Virginia gun laws let any adult who is not otherwise prohibited openly carry a firearm without a permit, but concealed carry requires a permit issued by the circuit court after in-person training and a background check. Nearly every firearm sale in the state, including private transfers, runs through a licensed dealer for a background check. Most buyers are capped at one handgun per 30-day period. Firearms are banned outright in schools, state buildings, and certain other locations, and beginning July 1, 2026, the sale and purchase of assault firearms and large-capacity magazines becomes a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Who Can Legally Own a Gun in Virginia
State law prohibits firearm possession by anyone convicted of a felony, certain juveniles adjudicated delinquent of serious offenses, and individuals under 29 who were adjudicated delinquent of felony-equivalent offenses as teenagers.1Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.2 – Possession or Transportation of Firearms by Convicted Felons People involuntarily committed to a mental health facility or adjudicated legally incapacitated are also barred. A prohibited person caught with a firearm faces a Class 6 felony, which carries one to five years in prison or, at the court’s discretion, up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.2Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-10 – Punishment for Conviction of Felony; Penalty
Federal law adds its own bans under 18 U.S.C. ยง 922(g): fugitives, unlawful drug users, anyone dishonorably discharged from the military, people who have renounced U.S. citizenship, subjects of certain domestic violence restraining orders, and anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Both sets of rules apply at once.
Rights can sometimes be restored. A convicted felon whose civil rights have been restored by the Governor may petition the circuit court for an order authorizing firearm possession, though the court weighs each petition individually and restoration is not automatic.
Separately, Virginia’s substantial risk order law lets a court temporarily bar a person from buying, possessing, or carrying a firearm when probable cause shows they pose a serious risk of injury to themselves or others. A prosecutor or law enforcement officer can petition for an emergency order, which a judge or magistrate may grant on an ex parte basis, followed by a full hearing where the subject can contest it.3Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 19.2-152.13 – Emergency Substantial Risk Order
Buying a Firearm
Federal law sets the baseline: 18 to buy a rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer, 21 for a handgun.4Virginia State Police. Firearms/Concealed Weapons FAQ Virginia does not set a minimum age for possessing a rifle, but anyone under 18 is prohibited from possessing a handgun. Buyers between 18 and 20 can legally acquire a handgun through a private transfer from a non-dealer, though that transfer still requires a background check.
Universal Background Checks
Virginia requires a background check on nearly every firearm transfer, including private sales. Dealers run the check through the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program operated by the State Police.5Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.2:2 – Criminal History Record Information Check Required for the Transfer of Certain Firearms For a private sale, the seller must route the transaction through a licensed dealer, who can charge up to $15 for facilitating the check. Willfully skipping this process is a Class 1 misdemeanor for both buyer and seller.6Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.2:5 – Criminal History Record Information Check Required to Sell Firearm; Penalty Narrow exceptions cover voluntary government gun buyback programs and certain court-ordered transfers.
Buyers show a valid Virginia government-issued photo ID. Military personnel stationed in Virginia can use a Department of Defense photo ID with current assignment orders.7Virginia State Police. Virginia Firearms Transaction Program Most checks return an immediate approval or denial. When the system returns “delayed,” the State Police review manually; if no final determination comes back by the end of the dealer’s fifth business day, the dealer may legally complete the transfer. That five-business-day default is specific to Virginia and differs from the federal three-day rule some other states follow.
One Handgun Per 30 Days
Virginia generally caps handgun purchases at one within any 30-day period. Concealed handgun permit holders are exempt, along with law enforcement officers and a few other categories.8Virginia Code Commission. 19VAC30-101-30 – Application for Multiple Handgun Purchase Anyone else who needs to exceed the limit must apply in person at a State Police office using Form SP-207.
Open Carry
Adults may carry a firearm openly in Virginia without a permit, as long as they are not otherwise prohibited from possessing one.4Virginia State Police. Firearms/Concealed Weapons FAQ “Openly” means the firearm is plainly visible. There is no state firearm registration and no permit required just to own a gun. Anyone under 18 is prohibited from openly carrying a handgun.
Open carry is not unlimited. The prohibited-location rules below apply whether a firearm is concealed or openly carried, and any local ordinances banning firearms in government buildings, parks, or near permitted events reach open carriers too.
Concealed Handgun Permits
Carrying a concealed handgun without a valid permit is a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A second offense is a Class 6 felony, and a third or later offense is a Class 5 felony carrying two to ten years in prison.9Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308 – Carrying Concealed Weapons
Who Qualifies
Any Virginia resident at least 21 years old may apply for a concealed handgun permit by filing with the clerk of the circuit court in their county or city of residence.10Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.02 – Application for a Concealed Handgun Permit; Virginia Resident or Domiciliary Form SP-248 asks for basic identifying information and a series of yes-or-no questions about felony convictions, pending charges, involuntary mental health commitments, substance abuse treatment history, and restraining orders.11Virginia State Police. Application for Concealed Handgun Permit (SP-248) Providing false information is a criminal offense.
Training
Every applicant must show handgun competency through in-person instruction. Virginia does not accept online-only certificates.12Virginia State Police. Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permits Acceptable proof includes a hunter education course, an NRA or USCCA firearms safety course, a law enforcement training course, a class taught by a state-certified or NRA-certified instructor, or documentation of current military service or honorable discharge.13Virginia State Police. Resident Concealed Handgun Permits In-person courses typically run $100 to $250 depending on the provider.
Fees, Timeline, and Renewal
The total application fee is capped at $50, split among the circuit court clerk, the local law enforcement agency running the investigation, and the State Police.14Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.03 – Fees for Concealed Handgun Permits Once the application is complete, the court has 45 days to issue or deny it.15Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.04 – Processing of the Application and Issuance of a Concealed Handgun Permit The permit arrives by U.S. mail and lasts five years. Renewal uses the same application process, but you do not have to repeat the training course.16Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.010 – Renewal of Concealed Handgun Permit
Reciprocity
Virginia recognizes valid concealed carry permits from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, as long as the holder is at least 21, carries government-issued photo ID with the permit, and has not previously had a Virginia permit revoked.17Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.014 – Reciprocity Whether another state honors a Virginia permit depends on that state’s own rules. The Virginia State Police maintain an updated list.18Virginia State Police. Reciprocity and Recognition Check the destination state before you travel armed.
Where Firearms Are Off-Limits
Some places in Virginia are firearm-free regardless of permit status or carry method. Penalties in these zones climb fast.
Schools
Possessing a firearm on the grounds of any public or private K-12 school, preschool, or child day center is a Class 6 felony. The same applies to school buses and to public property being used exclusively for a school-sponsored event while that event is underway. Displaying or attempting to use a firearm inside a school building carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, served consecutively with any other sentence.19Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-308.1 – Possession of Firearm on School Property Prohibited; Penalty
Places of Worship
Carrying a firearm to a place of worship during a religious service without “good and sufficient reason” is a Class 4 misdemeanor.20Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-283 – Carrying Dangerous Weapon to Place of Religious Worship A past Virginia Attorney General’s opinion concluded that personal self-defense qualifies as a good and sufficient reason. Individual congregations remain private property owners and may still post their own rules; ignoring a “no firearms” notice could support a trespassing charge.
State Buildings and Capitol Square
Firearms are banned inside any building owned or leased by the Commonwealth, the Capitol building, Capitol Square and the surrounding area in Richmond, and any office where state employees regularly work. Violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and the firearm is subject to seizure and forfeiture.21Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-283.2 – Carrying a Firearm Within Capitol Square and Surrounding Area, Into a Building Owned or Leased by the Commonwealth; Penalty
Local Government Areas
Localities may ban firearms in government-owned buildings, public parks, recreation and community centers, and on public streets or sidewalks next to permitted events. Any such ordinance must be posted with clear signage at every entrance.22Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 15.2-915 – Control of Firearms; Applicability to Authorities and Local Governmental Agencies Rules differ from city to city, so posted signs mean what they say.
Assault Firearms and Large-Capacity Magazines in 2026
Beginning July 1, 2026, importing, selling, manufacturing, purchasing, or transferring an assault firearm as defined by the statute becomes a Class 1 misdemeanor. The same classification applies to the sale or purchase of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices.23Virginia Legislative Information System. SB749 – 2026 Regular Session A conviction also triggers a three-year ban on purchasing, possessing, or transporting any firearm. Manually operated bolt-action, pump-action, lever-action, and slide-action firearms are excluded, along with antique firearms and weapons rendered permanently inoperable. Anyone who owns a semi-automatic rifle or pistol with a detachable magazine should read the statutory definition closely before the effective date.
Self-Defense
Virginia has no statutory stand-your-ground law. The rules come from case law. Generally, you may use reasonable force to defend yourself when you reasonably believe you face an imminent threat of bodily harm. Deadly force is justified only when you reasonably believe it necessary to prevent imminent death or serious physical injury.
Outside your home, Virginia case law has imposed a duty to retreat before using deadly force when retreat is safely possible. Inside your home that duty generally does not apply, which mirrors the castle doctrine even without a formal statute. Because these rules come from court decisions rather than a single code section, the edges are less crisp than in states with written stand-your-ground laws, and specific facts matter.
Reporting a Lost or Stolen Firearm
If a firearm is lost or stolen, the owner must report it to a local law enforcement agency or the Virginia State Police within 48 hours of discovering the loss or learning of it from someone with direct knowledge.24Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-287.5 – Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms; Civil Penalty Failing to report carries a civil penalty of up to $250. The bigger practical concern is what happens if an unreported stolen gun is later used in a crime.
Federal Rules That Still Apply
Virginia gun owners live under federal law too. The most consequential everyday federal rule is the ban on straw purchases, where one person buys a firearm on behalf of someone who cannot legally buy it themselves. A straw purchase conviction under federal law enacted in 2022 carries up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, rising to 25 years if the weapon is later used in a violent felony, terrorism, or drug trafficking.25ATF. Don’t Lie for the Other Guy
Federal law also governs interstate travel with firearms. Under the Firearm Owners Protection Act, transporting a legally owned firearm through a state where you could not otherwise carry it is protected if the firearm is unloaded and locked in a container separate from ammunition, and you are moving between two locations where you may lawfully possess it. The protection covers transport, not extended stops.