How to get a Colorado concealed carry permit
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Four steps: take the class, apply, get printed and vetted, and wait for issuance. Complete an in-person 8-hour concealed handgun training class with a sheriff-verified instructor, then apply in person to the sheriff of your county of residence with your training certificate, a recent photo, valid photo ID, two sets of fingerprints, and a permit fee capped at $100. The sheriff runs a background check and has up to 90 days to issue or deny (C.R.S. §§ 18-12-203, 205, 206).
Before you start: are you eligible?
You must be 21 or older, a legal Colorado resident, and not disqualified under C.R.S. § 18-12-203 — which incorporates the § 18-12-108 and federal firearm-possession bans and adds disqualifiers for certain misdemeanor convictions, protection orders and extreme risk protection orders, chronic alcohol abuse, unlawful controlled-substance use, and perjury on a permit application. Details and the full disqualifier list are on the concealed carry hub and in what disqualifies you from owning a gun in Colorado.
Step 1 — Take the training class
Since HB24-1174 (2024), a new permit requires a specific, in-person concealed handgun training class. It cannot be taken online, must run at least eight hours, and must be taught by an instructor your sheriff has verified.
A concealed handgun training class must be held in person with the instructor of the class at the same location as the students, and no part of the class may be conducted via the internet. A concealed handgun training class must provide a minimum of eight hours of instruction, including the live-fire shooting exercise... and the written concealed handgun competency exam... The eight hours of instruction in a course do not need to be consecutive.
To pass, you must hit at least 70% accuracy in a live-fire exercise firing at least 50 rounds, and score at least 80% on an open-book written exam. The instructor gives you a signed training certificate — you must submit the original, and it must have been obtained within the one year before you apply. Sheriffs post their list of verified instructors online, so confirm your instructor is verified before you pay for a class.
Step 2 — Apply in person to your county sheriff
Applications are made in person to the sheriff of the county where you live (or where you keep a secondary residence or run a business). You sign the application in front of the sheriff.
(a) An applicant shall complete the permit application form and return it, in person, to the sheriff of the county or city and county in which the applicant resides or to the sheriff of the county or city and county in which the applicant maintains a secondary residence or owns or leases real property used by the applicant in a business. The applicant shall sign the completed permit application form in person before the sheriff...
Bring:
- Your training certificate (or other § 18-12-203(1)(h) competence evidence, such as proof of certain military service or peace-officer certification);
- A full frontal color photograph of your head taken within the previous 30 days;
- Your valid Colorado driver's license or Colorado/military photo ID; and
- The permit fee (see Step 3).
Step 3 — Fingerprints, background check, and fees
The sheriff verifies your identity, then takes two complete sets of your fingerprints and submits both to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for the background check. On the fee:
An applicant shall also submit to the sheriff a permit fee not to exceed one hundred dollars for processing the permit application. The sheriff shall set the amount of the permit fee...
A separate fingerprint-processing fee set by the CBI director is added on top, and neither fee is refundable if you are denied. The class itself is a separate cost that varies by instructor. Full breakdown: Colorado concealed carry class and permit cost.
Step 4 — Issuance within 90 days
(1) Within ninety days after the date of receipt of the items specified in section 18-12-205, a sheriff shall: (a) Approve the permit application and issue the permit; or (b) Deny the permit application based solely on the ground that the applicant fails to qualify under the criteria listed in section 18-12-203 (1) or that the applicant would be a danger as described in section 18-12-203 (2). If the sheriff denies the permit application, he or she shall notify the applicant in writing, stating the grounds for denial and informing the applicant of the right to seek a second review of the application by the sheriff, to submit additional information for the record, and to seek judicial review pursuant to section 18-12-207.
If you are denied, you may ask the sheriff for a second review, add information to the record, and seek judicial review under § 18-12-207 — where the sheriff, not you, carries the burden of proof. Once issued, the permit is valid five years and effective statewide except in the places listed in § 18-12-214 (see where you can't carry).
This page describes what the statutes require. It is a reference, not legal advice; for your own situation consult a Colorado attorney or your county sheriff's office.
Common questions
Where do I apply for a Colorado concealed carry permit?
In person, at the office of the sheriff of the county where you live — or where you keep a secondary residence or operate a business (§ 18-12-205). Colorado has no statewide online application; the sheriff witnesses your signature and takes your fingerprints in person.
Can I take the Colorado CCW class online?
No. Since HB24-1174, the concealed handgun training class must be held in person with the instructor at the same location, and no part may be conducted over the internet (§ 18-12-202.5). It must include a live-fire exercise, so an online-only course does not qualify.
How long does it take to get the permit after I apply?
Up to 90 days. After receiving your complete application, the sheriff must either issue the permit or deny it in writing within ninety days (§ 18-12-206).
What do I bring to the sheriff's appointment?
Your original signed training certificate, a color head photo taken within the past 30 days, a valid Colorado driver's license or Colorado/military photo ID, and the permit fee. The sheriff takes your fingerprints there; you do not bring your own.
What if the sheriff denies my application?
You may request a second review by the sheriff, submit additional information, and seek judicial review under § 18-12-207. At judicial review the sheriff bears the burden of proving you are ineligible, and the court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party.