A new concealed carry permit in Colorado costs roughly $150 to $310, and a renewal runs about $50 to $63 plus any refresher training. That spread covers three separate charges: a sheriff’s application fee (capped at $100), a Colorado Bureau of Investigation fee of $52.50 for fingerprinting and background checks, and a required handgun training course that typically runs $55 to $160 or more.
What You Pay the Sheriff and the CBI
State law caps the sheriff’s portion of a new application fee at $100, and each county sets its own amount within that limit based on its actual processing costs.1Justia Law. Colorado Code Title 18 Section 18-12-205 – Sheriff – Application – Fee – Issuance of Permit Some counties charge the full $100; others charge less. Call your county sheriff’s office or check its website for the exact figure before you apply.
On top of the sheriff’s fee, every applicant pays $52.50 to the CBI. That breaks down into $17.50 for the state fingerprint check, $13.00 for the InstaCheck database query, and $22.00 for the FBI fingerprint check.2Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) Many counties collect both the sheriff fee and the CBI fee in a single payment at your fingerprinting appointment, so a county quoting $152.50 is charging the full $100 sheriff cap plus the $52.50 CBI fee.
Neither the sheriff fee nor the CBI fee is refundable, even if your application is denied.
What the Training Course Costs
Before you apply, you have to complete a certified handgun training course. Course prices vary by provider, but most fall between about $55 and $160. Some courses roll range time and ammunition into the quoted price; others charge separately, usually $20 to $25 for range fees and $20 to $50 for ammunition. This is the one cost with real room to shop around.
As of July 1, 2025, Colorado requires an in-person initial training class of at least eight hours taught by a sheriff-verified instructor. The course has to cover firearms safety, safe storage, self-defense law, interacting with law enforcement, and conflict avoidance. Passing requires at least 80% on a written open-book exam and at least 70% accuracy on a live-fire exercise using a minimum of fifty rounds.3Colorado General Assembly. HB24-1174 Concealed Carry Permits and Training You must complete the course within the year before you submit your application.
Those requirements set a floor on what instructors can offer, so pricing below the lower end of the range is uncommon under the new rules.
What Renewal Costs
A Colorado permit is valid for five years from the date of issuance.4Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Colorado Code 18-12-204 – Permit Contents – Validity – Carrying Requirements You can start renewing up to 120 days before it expires. The sheriff’s renewal fee is capped at $50, and a $13 CBI background recheck is added on top, so the typical renewal runs about $50 to $63 depending on your county.5Justia Law. Colorado Code Title 18 Section 18-12-211 – Renewal of Permits The renewal application includes a notarized affidavit confirming you still meet all the eligibility requirements.
Renewal applicants also have to show handgun competence under the current rules. The usual route is a two-hour refresher class from a sheriff-verified instructor, which must include live-fire and a written exam with the same 70% and 80% passing thresholds. You can take the refresher up to six months before you submit the renewal form. Shooting competitions, current military service, current peace officer certification, or being a verified firearms instructor can satisfy the requirement in place of a class.6Colorado General Assembly. HB24-1174 Concealed Carry Permits and Training Refresher course pricing is set by the instructor, so budget for that on top of the government fees.
Late Renewal
If you miss your expiration date, you have a six-month grace period to renew with a $15 late fee added to the standard renewal cost. After six months, the permit permanently expires and cannot be renewed; you would have to start over with a full new application, new fingerprinting, the full $52.50 CBI fee, and a new sheriff’s application fee at the higher cap.5Justia Law. Colorado Code Title 18 Section 18-12-211 – Renewal of Permits Carrying a concealed handgun on an expired permit is illegal even during the grace period, so plan to renew on time.
Replacement Card Cost
If your permit card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can request a replacement through your county sheriff’s office. The request typically requires a notarized form and a small fee, often around $15.
When Fees Are Nonrefundable
Because the sheriff fee and the CBI fee are nonrefundable, it’s worth confirming you qualify before you pay. Colorado is a shall-issue state, so the sheriff must issue the permit if you meet the statutory criteria.7Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Colorado Code 18-12-203 – Criteria for Obtaining a Permit You need to be at least 21 and a legal Colorado resident. Active-duty military stationed in Colorado on permanent duty orders and their immediate family living in the state count as legal residents.
Several things will disqualify you and cost you the application fees if you apply anyway:
- Any felony conviction, which bars firearm possession under state and federal law.
- A conviction for domestic violence or for perjury on a prior permit application.
- Any active protection order, including temporary and extreme risk protection orders.
- Being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance under federal standards.
- Ineligibility to possess a firearm under state or federal law due to a mental health adjudication.
- Chronic alcohol abuse that impairs normal faculties, unless a licensed addiction counselor’s affidavit confirms three years of sobriety.
Even if you clear every listed criterion, the sheriff can still deny based on a reasonable belief that your documented prior behavior makes you likely to present a danger to yourself or others.7Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Colorado Code 18-12-203 – Criteria for Obtaining a Permit A denial doesn’t get your money back. If you’re unsure where you stand, call the sheriff’s office before you book the training course or the fingerprinting appointment.