Georgia Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

Constitutional Carry?

Does Georgia allow constitutional carry?

Open Carry Permitted?

Is open carry permitted in Georgia?

Gun Permit Licensure?

If Georgia requires a permit to carry a concealed firearm, how are those permits issued?

Minimum Age for Concealed Carry?

What is the minimum age in Georgia to get a concealed carry permit?

Weapons Other Than Handguns Allowed?

Can you conceal carry weapons other than handguns in Georgia with a concealed carry permit (or under permitless carry if applicable)?

Non-Resident Permitting?

Does Georgia issue concealed carry permits to non-residents?

Public Access to Concealed Carry Registry?

Does Georgia allow the public to access concealed carry registry information through public records law?

Carry in Vehicle?

Can you carry a concealed firearm in a vehicle in Georgia?

Carry at Roadside Rest Areas?

Can you carry a concealed firearm at roadside rest areas in Georgia?

Carry in State/National Parks, State/National Forests and Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)?

Can you carry a concealed firearm in state/national parks, state/national forests and Wildlife Management Areas in Georgia?

Carry in Restaurants That Serve Alcohol?

Can you carry a firearm in restaurants that serve alcohol in Georgia?

Store in a Vehicle in an Employee Parking Lot?

Does Georgia have laws relating to storing firearms in private vehicles in an employee parking lot?

Must Notify Officer You're Carrying?

Are you required to notify a police officer that you're carrying a concealed firearm in Georgia?

Magazine Limits for Handguns?

Does Georgia have magazine capacity restrictions for handguns?

Ammunition Restrictions?

Does Georgia have ammunition restrictions?

"No Weapons Allowed" Signs Enforced?

Are "No Weapons Allowed" signs enforced in Georgia? If yes, violating the sign would be considered to be a crime. If no, violating the sign would not be considered a criminal offense.

Preemption?

Does Georgia have preemption laws related to concealed carry (i.e. Does state law supersede local laws regarding the possession of handguns)?

Red Flag Law?

Does Georgia have a red flag law?

Tasers or Stun Guns?

Is it legal to own a taser or stun gun in Georgia?

Requirements:

An applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years of age or 18 if in the military;
• Be a resident of the county in which he or she files the application;
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawful alien;
• Not have been convicted of an offense arising out of the unlawful manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance or other dangerous drug;
• Not have been convicted of a felony which has not been pardoned, or against whom felony proceedings are pending;
• Not have been under restraint or supervision resulting from a conviction for carrying a weapon without a weapons carry license, carrying a weapon or long gun in an unauthorized location, or a misdemeanor involving the use or possession of a controlled substance during the 5 years immediately preceding the application;
• Not have been hospitalized as an inpatient in a mental hospital or alcohol or drug treatment center within the 5 years preceding the application, although the judge retains discretion to issue a license to the individual in some circumstances;
• Not be a fugitive from justice;
• Not have had a weapons license revoked in the last 3 years; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

Fees:

Initial License ~$75, varies by county

Renewal (within renewal period) ~$35

Valid For:

5 years

Processing Time:

60 days

Application:

Non-Resident Concealed Carry Permits:

Georgia doesn't issue non-resident permits.

Name/Address Changes:

If you would like an updated permit with an address change, and the new address on the updated license is in another county in Georgia, you must attach the following:

A. Affidavit for Name Change or Address Change to Another County
B. Supporting Documents

1. For Address Change

• A Copy of your Georgia Driver's License listing new county of residence; or
• 2 documents linking your name to the new physical address.  One must be directly associated with residence (i.e., a copy of lease, utility bill, etc.)

2. For Name Change

• A Copy of your Georgia Driver's License noting new name; or
• A court order or marriage licenses showing new name.

C. Fees - the fee for an updated permit with address change and/or name change is $6.00 (payable by check with check number 500+ made payable to Henry County Probate Court; or money order).
D. Current Henry County Weapons Carry Permit

Lost/Stolen Permits:

Report it to the judge of the probate court of the county in which it was issued within 48 hours of the time the loss or damage becomes known. The judge of the probate court will issue a cancellation order and provide a replacement license. A replacement fee will be charged.

Step 1:

Complete the application online or pick one up from the probate court in your county. 

Step 2:

You will need the following documents in order to submit your application;

• Completed application form;
• Copy of birth certificate or U.S. passport; and
• Drivers license or state ID card.

Pay the fee.

Step 3:

You will be notified by mail if your application has been approved.

Step 1:

You can apply to have a license renewed 90 days prior to the expiration date or within 30 days after the license has expired. It is recommended that you go to court to apply for renewal at least 2 months before your license expires. A new application will need to be made if the license is more than 30 days past the expiration date.

Step 2:

Complete the application online or pick one up from the probate court in your county. 

Step 3:

You will need the following documents in order to submit your application;

• Completed application form;
• Copy of birth certificate or U.S. passport; and
• Drivers license or state ID card.

Pay the fee.

Step 4:

You will be notified by mail if your application has been approved.

Where Can I Carry a Concealed Firearm in Georgia?

• Carry in restaurants that serve alcohol? Yes, in the restaurant and bar areas.
• Carry in my vehicle without a permit/license? Yes, in your own vehicle only.
• Carry in roadside rest areas? Yes.
• Carry on public transportation? Yes. 
• Carry on a college campus? Yes, inside any building, or on real property, owned by or leased to any public technical school, vocational school, college, university or other public institution of post-secondary education. Guns are still prohibited in the areas of campuses noted below.
• Carry in state/national parks, state/national forests and WMAs? Yes.

Where Can't I Carry a Concealed Firearm in Georgia?

Places off-limits even with a permit/license

• School buses;
• School functions;
• School safety zones – building or property leased or owned by any public or private elementary, secondary, technical or vocational school, college, university or other institute of post-secondary education;
• Buildings or property used for athletic sporting events or student housing, including, but not limited to, fraternity and sorority houses;
• Preschools or child care spaces located on campus;
• Specific areas of college campuses, including:
  • Rooms or spaces being used for classes related to a college and career academy or other specialized schools,
  • Rooms or spaces being used for classes in which high school students are enrolled through a dual enrollment program, and
  • Faculty, staff or administrative offices or rooms where disciplinary proceedings are conducted;
• Secured area of an airport;
• In a courthouse;
• In a government building if restricted by security personnel;
• In a church or place of worship, unless allowed by the governing body or authority of the place of worship;
• In a jail or prison;
• In a state mental health facility;
• On the premises of a nuclear power facility;
• Within 150 feet of any polling place when elections are being conducted; and
• Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law or state law or regulation.

Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-127(b)

Do firearms need to be registered in Georgia?

No.

Is a permit required to purchase a gun in Georgia?

No.

Are background checks required for private gun sales in Georgia?

No.

Is there a waiting period after purchasing a firearm in Georgia?

No.

What are the knife laws in Georgia?

It is legal to carry, open or concealed, a knife that is less than 12 inches in length without a permit. Knives greater than 12 inches in length can be carried with a concealed carry permit.

What are the laws regarding carrying a firearm while using alcohol or prescription medication in GA?

Not while under the influence, per GA Code § 16-11-134.
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.