Colorado Gun Laws
A concealed carry permit in Colorado is obtained through the sheriff of the county where you live. If you want to know whether you qualify, what can disqualify you, and what happens if the sheriff denies the application, the answer starts with Colorado’s concealed handgun permit statutes.
In Colorado, a sheriff generally issues a concealed handgun permit to an applicant who is a Colorado resident, at least 21 years old, legally eligible to possess a firearm, not subject to certain active protection orders, and able to show handgun competence. Even then, the sheriff may deny the permit if documented prior behavior creates a reasonable belief that the applicant would present a danger to self or others.
A concealed carry permit in Colorado is obtained through the sheriff of the county where you live. The eligibility rules come from Colorado’s concealed handgun permit statutes, especially C.R.S. § 18-12-203.
Who Qualifies for a Concealed Carry Permit in Colorado?
This visual gives readers the fast version. It works best high on the page because it lets people answer the qualification question in seconds.
Under the statute, a sheriff generally issues a permit when the applicant meets the listed criteria. In plain English, that means all of the following usually need to be true:
You must be a legal resident of Colorado. Certain military members stationed here, and certain immediate family members living here, are treated as Colorado residents under the statute.
You must be at least twenty-one years old when you apply.
If state or federal law prohibits you from possessing a firearm, you do not qualify for the permit.
Certain temporary, permanent, juvenile, and extreme risk protection orders can block eligibility while they remain in effect.
| Requirement | What It Means in Plain English |
|---|---|
| No listed misdemeanor disqualifier within the statutory period | Certain listed misdemeanor offenses committed on or after July 1, 2025 can disqualify an applicant for five years. |
| No permit-related perjury conviction | If you were convicted of perjury tied to information provided or omitted on a permit application, that can block eligibility. |
| No chronic habitual alcohol abuse | If alcohol use impairs your normal faculties, the statute treats that as disqualifying, although it contains a narrow affidavit-based exception for certain recovering alcoholics. |
| No unlawful drug use or addiction | Federal law and regulations govern this part of the inquiry. |
| Handgun competence shown | You must show handgun competence using one of the methods listed in the statute. |
One of the most important gun permit requirements in Colorado is showing handgun competence. For many applicants, that means a qualifying training certificate, but the statute gives several options.
This part of the process matters because applicants often assume any firearms familiarity is enough. It is better to make sure your proof matches the statute before you apply.
In many cases, the same facts that lead to a permit denial are the exact facts that lead to criminal charges. A denied permit is often an early warning sign of a much bigger legal issue.
Common denial problems include prohibited-person status, active qualifying protection orders, listed misdemeanor disqualifiers, substance or alcohol disqualifiers, and a sheriff’s danger-based determination under the statute.
The statute also allows suspension and revocation after issuance. If the sheriff reasonably believes a permit holder no longer meets the statutory criteria, or presents a danger under the statute, the sheriff may suspend the permit while the issue is resolved.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation lists the following concealed handgun permit fees:
| Application Type | Current CBI-Listed Total | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|
| New CHP Application | $52.50 | CCIC fingerprint check, InstaCheck, and FBI fingerprint check |
| Temporary Emergency Permit | $30.50 | CCIC fingerprint check and InstaCheck |
| CHP Renewal | $13.00 | InstaCheck; fingerprints previously sent to CBI |
Fees must be submitted to the issuing sheriff’s department by cashier’s check or money order payable to CBI, and sheriff’s departments may charge an additional administrative fee.
Colorado law makes an important distinction here. A permit is not required, and a handgun is not considered concealed, when a person is in a private automobile or other private transportation under the cited statute.
A traffic stop can still lead to criminal exposure if the person is otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm, if a protection order is in play, if the firearm is stored improperly or if police claim the firearm was possessed unlawfully.
A denied permit does not automatically create a criminal case. However, the same facts that block permit eligibility often overlap with serious firearm allegations.
If your permit was denied because of one of these issues, the smartest next step is usually not guessing. It is getting a careful review of whether the problem is administrative, criminal, or both.
Possibly. The answer depends on the offense and timing. Certain listed misdemeanor offenses can disqualify an applicant for a defined period under the statute.
Common disqualifiers include prohibited-person status, certain active protection orders, substance-related disqualifiers, listed misdemeanor disqualifiers, and failure to show handgun competence.
Colorado’s concealed handgun permit statutes include judicial review provisions for denials, suspensions, and revocations.
Yes. The permit and a valid photo identification must be carried with the handgun at all times.
Colorado law provides an exception for a handgun in a private automobile or other private transportation under the cited statute.
For official application information, current fees, and broader firearms resources, review:
A permit denial can be more than an application problem. Sometimes it points to a deeper issue involving prohibited possession, protection orders, or another firearm-related risk.
If your concealed carry permit was denied, suspended, or revoked, or if the same facts now overlap with a criminal firearm allegation, a careful legal review can help you understand what is really at stake.
