.

Any person who is not a licensed firearms dealer is prohibited from purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period. However, one of the exceptions to the law is for anyone that holds a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit. 

[Future VCA § 18.2-308.2:2]

No.

No. Handguns do not need to be registered in Virginia.

Yes. A permit is not required for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm to carry a handgun in a person’s place of abode or the curtilage thereof or in his or her own place of business. 

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308(B), (C)]

Initial and renewals for residents $50 ($15 for King William County residents)

Initial permit for non-residents $100

There are no fees for retired law enforcement officers with 15 years of service

45 days

Please note, as of June, 2021, the Virginia State Police website indicates the following. ** DUE TO A HIGH VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS, THE CURRENT PROCESSING TIME FOR NONRESIDENT CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMITS IS 5 TO 6 MONTHS.**

Applicants who do not reside in Virginia can apply by mail. An application package can be obtained by emailing the Virginia state police at nonrespermit@vsp.virginia.gov or writing to them at the following address:

Firearms Transaction Center Nonresident Concealed Handgun PermitsCriminal Justice Information Services DivisionDepartment of State PoliceP.O. Box 85141 Richmond, VA 23285-5141

The application package will provide requirement and qualification information, a Virginia State Police fingerprint card, a return envelope for the completed application and a checklist to ensure that all necessary information is provided. Further information can be viewed on the Virginia State Police Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permit webpage. 

The processing time for nonresident concealed handgun permits can be 3 to 6 months.

Moving to Virginia and interested in applying for a resident permit? How soon can you apply?Virginia issues resident and non-resident permits, so you can apply for your permit at any time. If you have a permit issued by a state in which Virginia has established concealed handgun permit reciprocity or recognition, it will be honored in Virginia as long as the permit remains valid regardless of the change of address. However, you should confirm the validity of the permit with the issuing agency based on the change of address.

Moving from Virginia and have a Virginia resident permit? Does that permit transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Virginia permit remains valid?If a person with a Virginia handgun permit establishes residency in another state, the permit is valid in Virginia until it expires, provided you submit the above referenced Name/Address change form.

An applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years old;
• Reside in the county in which the application is submitted;
• Demonstrate competence with a handgun;
• Be an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;
• Not have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States;
• Not be a fugitive from justice;
• Not be ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to Section 18.2-308.1:1, 18.2-308.1:2, 18.2-308.1:3, 18.2-308.1:6, 18.2-308.1:7, 18.2-308.1:8 or a similar law of any other state;
• Not be ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to Section 18.2-308.1:1 and who was discharged from the custody of the Commissioner less than 5 years before the date of this application;
• Not be ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to Section 18.2-308.1:2 and whose competency or capacity was restored less than 5 years before the date of this application;
• Not be ineligible to possess a firearm under Section 18.2-308.1:3 and who was released from commitment less than 5 years before the date of this application;
• Not be subject to a restraining order, a protective order, an emergency substantial risk order or substantial risk order and prohibited by Section 18.2-308.1:4 or Section 18.2-308.1:6 from purchasing or transporting a firearm;
• Not be prohibited by Section 18.2-308.2 from possessing or transporting a firearm, except that a permit may be obtained in accordance with subsection C of that section;
• Not have been convicted of two or more misdemeanors within the 5-year period immediately preceding the application, if one of the misdemeanors was a Class 1 misdemeanor, but the judge shall have the discretion to deny a permit for two or more misdemeanors that are not Class 1;
• Not be addicted to, or an unlawful user or distributor of, marijuana or any controlled substance;
• Not have been convicted of a violation of Section 18.2-266 or a substantially similar local ordinance, or of public drunkenness, anywhere in the United States, or its territories within the 3-year period immediately preceding the application;
• Not be an individual who the court finds is likely to use a weapon unlawfully or negligently to endanger others (The sheriff, chief of police, or attorney for the Commonwealth may submit to the court a sworn written statement indicating that the applicant is likely to use a weapon unlawfully or negligently to endanger others. The statement shall be based upon personal knowledge of such individual or of the specific acts);
• Not have been convicted of, or have a charge pending of any assault, assault and battery, sexual battery, discharging of a firearm in violation of Section 18.2-280, Section 18.2-286.1 or brandishing of a firearm within the 3-year period preceding the application;
• Not be an individual who has been convicted of, or have a charge pending of stalking;
• Not be an individual whose previous convictions or adjudications of delinquency were based on an offense which would have been at the time of conviction a felony if committed by an adult;
• Not have received mental health treatment or substance abuse treatment in a residential setting within 5 years of this application;
• Not be otherwise ineligible pursuant to this section, who, within the 3-year period prior to the application, found guilty of any criminal offense set forth in Section 18.2-247 or of a criminal offense of illegal possession or distribution of marijuana or any controlled substance;
• Not have been found guilty of any criminal offense set forth in Section 18.2-247 or a charge of illegal possession or distribution of marijuana or any controlled substance, or a substantially similar law of any other state within the 3-year period immediately preceding the application; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

In addition, as of July 1, 2021:

• Any person enrolled into the Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms List pursuant to Chapter 12 (§ 52-50 et seq.).

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Virginia.

• Carry in bars/restaurants that serve alcohol? Yes, unless posted and provided you consume no alcohol.
• Carry in my vehicle without a permit/license? Yes, with a permit or without a permit if it is secured in a container or compartment.
• Carry in roadside rest areas? No.
• Carry in state/national parks, state/national forests and WMAs? Yes, with a permit, except for Hog Island WMA, Buggs Island or upon the water on Gaston Reservoir.

Yes, with a valid concealed handgun permit, except not on any waterway or on property where such possession is otherwise prohibited by law or is prohibited by the owner of private property. Furthermore, the possession of a concealed handgun permit does not authorize the use of the concealed handgun for hunting.

[VA Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries Genl Info & Hunting Regs]

The possession of throwing stars, switchblades, ballistic knives or like weapons is illegal in Virginia. It is legal to openly carry any legal knife in Virginia. It is illegal to conceal carry a dirk, Bowie knife, machete, razor or any knife of a like kind. Possession of any knife with the exception of a pocket knife having a folding metal blade of less than 3 inches is prohibited in schools.

[Va. Code Ann. §§ 18.2-311, 18.2-308(A) and 18.2-308.1]

On March 11, 2022, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed HB 758 into law, which eliminates the prohibition for selling, bartering, giving, furnishing or possessing with the intent of selling, bartering, giving or furnishing a switchblade. The law will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

Yes, with a valid concealed handgun permit, provided the handgun is not used to hunt or take wildlife.

[Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308(C)(6)]