The Times Square gun-free zone is a designated sensitive location under New York’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act where carrying a firearm is a Class E felony, even for people holding a valid New York concealed carry permit. The zone is defined in New York City Administrative Code § 10-315 and covers an L-shaped stretch of Midtown Manhattan. A violation carries up to four years in prison.1New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.01-E – Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Rifle or Shotgun in a Sensitive Location
Where the Zone Begins and Ends
The boundaries are set by New York City Administrative Code § 10-315, and the shape is not a clean rectangle.2New York City Administrative Code. NYC Administrative Code 10-315 – Times Square Sensitive Location Zone It runs wider in the south and narrows in the north:
- From West 40th Street to West 48th Street, the zone runs from the east side of 6th Avenue to the west side of 9th Avenue.
- From West 48th Street to West 53rd Street, the zone runs from the east side of 6th Avenue to the west side of 8th Avenue.
The sidewalks on the boundary streets are inside the zone. So are the pedestrian plazas and the bow-tie intersections where Broadway crosses 7th Avenue. If you are on any block between those streets, you are inside.
Watch for the common online shorthand of “40th to 53rd, 6th to 8th.” That description misses the extra avenue block west to 9th Avenue below 48th Street. If you approach from the west side through the mid-40s, the zone starts a full block earlier than many summaries suggest.
The city has posted “Gun Free Zone” signs at every entry point, with two signs on each side of each entry street. Those signs serve as legal notice that you’ve crossed in.
Your Permit Does Not Apply Here
Under Penal Law § 265.01-e, possessing a firearm, rifle, or shotgun in a sensitive location is a crime whenever the person “knows or reasonably should know” the location is designated as sensitive.1New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.01-E – Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Rifle or Shotgun in a Sensitive Location A valid New York concealed carry license does not carve out an exception. The restriction runs around the clock, every day of the year. Commuting, catching a show, or walking through at 3 a.m. makes no difference: if you are carrying and you cross into the zone, you are committing a felony.
The “knows or reasonably should know” language is a real mental element, so you are not strictly liable the instant you set foot inside. In practice, though, the signs posted at every entry make a “didn’t know” defense a weak one.
Who Is Exempt
The exemptions in § 265.01-e are narrow and tied to roles that require a weapon, not to ordinary permit holders.1New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.01-E – Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Rifle or Shotgun in a Sensitive Location
- Active police officers and qualified law enforcement officers authorized to carry under 18 U.S.C. § 926B.
- Retired officers who qualify under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, 18 U.S.C. § 926C. New York explicitly incorporates LEOSA-qualified retirees into its exemption list.3Gun Safety in New York State. Frequently Asked Questions – New Concealed Carry Law
- Peace officers designated under New York Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10, while acting within their authority.
- Active-duty military.
- Armed security guards with a special armed registration card under New York General Business Law Article 7-A, but only at their place of employment during work hours. A guard commuting to or from a shift does not qualify.
Anyone who is technically exempt should carry credentials on them. The exemption means little during a police encounter if you can’t demonstrate it on the spot.
Penalties for Carrying in the Zone
Criminal possession of a firearm in a sensitive location is a Class E felony.1New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.01-E – Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Rifle or Shotgun in a Sensitive Location Under Penal Law § 70.00, that produces the following exposure:4New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 70.00 – Sentence of Imprisonment for Felony
- An indeterminate sentence with a maximum of up to four years. The minimum must be at least one year and cannot exceed one-third of the maximum imposed.
- For first-time offenders, a judge who finds a full indeterminate sentence too harsh can impose a definite sentence of one year or less.
- A fine under Penal Law § 80.00, which for felonies can reach $5,000 or more.
A conviction also brings consequences the sentence itself doesn’t spell out. Your concealed carry permit will almost certainly be revoked. You’ll have a permanent felony record that affects employment, housing, and future firearm ownership. The law makes no special allowance for someone who simply forgot to lock up a weapon before heading into Midtown.
Is the Zone Still Enforceable?
Yes. The CCIA has drawn repeated federal court challenges, and some provisions have been enjoined, but the Times Square sensitive-location zone itself has not been struck down. As of mid-2025, the zone remains enforceable and NYPD continues to patrol its boundaries. Anyone counting on a future court ruling to justify carrying in the zone today is taking a significant gamble.
Other Sensitive Locations to Know
Times Square is only one of more than twenty categories of sensitive locations listed in § 265.01-e, and the same Class E felony penalty applies to all of them.1New York State Senate. New York Penal Code 265.01-E – Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Rifle or Shotgun in a Sensitive Location The list includes:
- Government buildings and courthouses
- Schools, colleges, and childcare facilities
- Public parks, playgrounds, and zoos
- Places of worship
- Healthcare facilities and behavioral health programs
- Homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters
- Public transit vehicles and subway stations
- Libraries
Many of these are places a permit holder passes through without a second thought. If you carry in New York, read the full list in the statute. The law treats every one of these locations the way it treats Times Square.