To restore gun rights in Florida after a felony conviction, you have to apply to the Florida Board of Executive Clemency for a specific form of clemency called Specific Authority to Own, Possess, or Use Firearms. You can apply only after eight years have passed since you finished every part of your sentence, and the Governor and Cabinet decide the case at a hearing. A general restoration of civil rights does not give you back the right to own a gun. Approval is discretionary, and the process typically takes years from the day you become eligible to the day you walk out with an order.
The Clemency Type You Actually Need
Florida offers several types of executive clemency, and two of them sound like they might cover firearms. Only one does.
Restoration of Civil Rights gives back the right to vote (if not already restored under Amendment 4), serve on a jury, and hold public office. It does not restore firearm rights. Even after your civil rights come back through this route, possessing a gun is still a felony for you under Florida law.
Specific Authority to Own, Possess, or Use Firearms is the separate clemency you need. It has its own application, its own waiting period, and its own hearing. Florida law bars a convicted felon from possessing a firearm unless both civil rights and firearm authority have been restored.1Online Sunshine. Florida Statutes 790.23 – Felons and Delinquents; Possession of Firearms, Ammunition, or Electric Weapons or Devices Unlawful Touching a gun before you have the firearm order in hand exposes you to a second-degree felony charge, no matter what other paperwork you hold.
Who Is Eligible
Every one of the following has to be true before the Board will even consider your application:
- At least eight years have passed since you completed every part of your sentence, including prison, jail, probation, parole, and community control.
- You have no outstanding detainers, warrants, or pending criminal charges.
- You have paid all victim restitution on every case in your criminal record, not just the one you want cleared.
- You do not owe more than $1,000 in fines, fees, or costs on any misdemeanor, criminal traffic, or felony adjudication-withheld case in your record.
- Your felony conviction was entered in a Florida state court.
That last requirement catches people. A federal conviction, a military conviction, or a conviction from another state cannot be addressed through Florida’s clemency process. The Board has no jurisdiction over it.
If Your Conviction Is Federal, Military, or Out of State
Federal convictions require a presidential pardon or relief from firearms disabilities through the U.S. Department of Justice under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c). The DOJ has published a proposed rule to set up a formal application process for this relief, but as of early 2026 the final rule and online application are not yet available.2U.S. Department of Justice. Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Under 18 U.S. Code 925(c)
For a conviction from another state, that state has to restore your rights first. Some states do it automatically after sentence completion; others require a petition. Only after the convicting state acts does any relief become available to you, and Florida still cannot act for it.
Filing the Application
Applications go to the Office of Executive Clemency, which operates under the Florida Commission on Offender Review in Tallahassee. There is no local courthouse filing and no online submission for the application itself. The form is the Application for Clemency, which covers several clemency types, so indicate clearly that you are requesting Specific Authority to Own, Possess, or Use Firearms. Incomplete applications are rejected rather than processed, so send a complete package the first time.3Florida Commission on Offender Review. Clemency
For each felony conviction on your record, include certified copies of the charging document (indictment or information), the judgment, and the sentencing order, probation order, or community control order the court imposed. Include proof you finished every part of your sentence, such as a certificate from the Florida Department of Corrections or a letter from your supervising probation officer. Attach documentation that restitution and financial obligations are paid.
Character references are not required, but they help. Letters from employers, community leaders, and others who can speak to your conduct since the conviction give the Board something concrete to weigh beyond the court file. The Board is looking for evidence that you have changed, not just that you have waited long enough.
The Investigation and the Hearing
Once the Office of Executive Clemency accepts your application, your case goes through a background investigation before it reaches the Board. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other agencies review your criminal history, verify eligibility, and build a report for the Board. This step alone can take months.
When your case is scheduled, you will get notice of the hearing date. The Board of Executive Clemency consists of the Governor and Cabinet, and at least two Cabinet members must agree with the Governor to grant clemency.4Florida Senate. Florida Statutes Chapter 940 – Clemency You present your case directly to the Board at the hearing. You can bring an attorney, which is worth considering, because the Board can ask pointed questions about your criminal history, what you have done since, and why they should trust you with firearms.
The hearing is where applicants with similar records can get different outcomes. Board members weigh your whole criminal history, your rehabilitation, employment, community ties, and overall conduct. There is no formula.
If You Are Approved, and If You Are Denied
Approval produces an executive order restoring your authority to own, possess, and use firearms. Keep it permanently. You will need to show it.
Denials are less transparent. The Board is not required to explain the reasons in detail, though it may point to concerns. You can reapply after a waiting period, but reapplying without changing anything about the record is unlikely to change the outcome. Talking to an attorney about what likely worked against you is the practical next step before trying again.
Why Florida Approval Does Not Always Clear You Federally
A Florida restoration does not automatically clear you under federal law, and this is where restored applicants get into real trouble. Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison from possessing a firearm, with up to 15 years in prison for a violation.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S.C. 922 – Unlawful Acts6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 924 – Penalties
Federal law carves out an exception. Under 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20), a conviction does not count against you federally if you have been pardoned or had civil rights restored, as long as that restoration does not expressly prohibit firearm possession.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 921 – Definitions A Florida grant of Specific Authority to Own, Possess, or Use Firearms, together with a restoration of civil rights, with neither order restricting guns, should satisfy that federal standard for a state conviction. “Should” is doing work in that sentence. Federal enforcement does not always read it the same way, and database mismatches cause real problems at gun stores.
Domestic Violence Convictions Are a Separate Problem
A misdemeanor crime of domestic violence creates its own federal bar under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9), regardless of how old the conviction is or that it was a misdemeanor rather than a felony. A qualifying offense includes the use or attempted use of physical force against a spouse, former spouse, co-parent, or someone you lived with in a similar relationship.8U.S. Department of Justice. Restrictions on the Possession of Firearms by Individuals Convicted of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence The § 921(a)(20) exception for restored rights applies here only if the restoration explicitly permits firearm possession. If any domestic violence conviction appears anywhere on your record, get legal advice before relying on a clemency grant to clear you federally.
If You Still Get Denied at the Gun Counter
Even after Florida restores your firearm authority, you can still get denied when a dealer runs you through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Your underlying conviction stays in the FBI’s records. If the restoration has not been entered into the right databases, or the system cannot match it to you, the check comes back denied.
You can challenge a NICS denial directly with the FBI through its electronic portal at edo.cjis.gov and submit your executive order as proof of restoration. The FBI must respond within 60 calendar days.9Federal Bureau of Investigation. Challenges / Appeals
If you expect repeat problems, such as a common name that keeps triggering false matches, you can apply for a Unique Personal Identification Number through the FBI’s Voluntary Appeal File. A UPIN stays linked to your record and helps the system identify you correctly on future checks. The application requires a completed VAF form and a copy of your fingerprints, and processing takes a couple of months.10Federal Bureau of Investigation. Voluntary Appeal File
Cost and Timeline
Florida does not charge a filing fee for the clemency application. The costs are indirect. Certified court documents from clerks’ offices carry per-page fees that add up when you have multiple cases across counties. Attorney fees for firearm rights restoration in Florida generally run from a few thousand dollars for straightforward cases to $10,000 or more for complex ones involving multiple convictions or federal issues. You can represent yourself at the hearing. Many applicants decide the investment is worthwhile because the Board meets only periodically and a denial means waiting years to try again.
Time is the other cost. Eight years before you are eligible to file. Months of background investigation after you do. A scheduling backlog on top of that. Start pulling your certified court records early, well before you hit the eight-year mark, so you are not scrambling for documents once you become eligible.