Colorado Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

No.

There are no state laws. However, the City of Aurora prohibits the sale or possession of Teflon-coated or treated ammunition.

Per state law, open carry is allowed without a permit for any person who is at least 18 years old and who can legally possess a firearm. However, municipalities such as Denver County, may prohibit the open carry of a firearm in buildings or specific areas within the local government's jurisdiction. Any local governments that have prohibited areas must post signs at the public entrances to the building or specific area informing persons that the open carrying of firearms is prohibited. [Colo. Rev. Stat. § 29-11.7-104]

Shall issue.

Yes. They are legal for purchase and carry by adults aged 18 and older without permits.

Yes, with a valid permit.

Not addressed in Colorado state law, although employers may have a policy.

Yes with a Colorado permit to carry a concealed weapon or a permit issued by a state that Colorado honors. See the National Parks webpage for links to each Park in Colorado.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-214]

Yes, without a permit.

You cannot leave a handgun in an unattended vehicle unless the handgun is stored in a locked hard-sided container that is placed out of plain view and the container is in a locked vehicle, the locked trunk of the locked vehicle, or a locked recreational vehicle. 

Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 18-12-105(2)(b) and 18-12-204(3)(a)]

No. There is no duty to inform a police officer that you're carrying a concealed firearm in Colorado. 

[Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-204(2)(a)]

Yes, but only for members of the military permanently stationed in Colorado and their immediate families.

The state of Colorado has partial preemption. Based on the passage of SB 256, local governments may prohibit the open carry or concealed carry of a firearm in a building or specific area within the local government’s jurisdiction. A local government may also enact an ordinance, regulation or other law that prohibits the sale, purchase, transfer or possession of a firearm, ammunition firearm component that a person may lawfully sell, purchase or possess that is more restrictive than state or Federal a law. Signs must be posted at all public entrances. A local government may not restrict a person’s ability to travel with a weapon in a private automobile or other private means of conveyance.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 29-11.7-103 & 18-12-105.6(2)(a)]

Not while under the influence. “Controlled substance” means a drug, substance, or immediate precursor included in schedules I through V of part 2 of § 18-18-102, including cocaine, marijuana, marijuana concentrate, cathinones, any synthetic cannabinoid, and salvia divinorum.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-106(1)(d)]

As a responsibly armed American, regardless of the laws in your state, it is unwise to carry while under the influence of any substance that could impair your judgement, slow your reaction times, or impact your decision-making abilities. Any decision you make while carrying a firearm could have life-altering consequences.

No definition of brandishing was found in Colorado law.However, a person commits disorderly conduct if he or she intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly discharges a firearm in a public place except when engaged in lawful target practice; or displays a deadly weapon, displays any article used or fashioned to cause a person to believe it is a deadly weapon, or represents verbally or otherwise that he or she is armed with a deadly weapon in a public place in an alarming manner.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-9-106]

A person commits the crime of menacing if, by any threat or physical action, he or she knowingly places or attempts to place another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-3-206]

Yes. On April 28, 2023, Governor Polis signed HB 23-1219 which establishes a 3-day waiting period for all firearm purchases. It is now in effect.

No.

Yes. A permit is not required for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm to carry a handgun in his or her own dwelling or place of business or on property owned or under his or her control at the time of the act of carrying.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. 18-12-105(2)(a)]

18 years old, although the following exceptions apply to those under the age of 18 while:

• In attendance at a hunter's safety course or a firearms safety course;  
• Engaging in legal target shooting; 
• Engaging in certain organized firearm competitions or performances; 
• Hunting or trapping with a valid state hunting license;  
• Traveling with an unloaded handgun to or from these activities;
• While on real property under the control of the person's parent, legal guardian or grandparent and with permission of their parent or legal guardian; or
• When at the person’s residence, with the permission of the person’s parent or legal guardian, for the purpose of lawful self-defense. 

[Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-108.5]

Any person who intentionally, knowingly or recklessly provides a handgun with or without payment to any person under the age of 18, or any person who knows of such juvenile's conduct in violation of this law and fails to make reasonable efforts to prevent the violation commits the crime of unlawfully providing a handgun to a juvenile or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-108.7]

CHP Information Packet

City of Denver Permit Info and application page

Link to application

5 years

90 days

An applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Be a legal resident of Colorado;
• Not have been convicted of perjury;
• Not chronically and habitually use alcoholic beverages;
• Not be an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance;
• Not be subject to a protection order;
• Demonstrate competence with a handgun; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

*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 Colorado.

If a permit is stolen or lost it becomes invalid and the issuing sheriff must be notified within 3 business days. Download and complete the permit lost or destroyed form and have it notarized.

• Public elementary, middle, junior high or high schools, (CCW permit holders may have handguns inside of vehicles and if the permittee is not in the vehicle, the handgun must be in a compartment within the vehicle and the vehicle locked) [Co. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-105.5];
• Public buildings with fixed security checkpoints such as courthouses [Co. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-214];
• Public facilities in the city of Aurora,  including, but not be limited to, municipally owned, operated or leased buildings, properties, recreational facilities, parks, trails, and open spaces [Ord. Sec. 94-154];
• Secure areas of airports [Denver Municipal Airport System Rules and Regulations 20.1];
• State legislative buildings, including buildings at which the offices of elected members are located;
• A building of a local government's governing body, including buildings at which the offices of elected members or the chief executive officer of a local government are located (local government buildings);
• A courthouse or other building used for court proceedings;
• A childcare center that is licensed by the department of early childhood;
• Polling locations or 100ft from a ballot drop box;
  
• Universities;
  
• On a snowmobile Co. Rev. Stat. § 33-14-117]; and
• Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law.

Yes. A person who may lawfully possess a handgun may carry a handgun while legally engaged in hunting activities within the state.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. 18-12-204(3)(a)(ii)]

Yes. No person shall willfully prevent or interfere with the lawful participation of any individual in the activity of hunting, trapping, or fishing.

[§ 33-6-115.5]

In Colorado, you can own almost any knife as long as it is not a ballistic knife. All legal knives can be carried in the open. It is illegal to carry concealed a knife with a blade longer than 3.5 inches unless it is a fishing or hunting knife. Any knife with a blade shorter than 3.5 inches can be carried openly or concealed. Deadly weapons may not be possessed on school grounds. Local authorities may also have laws, such as in Boulder County where it is illegal to carry any concealed knife.

[Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 18-12-102, 18-12-105 & 18-12-105.5]