Long Island Gun Laws: Permits, Storage, and Sensitive Locations

Gun ownership on Long Island runs on New York State Penal Law, but the licensing paperwork goes through your county. Long Island gun laws require a license to possess any handgun and, since 2022, a separate license to buy a semi-automatic rifle. The state bans assault weapons outright, restricts where a licensed carrier can bring a firearm, controls how you store and transport it, and adds a background check to every ammunition purchase. Manually operated rifles and shotguns (bolt-action, pump, lever, or slide) don’t require a license, but the storage and transport rules still apply to them.

The Two Handgun Licenses

Under Penal Law § 400.00, Long Island residents choose between two main handgun licenses.1New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 400.00 – Licensing and Other Provisions Relating to Firearms

  • A premises license lets you keep a handgun at the specific address on the license, such as your home or business. You cannot carry the firearm outside that location.
  • A concealed carry license lets you carry a handgun on your person where state law permits carry. It requires a separate in-person interview with the licensing officer, disclosure of additional personal contacts (spouse or domestic partner and any adults living in your home), and a mandatory training course.

Most applicants start with the premises license. New York does not recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states, and very few states recognize a New York permit, so a carry license is effectively good only inside New York.

Who Qualifies

You must be at least 21 unless you were honorably discharged from the U.S. military or the New York National Guard. Beyond age, the licensing officer looks at your character and temperament, and Penal Law § 400.00 lists disqualifiers that will end an application:1New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 400.00 – Licensing and Other Provisions Relating to Firearms

  • Any felony conviction, or a conviction for a “serious offense” as defined by the Penal Law.
  • Involuntary commitment to a psychiatric facility, civil confinement in a secure treatment facility, or being the subject of a report under Mental Hygiene Law § 9.46.
  • An active order of protection or a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction (state and federal bar).
  • Being an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance. Under federal law that includes marijuana, regardless of New York’s legalization.
  • For carry applicants, a conviction within the past five years for third-degree assault, misdemeanor DWI, or menacing.

You’ll need four character references. The application requires disclosure of every arrest, summons, or field appearance ticket you have ever received, even if the case was dismissed or sealed, and you must obtain a certified court transcript for each incident.2Nassau County Police Department. Pistol License Application Instructions A false statement can lead to denial or prosecution.

Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)) prohibits possession by an additional set of people that overlaps with, but is not identical to, the state list. The categories most likely to catch someone off guard are current marijuana users (federal scheduling still applies), dishonorably discharged veterans, and people subject to qualifying domestic violence restraining orders.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts Answering “yes” to current marijuana use on ATF Form 4473 makes you a prohibited person under federal law.

Applying in Nassau County

Nassau starts its process online. You create an account with the Nassau County Police Department, complete the application electronically, upload documents such as your driver’s license and a utility bill showing your Nassau address, then schedule an in-person interview and fingerprint appointment.4Nassau County Police Department. Pistol Licenses The application fee is $200, nonrefundable whether or not you are approved. A separate fingerprint processing fee of $88.25 is due at your appointment.5Nassau County Police Department. Pistol License Application Instructions Processing typically runs four to nine months from the date you submit a complete application.

Applying in Suffolk County

Suffolk splits licensing between two agencies based on where you live. If your address is in Babylon, Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, or Smithtown, you apply through the Suffolk County Police Department’s Pistol Licensing Bureau in Yaphank. If you live in Riverhead, East Hampton, Shelter Island, Southampton, or Southold, you apply through the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in Riverhead.6Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. Pistol Licensing The SCPD application fee is $10.7Suffolk County Police Department. Pistol License Fees Both agencies require in-person appearance and fingerprinting.

Either way, the investigation includes state and federal background checks, verification of your references, and review of anything you disclosed. The final determination arrives by mail, along with instructions on collecting the license and registering specific firearms to it.

Carry Training and Recertification

A concealed carry license requires a state-mandated firearms safety course before approval: at least 16 hours of classroom instruction on state and federal law, safe storage, de-escalation, and use of deadly force, plus at least two hours of live-fire range time and a written exam.8Gun Safety in New York State. Frequently Asked Questions – New Concealed Carry Law Premises-only licensees do not need to take the course.

The paperwork doesn’t stop once you’re licensed. Concealed carry holders must recertify with the State Police every three years; premises license holders recertify every five.9Gun Safety in New York State. Pistol Permit Recertification Recertification is an affirmation that you’re still legally eligible. A suspended license cannot be recertified, which effectively strips your ability to possess firearms until the underlying issue is resolved.

Firearms You Cannot Own at All

No license cures a banned gun. New York prohibits assault weapons entirely, and the definition is broader than many people expect. A semi-automatic rifle that accepts a detachable magazine becomes an assault weapon if it also has any one of the following: a folding or telescoping stock, a pistol grip that protrudes below the action, a thumbhole stock, a second handgrip, a bayonet mount, a flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed for one, or a grenade launcher.10New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.00 – Definitions Semi-automatic shotguns and pistols have their own feature lists that trigger the same classification, and a revolving-cylinder shotgun is banned regardless of features.

Manually operated rifles and shotguns aren’t affected, and semi-automatic rifles that can’t accept a detachable magazine holding more than five rounds aren’t either. If you owned a now-banned firearm before the 2013 SAFE Act, you were required to register it with the State Police. Unregistered assault weapons are illegal to possess, and no grace period remains.

Safe Storage at Home

Penal Law § 265.45 applies whenever someone in your home is under 18 or is legally prohibited from possessing firearms because of a criminal conviction, mental health adjudication, or other disqualifying condition. Every rifle, shotgun, and firearm in that home must be locked in a safe storage container or rendered inoperable with a locking device whenever the weapon is not in your immediate possession or control. Violating the statute is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying up to one year in jail.11New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.45 – Failure to Safely Store Rifles, Shotguns, and Firearms in the First Degree

A narrow exception allows a minor to access a firearm for lawful purposes, such as supervised target shooting or hunting when the minor holds a valid hunting license. It does not excuse leaving weapons unsecured in the general household. A “safe storage depository” is a container that, when locked, cannot be opened without a key, keypad, or combination. Trigger locks and cable locks that render the weapon inoperable also satisfy the requirement.

Transporting Firearms

The same statute governs firearms left in vehicles. Under § 265.45(2), you must first remove all ammunition and lock the weapon in a secure container that is out of sight from outside the car. A glove compartment does not count. If your vehicle has no trunk, use a locked hard-sided case placed where it is not readily accessible to the driver or passengers.

For interstate travel, the federal Firearm Owners Protection Act creates a safe harbor for moving firearms through states where you might not otherwise be able to possess them, provided the firearm is unloaded and neither the gun nor the ammunition is readily accessible from the passenger compartment.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 926A – Interstate Transportation of Firearms The protection applies only during continuous travel; an overnight stop in a jurisdiction where the firearm is illegal may take you outside its scope. Travelers passing through New York City should be especially cautious. NYPD has historically been aggressive in enforcing local firearms laws even against people invoking federal transit protection.

Air Travel

Flying out of Long Island airports, TSA requires firearms in checked baggage only, unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container. Declare the firearm at the airline ticket counter during check-in.13Transportation Security Administration. Firearms and Ammunition Ammunition can go in the same locked case as the unloaded firearm or in separate original packaging. If a locked case triggers a security alarm and TSA cannot reach you, it will not be placed on the aircraft.

Rail Travel

Amtrak passengers must call 800-USA-RAIL at least 24 hours before departure to declare a firearm in checked baggage. The weapon must be unloaded and stored in a locked hard-sided container no longer than 62 inches. Firearms must be checked at least 30 minutes before the train departs, and checked baggage service must be available at every station on your route.14Amtrak. Firearms in Checked Baggage

Where You Cannot Carry

The 2022 Concealed Carry Improvement Act created two categories of places where firearms are restricted or banned, even for licensed carriers. The distinction is important because getting it wrong turns a lawful gun owner into a felon.

Sensitive Locations

Penal Law § 265.01-e flatly prohibits firearm possession at a long list of sensitive locations, including:15New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.01-e – Criminal Possession of a Weapon in a Sensitive Location

  • Federal, state, and local government buildings, including courthouses.
  • All public and private schools, colleges, universities, preschools, nursery schools, summer camps, and any program serving children licensed by the Office of Children and Family Services.
  • Any location providing health, behavioral health, or chemical dependence services.
  • Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship (except designated security personnel).
  • Libraries, public playgrounds, public parks, and zoos.
  • Subways, buses, trains, ferries, airports, and any station or terminal.
  • Establishments licensed for on-premises alcohol or cannabis consumption.
  • Theaters, stadiums, museums, and the public areas of hotels and casinos.
  • Homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and family shelters.
  • Polling places, protests, and rallies.

Federal property carries its own bar. Under 18 U.S.C. § 930, firearms are prohibited in buildings owned or leased by the federal government, including post offices and federal courthouses. A state license has no effect there.

Private Property

Long Island private property is off-limits for concealed carry by default. Under Penal Law § 265.01-d, you cannot bring a firearm onto private property unless the owner or tenant has posted clear signage indicating firearms are permitted or has given you express consent.16New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.01-d – Criminal Possession of a Weapon in a Restricted Location This is the reverse of the rule in most states. In New York, the absence of a sign means no, and violating the statute is a Class E felony. Restaurants, retail stores, shopping malls, and office buildings are all off-limits unless you see affirmative signage welcoming firearms. Few Long Island businesses post such signs, so licensed carriers should assume private property is restricted unless they have clear evidence otherwise.

Red Flag Orders

New York’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law lets certain people ask a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone who poses a danger to themselves or others. Under CPLR Article 63-A, the following people can file a petition:17New York State Senate. New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 6340

  • Law enforcement officers or a district attorney.
  • Family or household members, including people related by blood, marriage, or adoption; dating partners; people who share a child; and domestic partners.
  • School administrators (or designated employees such as counselors and psychologists) at a school the person attends or attended within the past six months.
  • Licensed healthcare professionals who have treated the person within the past six months, including physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and clinical social workers.

A judge who finds sufficient evidence of imminent danger can issue a temporary order immediately requiring surrender of all firearms. A full hearing follows, at which the respondent has the right to appear and contest the order. These are civil proceedings, not criminal charges, but refusing to surrender firearms can bring criminal penalties. If an ERPO names you, your pistol license will almost certainly be suspended, and a suspended license cannot be recertified. Get counsel immediately.

Buying Ammunition

New York requires a background check for ammunition, not just firearms. Under Executive Law § 228, dealers must submit a background check request to the State Police before completing an ammunition sale. It runs separately from the federal NICS check used for firearm purchases and applies to each transaction. Every licensed dealer on Long Island uses the system, so expect a brief delay at the register while the check clears. Legislative debate about removing ammunition from the requirement has continued, but as of 2026 the check remains in effect.