Can You Conceal Carry in Washington State? CPL and Reciprocity

Concealed carry in Washington state is legal with a Concealed Pistol License (CPL), and without one it is a misdemeanor to carry a concealed pistol anywhere outside your home or fixed place of business.¹ Washington is a shall-issue state: if you meet every statutory requirement, the issuing agency has to grant the license. Expect to pay roughly $48 to $50, complete a certified training course with live fire, and apply in person at a local law enforcement agency.

Open carry is a separate question. No Washington statute directly bans carrying an unconcealed firearm, and open carry does not require a CPL, though location restrictions still apply.² The CPL covers concealed pistols only.

Who Qualifies for a CPL

You must be at least 21 years old. Beyond that, the statute lists conditions that automatically disqualify you:³

A felony conviction, which bars firearm possession under Washington law.
An outstanding arrest warrant from any court, whether for a felony or a misdemeanor.
Pending felony proceedings while you are free on bond or personal recognizance awaiting trial, appeal, or sentencing.
A court order restricting firearm possession, including protective and restraining orders.
Certain misdemeanor convictions connected to domestic violence, which also bar possession under federal law.
A court-ordered firearm forfeiture within the last 12 months.
A previously revoked CPL that is still in revoked status.

Lawful permanent residents can apply but must present a valid Permanent Resident Card at the time of application.⁴ Non-citizens temporarily in Washington for hunting or sport shooting need an alien firearms license from the county sheriff instead; it is not a CPL and does not authorize concealed carry.

The Training Requirement

This is where first-time applicants most often get caught short. Washington requires a certificate of completion from a certified concealed carry firearms safety training program, dated within the last five years, before you apply.³ Without it, your application is denied no matter how clean your background check comes back.

The course must include live-fire exercises on a range, with a minimum of 50 rounds fired under instructor supervision.³ Online-only courses don’t satisfy the law. Confirm any course you sign up for is certified under RCW 43.43.575.

Two groups are exempt: active peace officers who carry firearms as part of their duties, and active-duty members of the U.S. military, National Guard, or armed forces reserves who have completed a qualifying firearms proficiency course within the last five years.⁵

How to Apply

Where you apply depends on where you live. Residents inside city limits can go to the city police department or the county sheriff’s office. If you live in an unincorporated area, the sheriff’s office is your only option. Non-residents can apply at any Washington law enforcement agency.³

Apply in person. Bring valid photo identification such as a Washington driver’s license, plus your training certificate. The agency takes your fingerprints as part of the process. The non-refundable fee for a new five-year license is $36, plus FBI fingerprinting charges that get passed through to you, which typically brings the total to around $48 to $50.³

After you submit, the agency runs a background check. In most cases, it has 30 days to issue your CPL. If you don’t hold a valid Washington driver’s license or haven’t lived in the state for at least 90 consecutive days, that window extends to 60 days.³

Renewal

A Washington CPL is valid for five years from the date of issue. You can renew within 90 days before or 90 days after the expiration date. The renewal fee is $32. Renewing after expiration adds a $10 late penalty on top of the $32.³

Your training certificate also needs to be dated within the last five years, so a CPL holder whose original certificate has lapsed will typically need to retake the course before renewing. Don’t wait until the last week before expiration to think about it. Schedule the training course well in advance.

Carrying a Pistol in Your Vehicle

Vehicle rules catch people out more than almost anything else in Washington firearms law. You cannot place or carry a loaded pistol in any vehicle without a CPL. If you do have a CPL, the loaded pistol must either be on your person, you must be inside the vehicle with it, or, if you step away, it must be locked in the vehicle and hidden from outside view.¹

Without a CPL, you can still transport an unloaded pistol in a vehicle, but it must be locked up and concealed from view. Leaving an unloaded pistol visible on the seat or in an unlocked glovebox is a misdemeanor, even if you are 18 or older and otherwise legally allowed to own the firearm.¹

Where You Still Cannot Carry

A CPL does not get you in everywhere. Washington law lists specific locations where knowingly possessing any weapon is a gross misdemeanor, even with a valid license.⁶ The prohibited locations include:

Public and private K–12 school buildings, grounds, and school-provided transportation. CPL holders have a narrow exception allowing a handgun only while actively picking up or dropping off a student.⁷
Courtrooms, jury rooms, judge’s chambers, and adjacent corridors and waiting areas.
Restricted-access areas of jails and law enforcement facilities.
Restricted-access areas of mental health facilities.
Restricted-access areas of commercial service airports beyond security checkpoints.
The portion of any bar or tavern classified as off-limits to people under 21.
Licensed child care centers and public libraries.
Zoos, aquariums, and transit stations.
State-licensed domestic violence shelters.
Outdoor music festivals and polling places on election days.
State capitol grounds.

Several of these locations are required to post signs at reasonable intervals.⁶ Don’t rely on the absence of a sign. If the location is on the statutory list, the law applies whether or not you saw a sign.

Federal facilities add another layer. Under federal law, knowingly possessing a firearm in any federal building where federal employees work carries up to one year in prison. A federal courthouse raises the maximum to two years.⁸ Post offices, federal courthouses, VA hospitals, and Social Security offices all fall under this prohibition.

Private Business Signs

A generic “no weapons” sign on a private business does not carry criminal weight under Washington’s firearms statutes. Walking past that sign while carrying is not a firearms offense.⁶ The property owner can still ask you to leave, though, and refusing is criminal trespass. You won’t face a weapons charge, but you can face a trespass charge.

Penalties

The consequences depend on what you did:

Carrying concealed without a CPL is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.¹
Not having your CPL card on you while carrying is a Class 1 civil infraction. No jail, but you will pay a fine.¹
A loaded pistol in a vehicle without a CPL is a misdemeanor.¹
Carrying in a prohibited location is a gross misdemeanor, up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.⁶
Carrying in a federal building is a federal crime punishable by up to one year in prison, or up to two years in a federal courthouse.⁸

A conviction, especially a gross misdemeanor involving weapons, can affect your ability to renew or obtain a CPL later. A domestic violence-related conviction permanently strips your firearm rights under federal law.

Carrying With an Out-of-State Permit

Washington recognizes concealed carry permits from a limited number of other states. For recognition, the issuing state must recognize Washington CPLs, must not issue permits to anyone under 21, and must require a fingerprint-based background check covering criminal and mental health history.⁹

As of the Attorney General’s most recent update, the recognized states and permit types are Idaho (enhanced permit only), Kansas (standard license only), Louisiana, Michigan, Montana (enhanced permit only), North Carolina, North Dakota (Class 1 permits only), Ohio, South Dakota (unrestricted enhanced and gold permits only), and Utah (excluding provisional permits).⁹ A standard Idaho permit, for example, is not recognized.

Reciprocity can change at any time. If you are visiting Washington with an out-of-state permit, check the current list on the Attorney General’s website before you travel, and follow every Washington law on prohibited locations, vehicles, and conduct while carrying.

1
Washington State Legislature. RCW 9.41.050 – Carrying Firearms
2
Office of the Attorney General. Firearms FAQ
3
Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 9-41-070 – Concealed Pistol License
4
Washington State Department of Licensing. Firearms Recordkeeping
5
Washington State Legislature. RCW 9.41.1132 – Firearms Safety Training
6
Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 9-41-300 – Weapons Prohibited in Certain Places
7
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Weapons and Schools
8
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities
9
Office of the Attorney General. Concealed Pistol License Reciprocity