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.
IdahoConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity
Idaho is a permitless (constitutional) carry state — anyone 18 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry concealed without a license (Idaho Code §18-3302(4)). Idaho still issues two Concealed Weapons License classes through county sheriffs: the Standard CWL and the Enhanced CWL. The Enhanced CWL (mandatory 8-hour training including live fire, minimum age 21, Idaho Code §18-3302K) is more widely recognized by other states — several honor only the Enhanced version — so it is the class worth holding for out-of-state travel. Idaho itself honors all other states' validly issued and current concealed weapons licenses/permits, with no residency or class restriction on incoming permits.
Idaho Concealed Weapons License (CWL)
- Issuing authority
- Idaho County Sheriffs (reciprocity maintained by Idaho State Police — Bureau of Criminal Identification)
- Carry regime
- constitutional
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $20
- Training
- Required
- Validity
- 5 years
Permit classes
Standard CWL
- Minimum age
- 21
Enhanced CWL
For reciprocity travel- Minimum age
- 21
- Training
- Required — 8 hours — State-approved course of at least 8 hours including at least 98 rounds fired live (Idaho Code §18-3302K).
Some states honor only Idaho's Enhanced CWL, not the Standard CWL.
Carry practicalities
Permitless carry
Allowed — minimum age 18
Permitless concealed carry is legal in Idaho for anyone 18 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm; no license is required and residency is not required (Idaho Code §18-3302(4)).
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Open carry
Permitless
Open carry is legal in Idaho without a license for anyone who may lawfully possess a firearm (Idaho Code §18-3302).
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Duty to inform
Not required
Idaho imposes no statutory duty to proactively inform a law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed weapon.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Off-limits locations
- K-12 public and private schools
- courthouses
- juvenile detention facilities
- jails and adult correctional facilities
Curated key categories, not exhaustive. Courthouses, juvenile detention facilities, jails and correctional facilities are prohibited under Idaho Code §18-3302C; K-12 school property is restricted under Idaho Code §18-3302D. Federal facilities and private property where the owner prohibits carry are also off-limits.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Idaho reciprocity summary
Idaho honors 50 states' permits · honored by 38 states
Where a Idaho permit is honored →Whose permits Idaho honors →
Last verified 2026-07-09 against Idaho State Police BCI — Concealed Weapons License Reciprocity.
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Get notified when your state's reciprocity changes.
Idaho FAQ
- Does Idaho have constitutional carry?
- Yes. Idaho is a constitutional (permitless) carry state — eligible adults may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The CWL remains available and is still worth holding for reciprocity in states that don't recognize permitless carry.
- How much does a Idaho CWL cost?
- The CWL application fee in Idaho is $20. Original license fee is $20.00; renewal is $15.00, plus fingerprint/materials charges.
- Does Idaho honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?
- Idaho honors concealed-carry permits from 50 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 Idaho honors" page.
- Where is a Idaho CWL honored?
- A Idaho CWL is honored by 38 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
- How long is a Idaho CWL valid?
- A Idaho CWL is valid for 5 years before renewal is required.