Renewing a Colorado concealed carry permit means filing a renewal application with your county sheriff up to 120 days before your current permit expires, passing a fresh background check, and paying the sheriff’s fee plus any fingerprint charge. Colorado concealed handgun permits are valid for five years, the sheriff has up to 90 days to decide, and there is no temporary permit or grace period while you wait. Start early, because carrying with an expired permit is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
When to File
The renewal window opens 120 days before your expiration date. The sheriff is allowed up to 90 days to process the application, which leaves very little slack if you wait until the last month. Colorado does not issue a bridge permit while a renewal is pending, so if your old card expires before the new one arrives, you simply cannot carry concealed during the gap.
A sensible rule is to submit about four months out. That covers the background check, any back-and-forth over missing documents, and the usual mail and scheduling delays.
If your permit has already expired, you still have a six-month late window during which you can renew rather than start over. A $15 late fee applies on top of the normal renewal cost.1La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. Concealed Handgun Permit Once six months have passed, renewal is off the table and you have to apply as a new applicant, with fingerprints and a handgun safety course.2City and County of Denver. Concealed Handgun Permits
Who Still Qualifies
Renewal is not automatic. You have to meet the same eligibility standards that applied the first time, and the sheriff will run your record through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System. You must be at least 21, a legal Colorado resident, and verified through a Colorado driver’s license or state ID. Active-duty military stationed in Colorado on permanent orders, and their immediate family living here, count as residents for permit purposes.3Colorado Bureau of Investigation. C.R.S. 18-12-203
Anything that would put you on the federal prohibited-persons list will stop a renewal. The categories most likely to surface on a recheck:
- A felony conviction, meaning any crime punishable by more than one year in prison.
- A misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.
- An active restraining order issued after a hearing you had the chance to attend, protecting an intimate partner or their child.
- Current, regular use of a controlled substance; federal rules look for ongoing use, not a single old incident.
- Adjudication as mentally incompetent, or commitment to a mental institution at 16 or older by court order.
- A dishonorable discharge from the armed forces.
- Fugitive status or a pending felony indictment.
These disqualifiers come from federal law and apply no matter where the conviction or order was entered.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts If anything has changed since you were first issued the permit, assume the background check will catch it, and gather documentation before you file.
What to Submit
Each county sheriff’s office publishes its own renewal form. Some let you download it or use an online portal; others require you to come in person. The form asks you to disclose any change in your legal status since your last application, including arrests, restraining orders, and mental health proceedings. False statements on the form are second-degree perjury, a Class 2 misdemeanor.5Justia. Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-8-503 – Perjury in the Second Degree
Bring with the completed form:
- Your Colorado driver’s license or state ID.
- Your current or recently expired permit.
- Supplemental proof of residency if you have moved recently, such as a utility bill, lease, or voter registration card.
Colorado does not require a new training course for renewals. Some counties ask for proof of continued handgun proficiency anyway, so check with the sheriff’s office before your appointment. If your address has changed since your last permit was issued, update it with the sheriff before you file the renewal to avoid processing problems.
What It Costs
Each county sheriff sets the renewal fee, which covers administrative costs and the background check. The statutory cap for permit application fees is $100, and renewal fees generally run below initial application fees.
If the sheriff requires updated fingerprints, you will pay a separate charge to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The CBI’s fingerprint-based combined state and federal check currently runs $38.50 to $39.50.6Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Fees and Forms Information Some offices roll this into a single payment, others collect it separately.
Late renewals inside the six-month window add $15.1La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. Concealed Handgun Permit Payment methods vary by county: many accept electronic payment, money order, or cashier’s check, and many will not take a personal check. All fees are non-refundable, including on a denial, so confirm you still qualify before you pay.
How Long It Takes
Once you file, the sheriff runs the background check and reviews the file. The statutory deadline is 90 days. Many counties move faster, but speed depends on local workload and whether the CBI or FBI flags anything on your record.7Larimer County. Concealed Handgun Permits
A clean application produces a new permit valid for five years. Some counties mail it; others require pickup in person. During the wait, if your current permit lapses, you cannot carry. No grace period. No temporary authorization. No exception for pending renewals.
If Your Renewal Is Denied
The sheriff can deny a renewal if the background check turns up something disqualifying, such as a new conviction, an active restraining order, or a mental health adjudication that did not previously appear. You must receive a written explanation and notice of your right to seek judicial review under C.R.S. 18-12-207.3Colorado Bureau of Investigation. C.R.S. 18-12-203 You can also ask the sheriff for a second review and submit additional information before heading to court.
Delays are a separate problem. Incomplete applications, missing documents, or ambiguous background check results can push a decision past the usual timeline. If several weeks have passed without word, call to confirm the file is complete. A missing form or an outdated photo is an avoidable reason to lose weeks.
If Your Permit Lapses
Carrying a concealed firearm without a valid permit is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.8Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-105 – Unlawfully Carrying a Concealed Weapon – Unlawful Possession of Weapons9Justia. Colorado Revised Statutes Section 18-1.3-501 – Misdemeanors Classified – Penalties An expired permit offers no legal protection. This is a criminal charge, not a paperwork issue to resolve on the roadside.
Inside the six-month late window, you can still renew with the $15 late fee. Past six months, you start from scratch with a full application, fingerprints, and a handgun safety course. A long lapse, especially one that lines up with any legal trouble, can also draw extra scrutiny on reapplication.
Keeping Your Permit Information Current
If you move, notify the issuing sheriff within 30 days. Failing to update your address is a civil infraction.10Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-210 – Maintenance of Permit – Address Change – Invalidity of Permit Most sheriff’s offices want a short form and updated proof of residency.
If your permit is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you have three business days to report it to the issuing sheriff. The permit becomes invalid the moment it is gone. A replacement costs $15 and requires a notarized statement describing what happened.10Justia. Colorado Code 18-12-210 – Maintenance of Permit – Address Change – Invalidity of Permit Until the duplicate is in hand, you do not have a valid permit to carry.
Where a Renewed Permit Still Does Not Let You Carry
Even a current permit does not override federal firearm bans in places like federal courthouses and post offices, cannot be used on the grounds of public K-12 schools (though a handgun may stay in a locked vehicle in a closed compartment on school property), and does not apply inside public buildings with permanent security screening at every entrance. Private property owners can also prohibit firearms on their premises as a matter of trespass law. Colorado honors concealed permits from the states that honor Colorado’s; before traveling armed, confirm the destination state’s current reciprocity status with the CBI, because an expired Colorado permit will not be recognized anywhere.