Does Delaware have constitutional carry?

No. Delaware is may-issue in practice — a Delaware Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon License (CCDW) is required, and issuance involves discretion, delays, or added requirements beyond the base statutory criteria.

How much does a Delaware CCDW cost?

The CCDW application fee in Delaware is $65. Application and processing fees (plus newspaper-publication and fingerprint costs); renewal is $75 for a five-year period (11 Del. C. §1441).

Does Delaware honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?

Delaware honors concealed-carry permits from 21 other states, subject to the qualifiers (resident-only or permit-class restrictions) noted on each reciprocity pair. See the full inbound list on the "who Delaware honors" page.

Where is a Delaware CCDW honored?

A Delaware CCDW is honored by 31 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.

How long is a Delaware CCDW valid?

A Delaware CCDW is valid for 3 years before renewal is required.

This is not legal advice.Concealed-carry reciprocity changes frequently and carries serious legal consequences. Verify current law with the destination state's official source before you carry.

DelawareConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity

Delaware is a may-issue-in-practice state. A Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon (CCDW) license is obtained through the Superior Court: the applicant files a petition with the Prothonotary in the county of residence, must show good moral character, publish notice of the application in a newspaper, supply references, complete a firearms training course, and be fingerprinted; the initial license is valid three years and renews for five-year periods ($75). Open carry, by contrast, is lawful in Delaware without a license. Delaware recognizes the concealed-carry licenses of a specific list of states (published annually by the Attorney General under a mutual, 'reasonably similar protection' standard) — 21 states as of the January 2025–2026 list, several limited to a specific permit class; it does not recognize all states.

Delaware Delaware Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon License (CCDW)

Issuing authority: Delaware Superior Court (Prothonotary)
Carry regime: may issue in practice
Minimum age: 21
Fee: $65
Training: Required
Validity: 3 years

Full Delaware permit requirements →

Carry practicalities

Permitless carry

Not allowed

Delaware is NOT a permitless-carry state for CONCEALED carry — a CCDW license is required to carry a concealed deadly weapon (11 Del. C. §1442). Open carry, however, is lawful without a license. There is no permitless concealed carry in Delaware.

official source · verified 2026-07-10

Open carry

Permitless

Open carry of a firearm is lawful in Delaware without a license for a person 18 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm. Open carry remains subject to the prohibited-place restrictions (schools, courthouses, etc.) and to private-property rules.

official source · verified 2026-07-10

Duty to inform

Not required

Delaware imposes no clear statutory duty to proactively notify a law enforcement officer that you are carrying. A CCDW license holder should carry the license and present it if asked, but there is no proactive notification requirement.

official source · verified 2026-07-10

Off-limits locations

K-12 school property and safe school/recreation zones (11 Del. C. §1457)
courthouses and court facilities
detention and correctional facilities
state and government buildings where prohibited
the secured (past-screening) areas of airports
private property and businesses that prohibit carry
places where carrying a firearm is prohibited by federal law

Curated key categories, not exhaustive. Delaware restricts firearms in school zones under 11 Del. C. §1457 and in courthouses and government facilities; property owners may prohibit carry.

official source · verified 2026-07-10

Delaware reciprocity summary

Delaware honors 21 states' permits · honored by 31 states

Where a Delaware permit is honored →Whose permits Delaware honors →

Last verified 2026-07-10 against Delaware DOJ — Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons.

Verify Delaware rules on the official page →

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Get notified when your state's reciprocity changes.

Delaware FAQ

Does Delaware have constitutional carry?: No. Delaware is may-issue in practice — a Delaware Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon License (CCDW) is required, and issuance involves discretion, delays, or added requirements beyond the base statutory criteria.
How much does a Delaware CCDW cost?: The CCDW application fee in Delaware is $65. Application and processing fees (plus newspaper-publication and fingerprint costs); renewal is $75 for a five-year period (11 Del. C. §1441).
Does Delaware honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?: Delaware honors concealed-carry permits from 21 other states, subject to the qualifiers (resident-only or permit-class restrictions) noted on each reciprocity pair. See the full inbound list on the "who Delaware honors" page.
Where is a Delaware CCDW honored?: A Delaware CCDW is honored by 31 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
How long is a Delaware CCDW valid?: A Delaware CCDW is valid for 3 years before renewal is required.

Sources

Delaware DOJ — Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons (2026-07-10)