Yes, you can carry a concealed handgun in Missouri without a permit if you are at least 19 years old and legally eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law. Missouri’s permitless carry law took effect on January 1, 2017, but it did not erase the list of places where carrying is still illegal, and it did not change who is disqualified from owning a gun in the first place.1Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.030 – Unlawful Use of Weapons
Who Qualifies to Carry Without a Permit
The age floor is 19. Active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces and those honorably discharged qualify at 18.1Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.030 – Unlawful Use of Weapons
Beyond age, you have to be legally allowed to possess a firearm. You are disqualified if any of the following apply to you:
- A felony conviction of any kind.
- Fugitive status, including an active warrant.
- A court finding of mental incompetence.
- A valid full order of protection entered against you.
- A misdemeanor conviction involving the use or attempted use of physical force against a spouse, former spouse, cohabiting partner, co-parent, or someone you had a dating relationship with. Federal law prohibits firearm possession in these cases.2Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence Prohibitions
The domestic violence rule catches people who do not realize it applies to them. The charge does not have to be labeled “domestic violence.” A simple assault or battery conviction counts if the victim fell into one of those relationship categories. For convictions involving a dating partner rather than a spouse or co-parent, the prohibition can be lifted five years after the conviction or completion of the sentence, provided you have no other disqualifying convictions.2Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence Prohibitions
Where You Still Cannot Carry
Permitless carry does not open every door. Missouri law lists specific locations that are off-limits to anyone carrying concealed, and the list grows longer if you do not hold a permit.
Off-Limits to Everyone
These locations are closed to concealed firearms whether or not you have a permit:3Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.107 – Prohibited Locations
- Police, sheriff, and highway patrol stations, unless the chief law enforcement officer in charge consents.
- Jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers.
- Courthouses, including courtrooms, court offices, and courthouse libraries, covering juvenile, family, and drug courts.
- Within 25 feet of a polling place on election day.
- Stadiums and arenas with a seating capacity of 5,000 or more.
- Any hospital accessible to the public.
Extra Restrictions If You Have No Permit
Carrying without a permit cuts you off from several places where a permit holder may legally carry:
- Churches and other buildings where people have assembled for religious services.
- Any building owned or occupied by a federal, state, or local government agency.
- Anywhere inside an election precinct on election day, not just within 25 feet of the polling place.
- School buses and any function or activity sponsored by school officials or a school district.
If you spend time in government offices or attend school events, this gap alone can be reason enough to apply for a permit.
Federal Buildings
Federal law independently bans firearms in federal courthouses, federal office buildings, post offices, and past airport security checkpoints. Those bans apply regardless of your state’s rules.
Bars, Restaurants, and the 51% Food Rule
Missouri prohibits concealed firearms in the portion of a licensed establishment that is primarily devoted to serving alcohol. A restaurant open to the public with seating for at least 50 people and at least 51% of its gross annual income from food sales is exempt from that prohibition.3Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.107 – Prohibited Locations
The practical test: if the place makes most of its money from food and has real dining capacity, carrying is allowed. A bar with no meaningful food operation is not. Even where carrying is legal, Missouri separately prohibits possessing a firearm while intoxicated.4Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.107
Private Property and Posted Signs
Any property owner, business operator, or employer can ban concealed firearms by posting signs at the entrance. The signs must be at least 11 inches by 14 inches with lettering at least one inch tall.3Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.107 – Prohibited Locations
For a permit holder, walking past a posted sign is a $100 civil fine, and the first consequence is usually being asked to leave. Without a permit, that same act can be charged as a misdemeanor. Refuse to leave after being told to, and you can pick up a trespassing charge on top of it.
Carrying in Your Vehicle
Anyone legally eligible to possess a firearm can carry a concealed, loaded handgun anywhere inside their own vehicle without a permit.1Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.030 – Unlawful Use of Weapons It does not have to be locked in the glove box or console. It can sit on the passenger seat.
That rule gives you a useful workaround for some restricted locations. A firearm can stay in your parked vehicle at a law enforcement station, near a polling place, or in an employee lot at a restricted workplace, as long as it stays in the vehicle and you do not brandish it.5Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.215 – Permit Authorizes Carrying on Person or in Vehicle
Public transit is the exception. Boarding a bus with a concealed weapon without the owner’s consent is a felony under Missouri law, and the Bi-State Development Agency’s MetroLink and MetroBus system in the St. Louis region prohibits carrying without specific authorization.
Penalties for Carrying Where You Shouldn’t
The consequences for breaking a location restriction depend entirely on whether you have a permit. A permit holder who carries into a prohibited location under Section 571.107 pays a $100 civil fine. Someone carrying without a permit faces a Class A or B misdemeanor charge for the same act.3Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.107 – Prohibited Locations
A Class A misdemeanor carries up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. A Class B carries up to six months and a fine of up to $500. Which classification applies depends on the specific location and circumstances. Refusing to leave adds a trespassing charge.
This is the strongest practical argument against relying on permitless carry alone. The same honest mistake costs a permit holder $100 and costs you potential jail time.
What to Do During a Traffic Stop
Missouri does not require you to tell a police officer that you are carrying. There is no duty to inform under state law. Volunteering the information is usually the better move anyway. An officer who learns about a firearm during a pat-down or vehicle search tends to handle the discovery less calmly than one who was told up front.
Officers can temporarily secure your firearm during a lawful stop if they reasonably believe it’s necessary for safety. A legally possessed firearm is returned when the stop ends. Keep your hands visible, stay calm, and avoid sudden movements near the gun.
Why Getting a Permit Still Makes Sense
Permitless carry makes a permit optional, not pointless. A permit buys you several things you cannot get otherwise.
Reciprocity Across State Lines
A Missouri concealed carry permit is recognized in 49 other states, and Missouri recognizes permits from every state that issues them.6Attorney General Office of Missouri. Concealed Carry Reciprocity Without a permit, your right to carry concealed stops at the state border. Cross into Kansas or Arkansas and you are subject to that state’s rules, and many states do not extend permitless carry to non-residents.
Faster Firearm Purchases
A standard, extended, or lifetime Missouri concealed carry permit qualifies as an alternative to the federal NICS background check when buying from a licensed dealer. The dealer can skip the call to the FBI system and avoid any processing delays. Provisional permits do not qualify.7Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Brady Permit Chart
Lower Penalties and More Places You Can Go
A permit converts the misdemeanor exposure described above into a $100 civil fine. It also opens up churches, government buildings, and school-sponsored events, all of which are off-limits to anyone carrying without a permit. Local governments in Missouri can restrict open carry for people without a permit, and those restrictions do not apply to permit holders.3Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.107 – Prohibited Locations
How to Apply
Applying requires completing a firearms safety training course and passing a background check. You apply through the sheriff’s office in your county of residence.8Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.101 – Concealed Carry Permit Application Sheriff application fees typically run between $35 and $100, and the permit is valid for five years. The training course is a separate cost that varies by instructor.