District of Columbia Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

No. The District of Columbia does not allow constitutional carry.

D.C. is a shall issue jurisdiction.

No. A concealed weapons license does not allow you to carry weapons other than handguns.

Yes, a person may use a self-defense spray only as reasonable force to defend themselves or their property. However, it must be propelled from an aerosol container and there are restrictions on the chemical mixtures, labeling and dating.

[D.C. Code §§ 7-2502.12 and 7-2502.13]

Yes. A person 18 years or older may possess a stun gun or Taser in the District of Columbia, although it may only be used to protect themselves or their property. No one other than a law enforcement officer is allowed to possess a stun gun in a building or office occupied by the District of Columbia government, a penal institution, secure juvenile residential facility, a halfway house, any building that is occupied by a children’s facility, preschool, elementary or secondary school, or any building or grounds in which the owner or occupant clearly posts forbidding the carrying of a stun gun.

[D.C. Code § 7-2502.15]

No. Firearms are prohibited in public parks in the District of Columbia. 

[D.C. Code § 7-2509.07(a)]

Does not apply. The District of Columbia does not have roadside rest areas.

Whenever a licensee carries a concealed pistol and approaches any prohibited location, or is subject to any prohibited circumstance, the licensee shall:

• If the licensee is in a vehicle or if a vehicle is readily available, immediately secure the pistol in the following manner - unloaded, with neither the firearm nor any ammunition readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment; or
• If the licensee does not have a vehicle available, immediately leave the prohibited location or circumstance.

[Title 7 Subtitle J Chpt. 25 § 7-2509.07]

Any person who is not otherwise prohibited by the law from transporting, shipping or receiving a firearm shall be permitted to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry the firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry the firearm if the firearm is transported in accordance with this section.

• If the transportation of the firearm is by a vehicle, the firearm shall be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported shall be readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment of the transporting vehicle.
• If the transporting vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the driver's compartment, the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console, and the firearm shall be unloaded.
• If the transportation of the firearm is in a manner other than in a vehicle, the firearm shall be:
  • Unloaded;
  • Inside a locked container; and
  • Separate from any ammunition.

[Title 22 Subtitle VI Chpt. 45 § 22-4504.02. Lawful transportation of firearms.]

Does not apply. Washington D.C. does not have preemption laws.

No. The District of Columbia does not allow the public to access concealed carry registry information.

Yes.  

•  Signs stating that the carrying of firearms is prohibited on any private property shall be clearly and conspicuously posted at any entrance open to the public of a building, premises or real property.
• A sign shall be considered conspicuous if it is at least 8" by 10" in size and contains writing in contrasting ink using not less than 36 point type.

[D.C. Code § 24-2346]

No definition of brandishing was found in District of Columbia law. However, a person shall not unlawfully assault, or threaten another in a menacing manner with a dangerous weapon.

[D.C Code § 22-402]

No consumption is allowed.

[D.C. Code § 7-2509.06]

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.

21 years old. At 21 years of age, a person may possess and transport a handgun in the District of Columbia.

[D.C. Code § 7-2502.03]

Yes. The firearms registration process also serves as a permitting process.

No.

Yes. All firearms must be registered with the Metropolitan Police Department. A background check and online training are required.

$75 for initial and renewals

90 days

An applicant must:

• Be 21 or older;
• Possess a registered pistol, or register one at time of CCPL application;
• Have a bona fide residence or place of business:
  • Within the District of Columbia,
  • 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
  • Within the United States and meet all registration and licensing requirements;
• Have completed a firearms training course, combination of courses;
• Be a suitable person to be so licensed;
• Not have been convicted of any weapons offense or felony in any jurisdiction;
• Not be under indictment for a weapons or violence offense;
• Not have been convicted of assault, bodily harm or drugs offense within the prior 5 years;
• Not currently suffer nor have suffered from any mental illness or condition that creates a substantial risk that he or she is a danger to himself or herself or others in the previous 5 years;
• Not have been acquitted of any charge by reason of insanity within the last 5 years;
• Not have not been admitted to any mental hospital within the last 5 years;
• Not have any physical defect that would make it unsafe to use a firearm;
• Not have been found negligent in a firearm incident that resulted in death or injury;
• Not have been found guilty of a misdemeanor family offense;
• Not have renounced U.S. citizenship;
• Not be legally blind;
• Not have been convicted of 2 or more driving under the influence charges within the last 5 years;
• Not have had a civil protection order placed on him or her within the last 5 years;
• Not have had a conviction of stalking within the last 5 years;
• Not have a history of violence within the last 5 years;
• Have completed a firearms training course provided by the Metropolitan Police; 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 District of Columbia.

Upon discovery of such loss, notify the chief in writing of the loss, theft or destruction of the registration certificate or of a registered firearm. Return the registration certificate to the chief.

Contact the D.C. Metropolitan Police for instructions.

• The public memorials on the National Mall and along the Tidal Basin, and any area where firearms are prohibited under federal law or by a federal agency or entity, including U.S. Capitol buildings and grounds;
• The White House Complex and its grounds, up to and including the curb of the adjacent sidewalks;
• The U.S. Naval Observatory and its fence line;
• Any place while consuming alcohol or while impaired [D.C. Code § 7-2509.06];
• On the premises of the Smithsonian [per Smithsonian policy];
• Any premises, or portion thereof, where alcohol is served, or sold and consumed, on the premises (although there are exceptions for on-premises retailers with specific classes of licenses);
• A stadium or arena;
• A public gathering or special event open to the public when the organizer has provided notice and posted signage prohibiting the carrying of pistols in advance of the gathering or special event;
• The building and grounds, including any adjacent parking lot, of any child care facility, preschool, public or private elementary or secondary school, or a public or private college or university;
• A building or office occupied by the District of Columbia, its agencies or instrumentalities;
• A hospital or an office where medical or mental health services are the primary services provided;
• A penal institution, secure juvenile residential facility or halfway house;
• A polling place while voting is occurring;
• A public transportation vehicle, including the Metrorail transit system and its stations;
• Within 1,000 feet of a dignitary or high-ranking official of the United States or a state, local or foreign government that is moving under the protection of law enforcement;
• Within a perimeter of 1,000 feet of a demonstration in a public place posted as off-limits to firearms or by officer’s order;
• Private residential property, unless otherwise authorized by the property owner or person in residential property;
• A place of religious worship, unless the property is posted with conspicuous signage allowing the carrying of a concealed pistol, or the owner or authorized agent communicates such allowance personally to the licensee in advance of entry onto the property;
• Non-residential property that is posted with conspicuous signage prohibiting the carrying of a concealed pistol; and
• Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law or state law or regulation.

D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2509.07.

It is illegal to concealed carry any deadly or dangerous weapon in a place other than the person’s dwelling place, place of business or on other land possessed by the person, except for a handgun carried by a person with a District of Columbia Concealed Carry Pistol License. It is illegal to possess a blackjack, slungshot, sand club, sandbag or switchblade knife. It is illegal to possess, with the intent to use unlawfully against another person, a dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, a knife with a blade longer than 3 inches or other dangerous weapon. You may not possess a deadly weapon in safe school or recreation zones. 

[D.C. Code §§ 22-4514 & 22-4504]