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.
TennesseeConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity
Tennessee is a permitless (constitutional) carry state since July 1, 2021 (2021 Public Chapter 108). A person who meets the qualifications for an Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit — generally 21 or older and not prohibited from possessing a firearm — who lawfully possesses the handgun and is somewhere they have a right to be may carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit (T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g)). Tennessee still issues two permit classes through the state Department of Safety & Homeland Security: the Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit (T.C.A. § 39-17-1351), which requires a department-approved handgun safety course with both classroom and live-fire range hours and allows either open or concealed carry, and the Concealed Handgun Carry Permit (T.C.A. § 39-17-1366), which allows a shorter course — including a 90-minute online option — but permits concealed carry only. The Enhanced permit is more widely recognized by other states, so it is the class worth holding for out-of-state travel. Tennessee recognizes a facially valid handgun permit or license issued by any other U.S. state, treated as if it were a Tennessee permit, for handgun carry only (T.C.A. § 39-17-1351(r)); a new resident who holds another state's permit must obtain a Tennessee permit within six months of establishing residency.
Tennessee Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit (HCP)
- Carry regime
- constitutional
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $100
- Training
- Required (8 hrs)
- Validity
- 8 years
Permit classes
Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit
For reciprocity travel- Minimum age
- 21
- Training
- Required — 8 hours (incl. 1 hr live fire) — Department-approved handgun safety course including both classroom hours and firing-range (live-fire) hours; Tennessee rule sets a minimum 8-hour course (T.C.A. § 39-17-1351(e)). Certain military/POST/law-enforcement training within the prior 5 years may substitute.
Allows open OR concealed carry and is the class more widely recognized by other states — the permit worth holding for out-of-state travel.
Concealed Handgun Carry Permit
- Minimum age
- 21
- Training
- Required — Department-approved course covering safe handling/storage of firearms and ammunition plus a competency test; may be completed as an online course of at least 90 minutes (T.C.A. § 39-17-1366). No live-fire requirement.
Permits CONCEALED carry only, and holders may not carry at any school or university. Not as broadly recognized out of state as the Enhanced permit.
Carry practicalities
Permitless carry
Allowed — minimum age 21
Tennessee has permitless (constitutional) carry since July 1, 2021 (2021 Public Chapter 108, SB765/HB786). A person who meets the qualifications for issuance of an Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit under T.C.A. § 39-17-1351(b) and (c) — generally 21 or older and not prohibited from possessing a firearm — who lawfully possesses the handgun and is in a place they have a right to be may carry a handgun openly or concealed without a permit (T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g)); residency is not required. NOTE (verify): the statutory floor is 21; 18-20-year-olds who are active-duty or honorably discharged/retired U.S. military qualify by statute, and following a 2023 federal court settlement (Firearms Policy Coalition litigation) Tennessee stopped enforcing the 21+ floor against 18-20-year-olds generally — an operator should confirm the current age treatment for 18-20-year-olds.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Open carry
Permitless
Open carry of a handgun is lawful in Tennessee without a permit for a person who qualifies to carry under the constitutional-carry exception (T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g), which authorizes carrying "whether openly or concealed"). The Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit also authorizes open carry; the Concealed Handgun Carry Permit authorizes concealed carry only. Open carry remains subject to the off-limits locations below.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Duty to inform
Not required
Tennessee imposes no statutory duty to proactively notify a law enforcement officer that you are carrying. A permit holder must have the permit in immediate possession and display it on demand of a law enforcement officer when carrying in a location or manner that would otherwise be prohibited (T.C.A. § 39-17-1351(n)(1); § 39-17-1366(e), as amended by 2021 Pub. Ch. 108), but there is no affirmative notify-on-contact requirement.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Off-limits locations
- K-12 public and private school buildings, buses, campuses, grounds, and athletic fields
- colleges and universities (no carry by Concealed Handgun Carry Permit holders)
- any room in which judicial proceedings are in progress (courthouses/courtrooms)
- government buildings and meetings when properly posted under § 39-17-1359
- private or public property posted "NO FIREARMS ALLOWED" (§ 39-17-1359)
- establishments open to the public serving alcohol for on-premises consumption, while consuming alcohol (§ 39-17-1321)
- state and national parks, greenways, and campgrounds are off-limits to permitless carriers (permit holders may carry in most public parks under § 39-17-1311)
- places where federal law prohibits firearms (federal facilities, secured airport areas)
Curated key categories, not exhaustive. Schools are governed by T.C.A. § 39-17-1309; posted government/private property by § 39-17-1359; public parks by § 39-17-1311; and alcohol establishments by § 39-17-1321. Permitless carriers face additional off-limits locations (posted buildings, state/national parks, greenways, and campgrounds) that valid permit holders may access. Federal facilities and private property where the owner prohibits carry are also off-limits.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Tennessee reciprocity summary
Tennessee honors 49 states' permits · honored by 35 states
Where a Tennessee permit is honored →Whose permits Tennessee honors →
Last verified 2026-07-09 against Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Reciprocity.
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Get notified when your state's reciprocity changes.
Tennessee FAQ
- Does Tennessee have constitutional carry?
- Yes. Tennessee is a constitutional (permitless) carry state — eligible adults may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The HCP remains available and is still worth holding for reciprocity in states that don't recognize permitless carry.
- How much does a Tennessee HCP cost?
- The HCP application fee in Tennessee is $100. Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit: $100 for an 8-year permit ($65 for active-duty or honorably discharged military), or $300 for a lifetime enhanced permit ($200 to upgrade an existing 8-year enhanced permit). Concealed Handgun Carry Permit: $65 for an 8-year permit. Fees are set by the Department of Safety & Homeland Security.
- Does Tennessee honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?
- Tennessee honors concealed-carry permits from 49 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 Tennessee honors" page.
- Where is a Tennessee HCP honored?
- A Tennessee HCP is honored by 35 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
- How long is a Tennessee HCP valid?
- A Tennessee HCP is valid for 8 years before renewal is required.